The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-11-12

he disclosed it then only to n man.
The 20 miners built a crude ScoW at
Fort Benton. The boat was crude n
rough, but it was strong and seaworthy
and calculated to take its passengers
over the most turbulent OF the Missouri
rivers waters in safety.
Each mans gold was tied in indi-
vidual sacks, labeled with his name
and secreted in a water tight compart-
ment in the bottom of the scoW, n
covered with floor boards. Above the
treasure box were piled provisions and
equipment for the trip, guns and am
munition.
The voyage was through hostile In
dian country almost from the start
and the Sioux became so troublesome,
Shipping at the boat from the bank
during the day time, that the voyagers
finally adopted the policy OF hiding
the boat and themselves IN the pushes
along shore during the DAY and trave1t
from old Fort Rice, the danger, was
thought past, and the party put put
in daylight. While they were floating
peacefully along the Indians fired upon
them from ambush. The first Volley
killed one of the group and his q
plunged overheard. A rafting IRE from
the bushes followed and the miners
sprang for their guns, the steering oar
forgotten.
The current at that point was swift.
The boat went upon a rock and a hole
was stove in the square Prov nrougn
which the water poured. They fought
until dusk from behind the bulwarks
of their vessel. Their ammunition gave
out. The Indians took advantage OF
their opportunity and wan out to
finish their bloody work. Numbers OF
the miners already had been killed
during the day, and the few that re-
manned had no chance against the
horde of redskins that closed in on
them under a protecting rifle ire OF
Pierre Lavelle and his Indian wife
were spared.
The Indians stripped the bodies of
their victims and threw them into the
river from the waterlogged boat. After
looting the craft of rifles n proVlS.
ions, they pushed it off the rock. It
filled with water and sank slowly to
the bottom. The Indians knew nothing
OF the gold which it carried to the
bottom and Levelle did not tell them
Lavelle and his wife remained with
the Indians for some time put ie1t as
citing suspicion or bringing down upon
themselves the anger of the redmen.
LaveIle enlisted in the army at Fort
Rice, thinking to remain near the spot
where the treasure was lost in the
hope that at some time he would be
able to recover it.
He found, however. that there was
little possibility of finding it alone.
He needed help. He took INTO his con
fidence a man named Richard Pope,
an Ohio Quaker, and Pope's son. The
three went up the river n Layene
tried to locate the spot where the ooat
had sunk. .
After several days search Lavelle
found the spot where he said the boat
had gone down. But it was no longer
under water. It was a sandbar, tormed
during the intervening months by ~
changing current. They dug and IN
covered the prov OF the vessel S3l 1 AS tney
and as they fled for cover to the brush
along the river bank, Lavelle was shot
and killed. Pope and his son reached
cover and escaped. They returned TO
Fort Rice but made no further effort
to locate the gold.
In 1867 the elder Pope was n IN, f9 or,
the lost gold his son had died OF FEVER.
He was the only living man h knew
the secret of the lost store OF gold
dust, j. D. Emerson, afterwards and Ior
many years agent for the Great Nortn-
eru railroad at Basin, U1lIllIlS SatAP
between Butte and Helena, was at h a
time stationed at Fort Benton IN the
employ of the Northwestern Fur Go.
He became acquainted with Pope; The
old man was without money and an
xious to return to his old home in ONO.
Emerson was planning q trip dow the
Missouri river to Omaha in a small
boat and offered Pope passage. They
were alone in Emerson's boat, but
travelled in company with a fleet OF
other similar craft.
Pair Decide on Search
On the way down the river Pope
told Emerson the story OF the lost
treasure and at Fort Rice the W de-
cided to leave the boat fleet and go
back up river to search for the gold,
a distance of go miles. But disaster
once more guarded the treasure. When
10 miles from the spot they sought,
their boat sprang a leak and sunk be-
fore they could get it ashore. Pope was
nearly drowned, Emerson saving him
only with the greatest difficulty. They
were forced to give up the search and
return to Fort Rice. The old man never
recovered from the hardships Of the
trip and died oon afterwards. Before
passing away he made Emerson promise
that II he ever recovered the treasure
he would share It with the Pope family. |
N6on houo Saorrhod onA d,S0 Init tho