Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-09-12

Here is the story of Robert Stab
ley, written over 40 years ago, of the
discovery of gold in Last Chance
gulch, which led to the founding of
the city of Helena: ut was in the
spring of 1864 that the Kc0tenai
stampede from Alder gulch took
place. During the winter many
reports of the discoveries at KOOtenai
circulated in Virginia City and other
camps, and every miner, not in pos
session of a paying placer claim, was
keen to reach the new EldOrado.
Among these we're four miners,
Cowan, Crab, Miller and Stanley, at
forwards credited as the discoveries OF
Last Chance gulch, who had been pros
pecting IN the Hell Gate country. While
on the way to the Kootenai country
they met a miner named James Cole
man, who told them that the Kootenai
was not what it vas reported. He
was on his way back to Alder.
However, the Cowan party had
three months supply OF provisions, and
thew decided to keep in the open and
continue prospecting. They ~prOSpected
the Little Blackfoot thoroughly, found
colors but no pay. Following up this
SlItdII lllOuel Oil Va 80
circling mountains, they turned south
ward up the stream, and as they began
to rise rapidly in the mountains, each
vista that opened before them was a
scene of loneliness, the river for some
distance being a succession of cascades
Nearing the summit Of the gulch the
trail became more and more indistinct,
and eventually faded out altogether
One of the men was sent ahead to
scout for the trail. When he reached
the summit he could look across into
a lovely valley, through which several
streams were seen to wind, and away
in the distance.
Approaching Last Chance
Next morning the descent into the
valley began. A game trail was found
and this made the progress OF the lit
tie expedition fairly easy. Game
abounded on every hand, so tame as 70
afford no sport in the killing. CoWan
and his men made their first camp IN
the valley at what was afterwards
known as Seven Mile gulch, the flrst
gulch north of Last Chance. They pros
pected on Seven Mile gulch for some
time. but found nothing more thar
good color or in old placer mining
narlance gold enough in the pans tt
shine. and give forth color. Following
down the gulch they descended INTO tne
valley of the Prickly Pear, and turning
to the right they camped for their noon
meal on the banks of the Prlckly rear
"The valley was a hunters para,
disc: immense drOveS OF antelope Wer'
feeding on the plain. White talleu ace
would walk up to within a few yard'
of their camp. After their lunch TIT
~prospectors discussed the situation
Their provisions were running low
They decided to take a course north
ward along the gulch, prospecting, a.
they moved forward. Before tnel
started out two of the men strOlled Owe
to the creek. They scratched a hole U
the rim rock of a small bar, mucf
to their surprise, obtained fine color
and further work resulted in notnlnf
better. They decided that the whole
country was nothing but tantallzlnt
color .
'Northward they went, digging hole
everywhere, but finding nothing Wortf
while. The further north the more un
likely the country looked, flat, table
topped mountains showing the actor
of water more than fire, took the plac'
OF the volcanic range they had JUS
crossed. ~,
Turning southwark, as they too
their course for Alder gulch, their dali.
remark was, That little gulch on tn
Prickly Pear is our last chance; II w
do not find pay there we Will streak