The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-13
GOLDEN
PHANTOMS
Fascinating
Tales OF tsi,I.t. ws,,Oo
lost Mines e-Su
THE MOUNTAIN OF GOLD

-
appears Ike one of those mar
vels which could never exist out
side Of fairy stories. but two men
actually found such a place.
The Fisk expedition TO the West
came from Minnesota In the early
cos. Leading the wagon train were
Captain J. l.. Fisk and Dr. W. ID.
Dlbb. Near Fort Rice. on a branch
OF the Yellowstone river. the train
made camp. They were approach
Ing dangerous country. and Captain
Fisk aud Doctor pibb rode out alone
10 see what lay ahead.
They went 10 the southwest.
After some time on the way. they
came % deep and gloomy canyon.
and I'm the rocks around them could
be seen traces OF gold This was
interesting. so they kept on. The
farther they rode. the more gold
appeared AZ last the horses be.
came tired. and since a small cave
was near AZ hand they put the ami
mails In this shelter 90 rest, out of
sight of Indians who might be
about.
After they had walked two miles.
they snw SO much gold In the rocks
that they could hardly believe their
eyes
Realizing that this was the ideal
end FOR any Journey. no matter
where Il might be headed, they
staked clalms-clnlms for them
selves. claims for relatives and
friends. and claims for every man
Ia the wagon train-as fast as they
could Dark came while they were
still stalking OF the glorious golden
mountalnslde. why 20 back now.
only to return at daybreak? They
decided to stay where they were.
and 20 enjoy the unique experience
OF sleeping on almost solid gold.
But during the night an expert.
ence of another kind caused them
20 change their minds. Indians had
~een them-Indlans who perhaps
felt a prior claim 70 the mountain
of gold. and who did not propose
10 have that claim Jumped.
Fortunately for the white men.
there were not many In the attack.
Ing party. but they realized that
they must retreat Immediately.
sliding and stumbling. unable to
see their footing. never knowing
when death would reach them. the
two men managed 10 reach the cave
where the horses were.
II was too dangerous for them
20 remain IN the canyon. for day
light would come shortly. Some
how they made their way out OF
the place. running and Sighting.
desperately aware that their lives
hung on very slender threads In
deed. But by some marvellous
province. they escaped and rode TO
the wagon encampment-only 10
find Il. too. besleged. and by a
larger band OF Indians
one can Imagine Captain Fisk's
depression lie had left the party
for which he was responsible. and
here he was. returning. perhaps. too
late. lie and Doctor Dlbb entered
the fight. and managed TO retoln
the party. but most OF the gold with
which they had filled their pockets
vas lost
For two weeks the unfortunate
wagon train stood of the Indians.
Each day the white men grew more
apprehenave and their attackers
bolder. At last one man. feeling
that he would as soon die outside
as inside the camp. fed for help.
and got TO Fort Rice in safety.
Soldiers Immediately rode to the
rescue, and the bedraggled "expe-
dltion" returned to Fort Rice with
them.
And now came the greatest dis
appointment OF all. Orders had
been given that the train should
proceed no farther. The Indians
we're rising. and TO venture deeper
into their territory would be fool
hardy. Captain Fisk had all a sol
dler's respect for orders. and he
knew that he must obey. But be-
fore they started back for the
states" he tried to find out some
thing about the mountain OF gold.
There was little to tell. Other
men had ventured part OF the way
into those gloomy mountains, but
some had been killed. and all ef-
forts to see what lay in the can
yons had been abandoned.
Perhaps 1t was this same won
derful mountain that Father Jean
Pierre de Smet saw. Jug where
this was, the good old man would
never say, for he feared that white
miners filed with the peculiar mad
ness engendered by the chase OF the
golden phantom would drive of or
kill the Indians OF the region
and Father De Smet loved human
lty more than gold. However, we
need not doubt that he saw IL. for
the priest himself told 1t in ST.
Louis. Il know" he said. where
gold exists in the Rocky mountains
in such abundance that, If made
known. 1t would astonlsh the
world" But he would tell no more.