The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05
story Of wichita Mountains.

Mr.. y. Fsnnin writes to the Eagie as
follows:
John Lee stopped OF a few days on hia
way to Boise, Idaho. lie is just IN from
his mineral claim in the Wichita noun
tains in the Kiowa country. He dis
played some line dust and several nug-'
gets. Mr.. Lee IS an old miner and the
story Of his luck IL wonderful. lie said.
oh, yes. / knew there was gold there
and plenty OF II long before the open
ing. You see IL was this way: Along
in 1868 when Old Missouri became too
warm for my pards and I. We were
Prices men and didn't feel safe so close
TO Kansas, so my pards suggested We
go TO the southwest, Intending TO drift
into Mexico. There were three OF us.
old Doc Pitt. Tom Young and myself
We had good camp outfit and good
horses and luckily met only friendly In
dams all that summer Game was
plenty and We finally reached a beautiful
little creek IN the Wichita mountains and
camped there 20 dry some venison. for
deer were very plenty IN that locality.
The first day in camp. Doc Pit. an old
forty miner was fishing IN tho little
creek and noticing quantity OF black
sand. called me 10 bring him the frying
pan and I and Young stood BY watching
his movements. as NE had 10 idea what
he meant Finally after what seemed
to US very long time he began 70 dance
and wave his frying pan and by panto-
mine expressed all kinda Of Joy
lie told Us he had found a color" We
were still in the dark. TIL re waded
ashore and showed Us q dun yellow
speck in n small quantity - black sand
and informed Us there was gold there
We started 20 yell. but he stopped that.
az any noise might bring "A swarm ~
Kiowas down upon as and We had no
wish TO entertain poor 10 just then.
Well We stayed and built Us a snug
camp in the rocks in such way that We
waded to and from our DOOR 20 cover any
tran we might make 10 deceive any
proving brave. We 'panne and axed
up a rude rocker and washed out good
lot % dust and nuggets. about 81 81. Did
We have any adventures Well. rather
Il IS long story and a ssd one. We stay
I'd there from July 70 April; y was
lonely but we kept busily az work and
often talked Of when We would quit and
60 back 10 the settlements. Poor Young,
ne nad a mot..sr and sister IN old Mis-
souri and he often wished he could send
them a nugget. Along n April We were
p bout - break camp and 60 home. Whea
one beautifuI morning Pitt and started
out for some deer as We wanted 70 dry
enough 20 last - month as We X
pected 10 leave for she fort tno next
fr~i9hfsr that would surely - 81 the
fort BY that time in the spring We
had been gone until about O'Clock wbsu
coming over q ridge 81 The hEis. { saw q
dense smoke lu the little valley We call
- home Our horses n-irec arf show
I'd uneaslness a01 Ne vas soon close
enough 20 hear the ysiis aud Shouts -
Indians C0uceaiin< ourselves snd
horses hehind & large roek. Pift rren.
close enough 70 witness the closing scene
- the horrible 1es,h O. or friend saG
ccrrpznior. had c-spt cioss enough
~ se~ Re was tied 70 a stake ard TIRE
sqosws we're pokfaE him ui,h haruiaz
sticks ard throwing TiowfrE Goals in afs
face. When sDpposs faintsd as Z
knew 70 more urti opened uy sF-z
ard aav the cute. rsars Ia ihe ss5- Ard
has-rd Pitt ssT well = = al ever We
Jay in fhs shelter - ERE rock 81 rixtf
ard along abo.t Fsn-nn ~ herd = noise
r. frs carp aas creerlnE g. ft~ i@1rs wr
vzfched fha caun tr-ak ~ as6 TIE -
llsv1nr rat ToanE vas slors fsft breas
trail AID without iszf.rz any Fesr rad
VET d1sr the creek W= 1sil slE. a1.I
% OF q c.fsaax Ehea re faIsfl j zsuE4