Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-08-31

Here Is the story Of Robert Stab
ley, written over 20 years ago, Of the
discovery Of gold I'm Last Chance
gulch, which led 20 the founding Of
the city of Helena: 1Kt was In the
spring Of 1864 that the Keotenai
stampede from Alder gulch took
place. During the winter many
reports Of the discoveries at K00tenaf
circulated in Virginia City and other
camps, and every miner, not in pos
session Of q paying placer claim, was
keen 20 reach the new EldOradO.
Among these were four miners,
Cowan, Crab, Miller and Stanley, af-
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 q miner named James Cole
man, who told them that the Kootenat
was not what 1t was reported. He
was On his way back to Alder.
However, the Cowan party had
three months supply Of provisions, and
they decided to keep in the open and
continue prospecting. They prospected
the Little Blackfoot thoroughly, found
colors but no pay. Following up this
stream through an amphitheatre of en-
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 q
scene Of IovelineSs, 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
q 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 to
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 first
g1llch north Of Last Chance. They pros /
pected on Seven Mile gulch for some
time. but found nothing more than
good color or In old placer mining
0arlance, gold enough In the pans 10
shine. and give forth color. Following
down the glIlch they descended into the
valley OF the Prickly Pear, and turning
TO the right they camped for their noon
meal on the banks of the Prickly Pear.
'sThe valley was a hunters para
Use; immense droves of antelope were
'eeding on the plain. White tailed deer
you'd walk up to within few yards
If their camp. After their lunch the
discussed the situation.
Their provisions were running loW.
They decided to take q course north
yard along the gulch, prospecting. as
hey moved forward. Before they
tarted out two of the men strolled over
o the creek. They scratched hole to
he rim rock of small bar, and much
o their surprise, obtained fine color
md further work resulted IN nothing
,ettcr. They decided that the whole
country was nothing but tantalizingl
.olor
sNorthward they went. digging holes
but finding nothing worth
While. The further north the more un-
likely the country looked, flat, table
opped mountains showing the action
4 water more than fire, took the place
4 the volcanic range they had just
rossed.
turning southwark, as they took
heir course for Alder gulch, their daily
emark was, That little gulch on the
'rickly Pear is our last chance; II we
10 not find pay there we VIII streak II