The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-07-08

Virginia City. led the famous Big
Horn expedition that was sent out
BY Nevada capitalists in search of the
Lost Cabin mine. The expedition
was failure and Comstock, whether
from disappointment or some other
cause, while encamped near BOzeman
sent pistol ball through his head.
He was buried near the spot and only
recently was the grave marked and
made known as that of one of the
discOverers of the famous COmstock
lode.
One of the most tragic ends that
came to any prospector was that of
William Farrell, the discoverer of
the Meadow Lake, who died victim
Of remorse in a San Francisco hos
pital, haunted by the spirits of other
deluded prospectors passing and re-
passing his deathbed."
Prospectors from all parts of the
west have sought the famous Lost
Cabin" mine, situated in the Big
Horn mountains of Wyoming and
Montana. The story of this bonanza
deposit states that the lode was found
by three men who were prospecting
for gold in the early days when the
country was the habitat of hostile In
dians. Near the headwaters of an
unknown stream the pioneers ran
across body of ore so rich that they
could hardly believe their senses. On
way out of the country, two of the
miners were killed by savages and
the third reached civilization more
dead than alive. He related his en-
periences, but could not give the en-
act location of the ledge. AS re-
suit Of the privatiOns endured and
the constant bordering over his sup
posedly immense wealth, the survivor
lost his reason, according to the story
and was never able to return to the
lode. The samples, however, which
he had brought back with him proved
that the mine was not altogether a
myth.
Later, a prospectOr stumbled upon
vein in the Big Horn canyon, which
he believed to be the outcrop of the
famous lode. The news was tele-
graphed to all parts of America stat
ing: Lost Cabin mine found" How
ever, this proved to be premature
OoSOIIAOus lOT Tic OIc WAS copper,
with no gold content.
In the fall of 1877. little more
than a year after the Custer mas
sacre, cavalry officer of the regular
army was scouting after hostiles, who
led him wild goose chase among
the peaks of the Big Horn noun
tains. For days he followed them
finally lost their trail and became
lost himself. One day about noon
after travelling since daylight. he call.
ed halt, dismounted and ordered a
rest for a half hour.
The soldiers threw themselves or
the ground, holding their steeds
while the captain tossed his bride
rein to an orderly and went off q
little to one side and sat down on q
mound of rock. In gazing about, the
orderly noticed that the earth upor
which the captain was seated had 9
rather unusual appearance. A closer
examination proved that the mound
upon which the captain was seated
was q disintegrated highly mineral
lied rock. Reaching under projec.
ton of the quartz-for the rock was
In truth decomposed quartz-the ex.
SAtCO AuOu OIOAC IOtlcu TOCk III
which yellow particles sparkled II
the sunlight.
AS the remainder of the command
had neither seen nor heard the little
drama enacted by the discoveries, the
two men agreed to keep the find &
secret. A sample of the mound was
taken with them. The assay made
OF 1t later proved that it was rich ir
gold.
For a number of days, relate:
historian, the command wandered
about among the gulches and bat
lands and finally struck a trail which
carried them out of the mountains
With their horses played out ant
their rations exhausted, they at las
reached camp. having wandered fol
nearly month in the toughest coun
try In North America.
The orderly was killed shortl,
afterward in a skirmish with hos
tile Indian band. Although the Off
Ger more than once attempted to fint
the lost mine, he was always unsuc
cessful. In explaining his failure. h,
says: ut is utterly impossible to tel
the precise locality of the lode now
as the country was terribly rough
the surroundings strange, and hos