The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-07-11

and to s p. N.
-~~~~~
rB Telephone calls Promptly Answered
Day or Night.
ing to which has been known only
to the Indians and to one or two
white men, whose lives ultimately
paid the price for the knowledge
they surreptitiously gained.
Outcroppings of the precious metal
are numerous and two or three times
during the past quarter of century
companies have been organized for
exploring purposes, the last being
an eastern affair incorporated under
the title of THE Silver Leaf Mining
Co., whose charter is probably yet
in existence. The work done by
these companies was limited, but
enough to show that these veins
were only tributary to great mass
of metal, the clue to whose location
it seemed impossible to find.
Along in 1867, Henry Herbert
druggist of Houghton, with a view
to solving the secret, ingratiated
himself into the confidence of a
young Indian woman near l. Anse,-
who promised faithfully to post him.
One day there walked into his store
at Houghton young Indian named
Louis La Ponce, who promised to
show him big silver mine "
Herbert cheerfully embraced the
young buck s offer, and the two
started off on the road towards Bar
aga. AS they were crossing the
Pilgrim river, few miles from
Houghton, Herbert S treacherous
guide raised gun and fired heavy
charge of buckshot into his COM
panion 5 back, killing him instantly,
Hiding the body under pile of
brush. the Indian then made his way
home to his tribe
Herbert S friends sent searching
party out after him, but with no
result. LaPonce was locked up in
the county Jail, where he stoutly de-
MED all implications of treachery.
For time the authorities were at q
loss how to fasten the crime upon
him. until Carl Sheldon bethought
himself of ruse.
Obtaining entrance to the county
Jail he piled LaPonce with tirewater
until the dusky brave was thorough
| w reckless. Sheldon then told him
, that Herbert relatives and friends
, were so anxious to find his body that
: they would not push the case
farther. could they gain information
leading to its recovery. The Indian
at once fell into the trap, and OF
: fered to conduct party to the hid
ing place of Herbert body. Upon
, this evidence against him, LaPonce
was tried and sentenced to state
prison for life, but was subsequently
pardoned and is now living at Bar
5 aga.
) Herbert 5 fate, however, did no
: deter another white man named
1 Parker from trying the same scheme
t A backwoodsman and hunter, NJ
e found no difficulty in accommodating
himself to the habits of the In
dams and in course of time became
; what is known as a 'squaw man.
!, Old settlers in Ontonagon remember
. Parker's coming TO town once OF
: twice year with a sackful OF pur,
: silver. One day. in quarrel
Parker killed an Indian, and thence
! forth he was warned that he was
y marked man should he ever agar
venture within the sacred precinct'
e of the silver mountain or reveal IL
S secret. And he never aid. foI
l. wears he lived the life of hermit OF
:. the road between Chassell and On
l. tonapon. Parker was induced t
[. move to the home of neighbour:
:. settler. to whom he often promlse'
l. to reveal the secret OF the mine, Du
/. he died suddenly and the secret wa
l. buried with him.
W Among the Indians at l. Ans
t. mission are numerous accounts Q
similar incidents and the dreadfu
: fate which overlook the paleface
: who attempted to pry into Tn
3 secrets of the hill blessed to the In
- dams alone by the Great Splrl,
y Explorers going down the river.
~ is said, have been overturned In Tn
M rapids and drowned, while two whit
- men who had succeeded III penetfa'
:. inc even to the mouth of the secrt
- opening were killed by the falling
To- heavy mass of rock.
=, - But the Indians about here al
IS Is; nearly gone, and with them IL
.a superstitious dread of their secr'
~ hill. Ii thera is indeed silver thel
= in paving quantities the white ms
w is going after it, and before long u
of bowels of Silver mountain VIII ma
- - been torn open to public view.