The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-07-18

Fairy Tale Regarding a Hidden Silver Mine
Near Houghton.

1
operations for silver in what ir known
as Silver mountain, on the west bank of
tho Sturgeon river. about twelve miles
southwest oi Baraga.
wonderful legend attributes 10 the
mountain an immense hidden mine OF
pure silver. the secret opening To which
has been known only TO the Indians and
TO one or two white men, whose lives
ultimately paid the price for the knowl-
ledge they surreptiously gained.
Outcroppings oi the precious metal are
numerous and two or three times during
the past quarter Of a century, companies
have been organized for exploring pur-
poses, the last being an eastern affair
Incorporated under the title Of "Tho sill
yer Leaf Mining Co.. whose chnrter is
probably yet in existence. The work
done by these companies WAS limited,
but enough 90 show that these veins
were only tributary 10 "a great mass Of
metal, thc clew 10 whose location IL
seemed impossible to lind
Along in 1867. Henry Herbert, a drug
eist at Hougliton, with Wow To soly-
ing the secret, ingratiated himself into
the confidence OF a young Indian woman
near L'Anse, who promised faithfully TO
post hiln. One day there walked into
his store at lloughton young Indian
named Louis LaPoncc, who promised To
show him "big silver mine"
Herbert cheerluly embraced the young,
bucks offer, and the two started off on
the road towards Baraga. As they we're
crossing the Pilgrim river, IA few miles
from Houghton, IIei bert's treachcrOus
guide raised n gun aud fired heavy
charge OF buckshot into his companions
back, killing him instantly. Hiding the
body under a pile OF brush, the Indian
then made his wny home 60 his tribe.
Ilerbert's friends sent Il searching
party out after him, but with no result.
LaPonce was locked mp in the county
jail, where he stoutly denied all implca-
tions OF treachcry. For n time the au-
| thorities were at a loss how to fasten
the crime upon him, until Carl sheldon,
now the copper country's candidate for
congress, bcthought himself OF ruse.
! Obtaining entrance to the county Jail,
he piled LaPonce with fire water until
the dusliy brave was thoroughly reck-
less. Sheldon then told him that Her
bcrts relatives and friends were 80
anxious To- find the body that they
would not push the ease farther, could
they gain Information leading TO its re-
covery.
The lndinn AT once fell into the trap,
and offered TO conduct a party To the
hiding place OF IIerberts body. Upon
this evidence against him, LnPonce was
tried and sentenced TO state prison for
lille, but was subsequently pardoned and
Is now living in LAnse.
Hcrbcrt's fate, however, did not deter
another white man named Parker from
trying the sainr scheme. 4 backwoo,is-
man and hunter, he found no difficulty
in accommodating himself to the rude
habits Of the Indians and in course oi
time became what il known as "squaw
man." Old settlers in Ontonagon re-
member Parkor's coming TO town once
or twice a year with u sackful OF pure
silver, One day, in quarrel. Parker
killed an Indian and thenceiorth he was
warned that he was n marked man
should he ever again venture within the
sacred precincts 81 the silver mountain
or reveal its secret. And he never did
| a., ltfo n
on the rond between Chnsso and Onton.
agon. Parker was induced to move 20
the home Of neghboring settler, TO
whom he often promised 10 reveal the
secret OF the mine, but he died suddenly
and the secret was buried with him.
Among the Indians OF L'Ansc mission
are numerous apcounts of similar incl
dents and the dreadful late which over,
took the paleiaces who attempted TO
pry into the secrets OF the hill blessed Co
the Indians alone by the Great Spirit
Explorers going down the river, it is
said, hive been overturned in the rapids
and drowned, while two white men who
had succeeding in penetrating even 90 tho
mouth Of the secret opening were killed
by the falling OF a heavy mass Of rock.
But the Indians about there arc nearly
gone. and with them the superstitInua
dread OF their secret hill. II thorc Is in.
deed silver there in paying quantities the
white man IL going after II, aud before
long the bowels Of Silver mountain will
have been torn open TO public view.
-e -
Post office improvements.
A coat Of paint has been administered