Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-09-03
LOST PLACER
DIGGINGS
rhe Story Of the Lost John Day Plac.
er Mines and How Day Was
Killed by Indians.
MANY HAVE HUNTED IN VAIN
The Location Of the Rich Ground Dis
covered by the Veteran Prospect
or May Always Remain Secret.

Old.timers in Montana were ac
quainted with John Lepley. the cattle
king, and consequently the following
story told by him and written up by
the veteran newspaper man, Raleigh
Wilkinson, will be found to be inte.
esting:
Lepley and John Day were among
the earliest arrivals from the eastern
states in the Last Chance and Silver
Creek placer mines. They had a few
head of cattle. so the story goes, and
for time conducted milk ranch at
ola Silver Bow city. Then the bunch
grass was luxuriant on all the hills
surrounding the Prickly Pear valley.
In the fall of 1865 Day packed a
horse with the necessary outfit for a
prospecting trip and. saddling anoth-
er. bade goodbye to his partner,
friends and neighbors and rode away
TO the north.
Fort Benton was the only town then
between Silver City and Yankton on
the Missouri. On reaching Benton,
Day stayed there several days, and
then went on down along the north
side of the Missouri. hunting for rich
placer diggings that might be in that
part Of the country. Somewhere. not
a great way from Rocky Point, as
subsequent events proved, he found
what he was looking for and remain.
ed there alone all winter, or nearly
so. In the early spring he returned
to Fort Benton, bringing with him a
quantity Of coarse wash gold. He at
once wrote to his partner, Lepley.
telling him to come at once, as he
had struck 1t big and was preparing
to return and work the ground.
Lepley, anxious to join his partner,
and share in the good thing. immedi-
ately made preparations to depart. He
got everything in readiness that was
needed. and decided to take passage
on the next north bound stage coach,
which would leave Helena on the fol.
lowing morning and passed directly
In front of his door.
But it was long wait until morn.
ing and in the meantime he thought
long and hard. He knew the coun-
try north and east Of Fort Benton
was constantly infested with hostile
Indians who took a white mans scalp
when the chance offered. He did not
go to bed that night. He was too
much excited and interested and so
sat and smoked and canvassed the
situation from every point Of view.
Toward morning he dozed and while
In a half sleeping state a faint whis-
per seemed to be waited TO him from
afar, from that distant space occu.
pied by the twinkling stars, which
admonished him to remain where he
was.
He dozed on and the fire In the old
fireplace gradually turned TO ashes.
AT last the clatter OF the stage coach
and six spirited horses as they dash.
ed into the village awoke him. But
he did not move farther than to re-
plenlsh the fire and refill his pipe with
tobacco. A few minutes later the
stage coach was moving swiftly on its
way to the head of navigation on the
Missouri, but John Lepley was not on
board. And thus W.T. preserved TO
Montana one who afterward became
great cattle grower. a respected and
wealthy man.
John Day did not wait long for his
partner. In few days he had found
two frontiersmen as reckless as him.
self and the three having procured
the necessary supplies. loaded them
into a boat and started for the great
Eldorado that was TO make them all
rich men.
Days partners had been trappers
and hunters on the upper Missouri
river for years. and, like most OF
their class. had married Indian WON.
en-. Their wives belonged TO the
Blackfeet tribe. one of the most war.
like in the northwest. They could
not or would not leave the women be.
hind, and so they took them along.
The current of the stream flowed
swiftly and they made good progress.
but they were destined never to 90 be.
yond Rocky Point.
Here they stopped one night and
made camp as usual. Tying the boat
securely to a stake. bedding, cooking
utensils and grub were taken ashore
and the evening meal prepared by the.
women.
After supper the men lay on soft
buffalo robes in front OF a roaring cot.