Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-10-23

~N HE RECENT announcement o.
successful and profitable gold
/ dredging operations on the Biz
I Horn river In southeastern Mon.
tana has called to mind the mum.
er0us gold hunting expeditions thai
ventured into that area during the
early days, most Of them never ever
finding color 10 pay them for theiI
weeks and in several instances, months
OF hardship and peril from the row
ing bands Of hostile Indians. One such
expedition which almost assumed the
proportions of a stampede ventured
forth from DeadwOod in the summer
of 1877, its members stirred TO 3 high
pitch of excitement by a man whom
they later found was actuated solely
by a desire to get enough money out
of them to get him TO Oregon, and at
the same time assure himself safe
conduct through the Indian country.
From his standpoint the trip was a
huge success, for he achieved both of
his detectives. But from the standpoint
of placer ground rich in gold IL was
an utter failure, for not one Of the
party ever turned grain of golden
sand.
The william of the story was a man
named Charles Lyons, buckskin clad
stranger, armed to the teeth, who ap-
peared in Deadwood with tales of
rich gold diggings on the Big Horn
river which drew men to him by the
score. He was about 30 years of age,
and with two Six-shooterS and a knife
at his belt and a rifle over his arm,
had the appearance of a frontiersman
of experience. None questioned his
veracity. No one ever questioned the
veracity Of any man who claimed to
know the location of good gold ground.
Tsr ,-k.
men had stumbled upon rich diggings
in a short gllch on the Big Horn
river, but that they had been driven
out by the Indians. He said that his
two partners had been killed and that
he himself had escaped only with the
greatest difficulty. He related his ex-
periences and told of the gold diggings
to few men in the stricteSt conf
dence when he first arrived in Dead
wood. He coupled it with the suggestion
that if about so men could be found
who would supply him with sufficient
money to purchase an outfit he would
guide them to the spot.
Within few days the story he had
told in confidence was all over Dead
wood and Lyons himself was the most
popular man in camp. Whenever he
he would be surrounded i'm
by an eager thrOng all firing
questions at him about his gold dis
covery. He refused to discuss the
matter openly, however, but to any
who we're disposed to put up money,
ne would unfold his plan for reaching
and working the mines. He raised a |
lot of money, but he also spent it |
'apidly, for he was dissipated and of |
habits.
Eventually he was supplied with |
that he had requested and |
he members Of the party which had |
zen thus formed were in readiness |
0 leave. Lyons, however, was enjoying |
himself intellectually and delayed |
he start on the ground that there |
we're too many watching him and that /
o head for the Big Horn while all of |
he excitement was on would result in !
UGH large crowd following them that |
would create trouble in the camp /
Yhich they hoped to establish and
night result in everyone having to |
AXE very small claim, because, he
aid, the diggings were limited in area.
He finally yielded to the urgings of
is partners, however, and the eXpedi-
ion started. There were 238 in the |
arty of whom II were women. They
'ere of every conceivable description
ONE were experienced prospectors,
theirs knew nothing whatever of dig
ing IOr gOlQ. some We're supplied With
deQ1ate equipment and others had
othing whatever. The party made 25
lilies the first day and camped on
.edwater creek. There they remained
day to organize. A man named
fierce was elected captain. He had
cen colonel in the union army dur
" the Civil war A code for the regu-
ltion Of the expedition was adopted
nd the members were thoroughly in
1rmed as to the danger they were
scing from the presence in the region
[ hostile Indians.
The party was headed into the
0untry where the Custer massacre
ad occurred the previous year, and
Though the Sioux who had taken part
that had been chased into Canada,
lere were still many bands Of In
Ians making raids on the plains area
est of the Black Hills. While they
ere still in their first camp on the
edwater, the Deadwood sheriff and
deputy rode in and arrested two
embers of the expedition on a charge
having removed mortgaged prop
.ty from the territory of Dakota In