The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-30
THOSE LOST plooINos.
They Are a Delusion, "a Fake and Snare
NJ Is said

Missoula, May 29.--+Three or four
| ranchmen of the lower valley and
/ about 20 white men from the Jocko In
! dian agency-traders and others-haVe
| Just obtained some valuable experience
/ in regard TO lost treasures and hidden
mines which will probably last them
I Tor the remainder of their lives. They
nave returned from a trip to the head
OF the Swan river by way of the Jocko
valley, and they know n whole lot
about the country's topography. They
left very quietly and returned the same
way. In fact not many people knew
that they had gone. They came back,
however, without any gold, and they
are OF the opinion that however rich
the swan river country may be in seem
cry and bad trails, there isn't much
gold there.
About 10 years ago two prospectors
were exploring the region at the head
or Swan river, and had begun placer
mining along the stream when they
were attacked by party Of Black
loot Indians. They made the best re-
siStance possible, and one of them es-
capped from the savages. but the other
was shot during the fight at the cabin.
The man who got away made his way
over the divide and down the Jocko
valley, where he told a story of big
nuggets and heaps of gold dust that
excited his listeners. 1t was not safe
to enter the country at that time, and
nothing was done about continuing the
search for gold which had been inter-
rupted by the marauding Indians. The
prospector who escaped to tell the
story of wealth is said to have been
named lie Monde, but the name has
been contracted by the reservation peo-
pie into Lemon, and ever since he told
his tale the Lost Lemon Diggings'
have been the theme of much specula-
ton.
This man remained in the country
about here year after year, and six
years ago he led a party of gold seek
ers into the region of his exploits and
they searched diligently but failed to
find any gold whatever. and there has
ever since been no little skepticism re,
garding the truth of his story. No at
tempt was made to verify il, at any
rate. and the Lost Lemon Diggings''
had become a matter of legend until
last fall, when Alex Morrijeau, a half
breed living on the reservation, return
ed from a hunting trip with the infor-
nation that he had found the lost |
placer mine.
His story was that on the upper |
van river he had found an old ditch |
and well and the ruins of an old cabin |
The description of the location of these |
and OF the surrounding country CORES |
pended exactly with that given years |
ago by the escaped prospector, and IL |
was believed by many that Morriieau |
had at last found the diggings for |
which there had been so much vain |
search. When MorTfjeau told his story |
Il was too late in the season to ven |
ture back into the mountains, but the |
matter was not forgotten, and early |
his spring preparations were begun |
to go TO where Morrijeau had found |
his old ditch.
This month everything was ready |
and the party of p started out from |
he Jocko agency. The trail led up to |
he head of the valley and then over /
he mountains. From the divide they
iropped down into the Swan river /
country. The journey was a difficult
me, but visions of nuggets and gold |
lust sustained the travellers. and they
pushed eagerly forward. Particulars
# their experience after they reached
he spot where the gold ought to be
ire meager, as the Missoula members
II the party are very reticent regard
ng the trip. However, 1t is certain
hat 1t did not take a great while to
convince the treasure hunters that
here were no lost diggings where they
we're. or else they We're so completely
ost as TO be lost forever. SO the back
rail was struck and the disguised
tampeders dragged their weary way
Jack TO the Jocko agency. They We're
hungry and tired. They had seen lots
f new country but no gold Now they
AVE gone back to their legitimate oc-
and don't like to talk much
bout the Lost Lemon nip~inps