The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-05-07
Golden
PhaIltOIllS
FASCINATING TALES
OF LOST M 1 N Il S
Cw.N.U. Bv Edifls0 L. Watson
DUTCH-IRISH MYSTERY
By Edifha l.. Watson

LHORT Collins, COlO., was really loil
in early days, and the soldiers or
that era were much like those of today
intensely interested In the curious
happenings that came to their atten-
ton.
So, when an Irishman and a Dutch
man came to Fort Collins with a load
of gold and proceeded to go on a lively
spree, the soldiers noticed 1t, and when
this was repeated several times they
began to wish that they knew the
source of all this wealth. They even
went so far as to hire an Indian to
follow the pair on their next trip OUT.
One day the partners set out up the
che-la-Poudre, and their red shadow
lurked behind just out of sight. The
Indian had made one mistake-he had
not figured on long journey, hence
had not taken much in the way of pro-
visions with him. After three days,
the smell from his Quarry's campfire
grew to be entirely too tantalizing; the
Indian took time out to hunt deer
and prepare square meal for himself,
and while he was following this new
trail deep snow fell, plotting out all
signs of the two miners. He was un-
able to follow them farther.
On a later visit to Fort Collins, the
odd pair invested In burrO to carry
their packs, and little later they dis
posed of the small beast and bought
an OK. Apparently, business was good.
Then, one day, they came in on foot,
tired and disguised, and said that a
bear had killed the OK.
It was during this visit that the Irish
and Dutch temperaments began to pail
on each other. The two had quarreled
before, and had got over 1t, but now a
real battle took place. In the heat OF
the moment all past friendship was for.
gotten, and each man tried to kill the
other. The Irishman was the stronger
of the two-the Dutchman went down.
and died as q result of his wounds.
Now was a splendid chance for the
soldiers to. satisfy their curiosity, and
they grasped it eagerly. The Irishman
was murderer, and must be punished
unless he might be persuaded to tel
the secret source Of the gold. With
a rope around his neck, he was ha
rangued by the men in uniform. Here
was his only chance to live; would he
take it? Tell his secret and go free
or refuse, and be hung for murder!
Perhaps the prisoner felt that he
could out-bluff his captors. No, he
shouted, he would tell nothing! He
would die rather than let them know
the source Of his gold!
Lets hang him little, boys-give
him the feel of the rope. Maybe thai
will loosen his tongue" was the sug
gestion, and the unfortunate Irishmar
& was hoisted into the air. Nov LEI
him down." and the rope was slack
ened. But the experiment failed: ex
element, fear, and rough handling hat
proved too much, and the Irishman was
dead.
Billy Melins left Nebraska in 1885
and went to Fort Collins to haul lum
Der for a sawmill on the Cache la Pou
DIRE. He often stopped at mining camp
halfway on his route, called Manhat
tan. One Saturday night he heard thai
some tourists were anxious about theil
son, who had ridden away on his pom!
and had not come back. Melins JOINED
in an unsuccessful search, but the la(
showed up next day, and he had {
strange story to tell.
He had become confused the after
noon before, he said, and when hi!
pony started to follow an old trail neal
nightfall, he was glad enough to giv'
the animal it's head. The trail led tt
deserted cabin, where the bones O.
an OK lay before the door, and some
specimens of ore sat on shelf inside
Mslins was interested. This must b,
the lost mine that the Irishman ant
the Dutchman had worked. He found
an old prospector, half-crazy sou
whose mind had gone wandering on
into the mountains, and the two Sc
out to find the cabin, guided by tn,
boys story.
Sure enough, the cabin was there a
he had said, and dim trail-evidentl.
the trail to the mine-led back up tn,
canyon. The old prospector lost al
sanity at the sight. He rushed up tn,
path, and Melins hurried after, In tim,
to see him dash into tunnel and al
most Immediately dash out again, fol
lowed by bear! The crazy prospec
tor was wild with rage. In his fury
he leaped at Melins, and it was al
the younger man could do to protec
himself and get the old fellow back tt
camp. After that Melins made n,
more trips In search Of treasure.
Previous to this time there had beer
large number of murders on the oil
Overland trail. Men returning from
California, bringing sacks of gold ST
show the folks back East" had beer
waylaid and killed, and their valuable
taken. The criminals had never beef
caught.
But, with the death Of the quarrel
some partners, the depredations ceased
Some one who had a mind for addin,
two and two, began to investigate, ant
this is what he learned:
There never was a mine. The bo,
and his pony, and Billy Melins ant
his crazy prOspector, either told fable
or were part Of the legend themselves
For the source Of the Dutch-Irish golt
was In no Colorado ore, but In tn,
nnckats of the murdered Travellers