Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-12-24

stead Of RELOCATING
the hidden boards
to legend, common
ly surrounds them with additional
facts, or near-facts, that make them
the more attractive to imaginative
minds.
Montana, despite the millions upon
millions in real wealth beneath its sur
face, has a generous share of such
stories. In most of them the early day
gold miners and their hated enemies,
the road agent, play principal roles.
Some of them have indubitable facts
to give them foundation-such as the
tale Of the stage bandits gold cache
on Gravelly range in Madison county.
Others are little more than legend
but legend that Is completely fascinat-
ing.
In the latter category is the gold of
Pioneer, ghost camp at the head OF the
Big Hole basin. Even here, there is n
important and material fact which
stands out, to give the tale all the basic
support 1t needs, In the minds OF those
whose Imagination leaps into activity
with the mention Of hidden treasure.
The placer miners who established
Pioneer believed the story implicitly.
Two or three of them claimed to have
heard the tale directly from the lips of
parties acquainted with the facts. In
this case, these parties were Indians
aged men when the pioneers came to
Montana, yet only mere youths when
the events of which they told trans
pired. From the miners, and from
other sources, one of Beaverhead's
most noted pioneer ranchers, the late
A. j. (Ajax) Moves, years ago secured
the legend in its entirety.
1t begins many years before the first
recorded discovery Of gold in Montana
many years, in fact, before even the
courageous Jesuit fathers penetrated
the unknown lands of the Flathead and
the Bitter Root, bringing enlighten-
ments to the children of the Great
Spirit.
Daringly blazing new trails where no
white man had ever trOd before, five
French Canadian trappers came down
out of the north. They were in search
Of treaSure-but only the treasure Of
the furs which were to be found in pro-
fusion along the primitive lakes and
streams. Into the Flathead they de-
Scended, then, adventure ever urging
them onward, to the valley of the Bit
ter Root.
There they found a friendly Indian
people, looking upon their fair skins
and queer dress in amazement, but
manifesting signs only of welcome and
hospitality. The country was a verit-
able paradise for trappers, with fur
bearing animals of every description.
The Indians willingly showed them
where to find the best trapping, even
helped them in their work. In return,
the guests bestowed upon their hosts
many Of the glittering little trinkets
so dear to the heart of every redskin.
This went on for three or four
months. The intrepid trapper-explorers
learned the language Of the tribe and
found ~cOntentment in the rich and
beautiful country around them. Finally,
one Of the five married a comely little
Indian maiden and was made a mem
Der of the tribe, while the others be-
came increasingly uncertain as to
whether they cared to return to civil
ization.
Destruction of the dream of content
ed peace came without warning and in
all innocence. One of the older Indians
one day carelessly exhibited an orna-
ment he had crudely fashioned from
grains of a yellow metal. AS one, the
five trappers pounced upon 1t. Their
eyes suddenly glittered with excitement,
greed seized them in relentless grasp.
They fired volley after volley of ques-
tions at the bewildered old man.
He answered them as best he could
told them how he and a companion had
found grains of the g%listening stuff in
the bottom Of a stream across the
mountain range to the south, how they
had carefully secured enough Of the
metal for an ornament apiece and then
left the country without further explor-
alton.
Could he find the place again. Would
he take them to it. To the former de-
mand, the Indian replied in the affirm
alive. But at the latter, he shook his
head obviously. He would not dare. The
country was now the recognized hunt
ing grounds of a hostile and war-like
tribe-intrusion would mean certain
death. The impatient trappers waved
the objection aside. If the gold was
there in quantities, it was worth the
chance. Still the old nan demurred
Life, to him, seemed far more precious
than little grains of mineral useful only
for pretty trinkets.
Feverish now in their eagerness, the
white men persisted, and at last the
old man compromised. He would take
them to the creek of the gold bearing
sands, yes, but he would return at
once to his own tribe leaving them
there. Eagerly the trappers agreed
once on the ground, they could secure
the gold without any assistance.
Days Of excited preparation followed
with the married member Of the party
confronted by a problem. His pretty
wife insisted upon accompanying him
In spite of the opposition of his mates
he finally agreed. And so it was a band
of seven who set out for the end of the
rainbow one morning in early spring