River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-09-12
LEGEND OF LOST MINE.

The Bonanza of SIMPSONS Flat, whose
Secret bied with Its Owner.
For thirty years miners have been
searching for what they believe is a
mine of gold equaling, if not surpass-
ing, In richness anything known on
this coast They believe that IL is To-
Gated somewhere in the vicinity OF
SIMPSONS fat. and the mountains for
miles around have been prospected
without success. but still there are old
miners who have mistaken faith In the
legend that Shipe's Eldorado is some
where in that region, and that some
day 1t will be unearthed from beneath
the debris which has been accumulate
ing for thirty years. The search is
still going on.
The story is as follows: Forty years
ago a miner named Shipe was living
the life of hermit in Simpsons Fat.
his only companions being the half
wild Indians. tie was man who rare
ly showed himself In the abodes of civ
ilized men. In fact, houses were few
and far between in the vicinity of
SIMPSONS fiat. There was a settle
ment at Visalia and once or twice
year old Shipe would journey thither
with sack full of gold. lay in sup
Ply 81 grub, and then get drunk and
gamble and fight till his nuggets were
all gone. His sprees would last from
two weeks to Il month. and at the end
of that time ne would take his way
back to SIMPSONS fat and no one
would hear OF him again until his next
visit to Visalia with another sack of
gold
Thus matters went on for ten years
He paid his semi-annual visits to Visa
ia as usual His buckskin gold sack
always full when hessame and empty
when he departed. By this time few
settlers had begun TO take up land
among the hills. and among them was
a settler on Mill creek. Old Shipe usu
ally stopped there as he passed to and
fro between SIMPSONS fat and Visslis.
About 1864 Old Shipe came to this
house on Mill creek for the last tims.
He was becoming an old man, and his
manner was different from what IL
had been on former occasions. and he
seemed more communicative. While
sitting that night in the cabin he
sand dollars of gold nuggets of all
sizes, from two bits to ten dollars and
twenty dollars. and told his host that
he knew of place where he could load
q train of pack mules with just such
gold in few months digging.
The Mill creek man, of cou rse, grew
interested. and shipe promised to take
him in partnership and they would
work the mine together.
II am on my way to Visslia for
grub" said he. and when come back
will take you to the mine"
His host was so excited that he want
ed to go at once, but Shipe declared
there was no occasion for haste. as the
intention to go to Visalia first, and in
spite of all persuasion, he went.
When he reached Visalia he bought
supplies, as was his custom, and then
proceeded to get drunk and spend his
money. One night he took part in q
quarrel over a game of cards and was
killed. The man who killed him was
hanged before morning by the vigil
lantes.
From that day to tLis men have
searched for the mine, but without
success. One Of the most persistent
explorers for it, in his day. was Chria
Evans He put in the most of his time
for three or four years searching for
ii, and it is said he imagined that the
mine located by him and Sontag was
the site of Shipe's old bonanza II is
evident that Shipe's mine was placer.
IS his gold was all nuggets apparently
worn by water. The search is still
going on. and perhaps some day. in an
place. the mine will be
Call Expositor.