Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-04-26

GVSi that Napt' JaSh hdh DSSH uSCclNcus
Robinson had left him to keep camp, in
lonely region while the willy white man
secured the sack of samples. The first
the Indian saw of the samples of ore was
when they were ready for the pack |
horses in camp. The ledge might have
been fifty miles away. Robinson NAV
have cached the ore while Johnson and
Glass were waiting for him to return
and lead them out of the jungles. Capt.
dependence in him SO it was decided
that watch would be kept upon
Robinson and his company, which was
known to be on the way from San
Francisco. Robinson had spent the
winter in California. He had gathered
around him company of fifty consisting
of personal friends and men of wealth.
Thieteeu of the company with Senator
Hearst at the head made the Journey.
The party was readily located by Tom
Beal at the head of company of eight
anxious gold seekers. The pursued and
pursurer came together on the Gro
Grande fifteen miles beyond Pierce City.
The Californians resented the intrusion
and war was threatened for a time. A
man by the name of Dyer was spokes-
man Oh one side and Tom Beal for the
other. No compromise could be reach
81 AL, 7
company should have no interest in the
great discovery till fifty claims had been
secured. Tom Beal proposed to grant
the visitors one claim each thirteen in all
and then his company would locate
eight claims one each. This, Mr.. Dyer
the San Francisco banker refused. Both
parties were obdurate and they returned
to Pierce City to learn that Robinson
had mysteriously disappeared. There
was in accordance with his treaty that
he would not proceed if he was followed.
Both parties returned to Lewiston.
| 1t was surmised that ruse would be
attempted so Beal and his friends went
over on the Palouse to guard that route.
The parties meet again. Another dis
pute and more threats of battle and
proposals of division of claims followed,
but no agreement was reached. Robin
son had deserted the party and his where
abouts were unknown. Senator Hearst
came to Lewiston and gave up the hunt
tor that year. He had secured charts
and maps of the country and the new
Eldorado which he displayed in this
city. The lost mine was marked out on
paper as being located on stream run
ming eastward into the North fork OF
Clearwater and this stream had three
branches which came together at one
point in deep canyon. The mine was
at the junction of the stream and ter
lodges of gold bearing quartz were chi
by these canyons. These lodges glitteret
, with free gold. The average assay o
the samples of which the discoveries hat
hundred pounds was 10000 to thu
ton.
Senator Hearst who at that time wa
a recognized quartz expert pronounced
the ore widely different from that of an.
known camp in the United States. TIL
: samples were from the surface as it wa
weather stained and moss covered.
As last resort the party recorde
!, thirteen claims one each, with AFRO
), Frazer the recorder of Orc Elmo distrie
and the old record is still i'll existence.
!, According to the record the claims ar
on tributary of the North Fork whic
;, flows easterly at the forks of a dee
J, canyon in a northerly direction froi
Orc Elmo.
Robinson was next heard from
! Boston in the fall of 1865. He organize
! la party of fifty and agreed to lead thei
g to his lost mine. This party was
reach the lost mine by following tt
route taken by Robinson and Glass an
= Johnson when the discovery was mad
When the party reached the Coeu
. dAlene lake they discovered that
!. large party from Walla Walla was fo
! towing them. The party went in
! camp while Robinson went into Il
!. noun tains on the pretext OF making
!. secret exploration. That was the la
a seen of Robinson by the Boston party.
- The next year 1867 third party "
& led by Robinson over the Lolo trail
=. the head waters of the Clearwater tn
party in turn was abandoned.
The belief is expressed that Robins
having witnessed the narrow escape
40 Wilson from hanging at the hands OF
~ disappointed followers was afraid OF
8, fate so narrowly averted in that case a
that fear confused him. It is fact Il
- he never abandoned the hope of indi
!. the lost mine. His health failed at
I, the third attempt to find it, but on
=. death bed he told his wife and 9TH
= around him that his tale was true
!. that this mine would be found just as
"a described il and that would be the gre
!. est mine in the world. His wife ST
this death message to Mr.. Frazer at
- request of the dying adventurer.
=. message contained an admonition
prospectors generally to continue
search for the Robinson lost mine.