The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-11

his son. Twenty years ago this sou,
John Rhodes resolved to visit the mine.
lie never returned. aud was supposed
to have been killed by Indians. Now
Davis, the wife murderer, discloses that
he accompanied the younger Rhodes to
the mine and found that it confirmed
in every way the description OF the dis
coverer. On the return journey
Rhodes was killed by band OF wander
ing Indians. and Davis, escaping, Kept
silent as to the fate of his companion
through fear that he would be charged
with his death. Davis had offered, if
his life was spared, to guide party to
the mines. His story has caused great
excitement in Utah, where many old
miners are settled, and several parties
have set out to find and work the mines.
Davis story did not save him. and he
was hanged according to programme.
STORY OF TIE LOST CABIN MINE.
The manner in which Davis story has
been received in Utah strikingly illus
trates one of the most interesting aud
remarkable features OF mining life.
Wherever miners congregate in these
later days, mines OF great richness,
which have been discovered only TO be
speedily lost, is a subject sure. sooner
or later, to come UP for discussion, and
scores OF hardy and resolute men have
worn out their lives in weary and fruit
less searches for these golden will.o'-
the-wisps. No story OF this kind is more
thrilling or familiar to miners than that
OF the famous Lost Cabin mine. Many
lives have been lost and years wasted IN
searching for it, but its mystery, after a
lapse OF thirty years, remains as battling
and perplexing as ever. In the spring
Of 1868 Allen Hurlbert, q miner who had
gained much experience but small profit
in the gold fields Of California, found
himself in Walla Walla. where he fell
IN with two miners bearing respectively
the names OF Jones and Cox. The trio
secured an outfit and provisions for an
exploring trip to the eastern slope OF
the Rockies, and after long and ditfi-
cult Journey reached the banks OF the
Yellowstone. Here they built raft on
which they foated down to the Big
Horn river. AS the country through
which they were moving swarmed with
hostile Indians, they were compelled to
travel principally at night, precausion
which prevented them from getting an
accurate idea OF the country, and so
thew were ignorant both Of the name
and the location Of the range OF noun.
tains which one morning taey found
looming up in front Of them.
They landed and set to work in q
gulch in the side Of the mountain. Al
most the first stroke OF the pick reveal
ed n rich vein OF ore. A shalt was sunk
to the bedrock, a few feet below. and
gold being found all the way down,
Hurlbert and his comrades resolved to
spend tho winter in developing their
claim. A portion OF the provisions
which they had brought from Walla
Walla still remained and game was
plentiful. They felled trees, threw a
dam across the creek which ran through
the ravine, erected sideways, and
daily worked their claim with teverish
eagerness from early dawn until night
fall. When the approach OF cold wealth
err forced them to suspend operations,
they had gathered nearly two bushels
of nuggets and gold dust
The fortunate miners now built a
cabin. terrifying it with stockades. IN
which they passed the winter months.
When the spring sun unlocked the
waters OF the creek they hurried back
to their sluice boxes and worked harder
than ever. One day Hurlbert lett the
suices to 60 to the cabin on some
errand. He had barely lost sight OF his
companions before he heard the sharp
report of number OF rifles, and Jones
and Cox lay dead on the ground. From
tho ton OF the tree in which he sought
refuge Hurlbert saw tho Indians, who
had discovered the miners retreat,
scalp and mutilate his companions and
then rifle their cabin Of everything in
sight. After the Indians had gone
Hurlbert left his hiding place, hastily
collected small supply OF food, filled
his knapsack with gold, buried the re-
mainder. and then set oil on loot in
direction opposite to that taken by the
Indians. He wandered tor days
through strange, wild country which
he had never seen before, and
finally from lofty precipice esp!cd the
wide stretch OF an open prairie. Ho
struck boldly out over the prairie anu
three woeks later reached tho North
Platte river, q short distance from Fort
Laramie, where he fell in with band
OF gold hunters has,ening to the nowiiy
discovered mines Of Montana: He told
his story to his new-found friends and
they persuaded him to lead them if
possible to tho claim from which no
had fled in fear OF his lifo few weeks
before. The party, which numbered
several hundred souls, including women
and children, wandered from place to
place until winter came on, but no
trace or sign OF tho Lost Cabin mine
was ever discovered, and in the end
IIurlbort narrowly escaped lynchinG Mt
tho hands Of those who regarded them
selves as his victims. lie was last seen
in Virginia City. Mont, in the autumn
of 1864. Hardly year has since pass.
cd without some new band OF prospcc'
tors setting out to find the Lost Cabin
mine, but ia location i" still mystery
and may remain so Tor many long