The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1896-05-07

For many months past, says . Chcy
Onne letter to the New York Tribnner
reports have been received here re-
Tarding a strange discovery In an
abandoned mine several miles from
Newcastle, on the banks of creek.
More than twenty years ago the first
hirid tales of what is termed the Lost
Cabin" mine commenced 70 attract a.
tention of prospectors.
Its exact place was unknown, and a.
years passed the story Of 1t sank into
oblivion until last December, when
several miners, while grubstaking
along Castle creek, came upon . rusty
tablet. On close examination 1t was
found to contain an inscription which
read. "God Help Us--is76, Aug. 4th--
We can never get out alive. This hill
Is rich. Below we have walled up our
minerals. Oh. Lord, hope somebody
find this; of us" Signed, Fritz
Duke, Germ"
II was clearly evident that the
words had been cut into the sandstone
with some sharp implement. The
name signed was recognized as that OF
. former resident. At the time OF the
Newcastle mining excitement In shs
Cos party Of prospectors are said q
have discovered q rich mine.
On frequent occasions they came ts
town with valuable specimens, bat
never revealed the location Of their
property. Some months later the
prolonged absence of the prospectors
became gossip and fruitless search
was made.
The matter was then almost forgot
ten until about five years later, when
. communication was received from
the German ministerial Washington re.
questing the governor of Wyoming to
ascertain, II possible, the whereabouts
Of party of Germans who had come
west and written home frequently for
several weeks, when suddenly all cor.
respondence ceased. An investigation
was again made with no result.
The finding of the tablet last Decem-
Der gave renewed hope, and vigor.
Gus search has resulted in the unearth.
ing OF an abandoned mine. In one Of
the deep recesses Of a shaft the bones
Of four men were discovered, and the
mystery Of the "Lost Cabin" mine un-
fathomed. Another mine Of the same
character was discovered In the vicini-
ty OF Lead City. <.
II Is said that the discovery looks
Hike mine that crazy Hebrew To-
Gated about that time. The man. who
was a mysterious character. lived alone
In what is now known as Dead Mans
Cabin" on Castle creek, in 1877. He
packed his grub stake from Lead City
On his back, and wendell his lonely
way to Dead Mans Cabin" where no
other hrman being was ever known 70
sisit.
de went in the winter In the early
part Of 1877, and was not seen during
the long and stormy season that fol.
lowed. Nobody at Rockford thought
anything about his absence, as he
never put in an appearance unless he
went on his way to Lead City. He
made o confldant OF a man there and
told him he had rich mine, but was
afraid 70 let anyone know, lest he
might be killed and his property
stolen.
The man did not turn up In the
spring, and q party proceeded 70 his
cabin to ascertain what had become OF
him. He was found in his cabin alone;
cold, stiff and dead. lie was buried In
the prospect hole that he dug so silent
" and lonely. and the body covered up
with the dirt his own hands had dug
,ut.
These are but two instances Of many
similar experiences which have befall-
en- unfortunate prospectors through
out the Rocky mountains. Scarcely .
week passes where In some portion Of
Colorado, Utah, New Mexico or wyom-
ing q report Is not received OF the To-
eating Of an abandoned claim and the
unearthing Of bones. How these mea
met death can only be surmised. but In
more than one instance Il has beez
due 10 the greed Of otharz