Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-02-28

In 1888, while was coroner and
city physician, I got Rod Leggat TO
accompany me to Highland to hold
an inquest on the body Of John Wilson,
who was found dead in his cabin.
Wilson was one of the last of the old
timers. Highland was then an almost
deserted camp, only Kern and few
others who worked placers with hand
rockers remaining.
Il was connected with a rather odd
incident that occurred in Highland in
1858 A miner had been bed-ridden
with rheumatism for some weeks and
I was delegated to take him to town
for treatment After placing him COM
fortably in a wagon on a mattress,
we started off. We had not gone far
when the horses became frightened
at a bear crossing the road. and ran
away. striking a boulder and throwing
myself and the patient up In the air
and out by the roadside. The patient
and the mattress alighted on large
rock. I was badly dazed but I can
see him now, wild-eyed and white
faced, rise up and then start for town
at a good lively pace. had cured
his rheumatism"
he EdsoudA H4cAbCA NAAO AAAA~W 0SAA@e%%s
Kern frequently remarked: What
keeps that old fellow in Highland?
Does he think he is going to strike 1t
rich some day?" Johnny had found
one of the large nuggets OF the west,
worth 81 $50 and this caused the I'M
preston to prevail that the lure OF
gold tied Johnny to the deserted
village.
But there was another side to john
ny's character, a sentimental one, and
from facts cleaned by the coroner
there were two reasons, not connected
with gold, that held Johnny Kern
chained to his mountain home up
among the clouds.
why He Stayed
In the great rush Of 1865-l866 there
came, among others, a Russian girl,
a clever dancer, Of passing good looks
and fine figure. Johnny Kern, whose
true name was Kann, born in Pitts
burgh of German parents, found favor
In the sight of the Russian dance hall
girl. To Johnny, she was dream OF
loneliness. Here among the granite
boulders. surrounded by the primeval.
a primitive passion between these two
developed. The girl, when she arrived,
was known as Lulu. When she had
emptied the contents Of shotgun into
a man who had sought to win her
by caveman methods, she was dubbed
shotgun Liz" by the inhabitants.
The hectic life Of a mining camp
proved even too much for the dashing
Russian dancer and she died one day
in her rooms at the dance hall in 1857.
She was buried in Highland cemetery.
The chief mourner was Johnny Kern.
He had relatives in the east with
whom he had corresponded regularly
but gradually he ceased TO write after
the death Of Shotgun Liz" In 1874,
his papers show, he received letter
from a little girl cousin in Red Wing,
MINI, begging him to write at least
once a year" In 1882, so far as his
effects show, he received his last letter
from the outside world. These were
all carefully stored In tin box which
showed the marks Of the pack rats
teeth.
Johnny Kern divided his time be-
tween his rocker and the little grave
where the remains Of his dance han
sweetheart lie. He tended 1t carefully
during life He wanted to be buried
beside her In death. His associates had
been told the particular spot In which
he wished to lie.
It is said that Johnny was not the
only Highland dweller who was tied
to the place by his affection for
dead sweetheart. Another old-timer
cherished the same feelings and waited
for the time when he, too, would sleep
by the side Of her whom he had loved.
But death was unkind TO him. he lived
while others dropped off one by one
until at last, In a panic for fear he
might be the last survivor, with no
one TO carry out his cherished wish.
he committed suicide. Johnny Kern