Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1866-07-28
The Treasure . Hunters.


RKnSrscrxcE TIE EARLY HISTORY or rE1srfr COUNT
Early in the year lsas Of the Trinity mines be-
esu to spread the extravagant umors and
stories were regard to their immense yield and ex
tent and Trinity the California Mecca Of the
ever restless intrepid miner They from all parts OF
this Of refinement and culture and
men much above the brute educated in the paths
of virtue and villains Of the deepest dye all mixed and min
gled Of social equality and the feverish excite
greed for gold all the evil passions mans breast
fourhed with uxurant growth often suocang by their
rankness the teachings and prompngs of better nsture
Nearly nationality of representatives.
here and Southern frequently brought vorite trust
worthy slave to work with and for them in the mines
Shasta then unknown but Readings Springs was the
which bad been given the place where Shasta now
stands Southern named Davenport had made Read
ngs Springs his home working the mines there He had
slave known Good" and report said that he had been
very successful in his mining operations When the news
reached there Of the wonderful richness of the Trinity mines
Davenport and others concluded to the new IL
dorado aud accompanied by his slave found himself al
Big Flat Trinity river and commenced mining small
bar afterwards known Davenport Bar From all accounts
it proved be the richest bar Trinity river 1t was pos
tively known that Davenport took out from $500 to $500
day. and placed it at higher figure
At rate Davenport considered wealthy man
how wealthy could tell he in common with most
miners in those days. in the habit of buryng his gold
1t known that Davenport had several stone bottles filed
gold which he had brought from Reading Springs and
that he filled many his arrival the Trni
ty. He quiet, unassuming gentleman. we'll liked by
his fellow miners and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew
him. During summer of 40 he had taken scochman
into his employ who of knew how much money Da
venport making this and the negro
on the most intimate terms.
The rainy of 40 n and Davenport made known
that he intended leave the bar spend the winter the
Valley This excited attention, it customary for
successful miners leave the nhospabe mountains during
the winter to enjoy in the advanced regions of the Sac
Valley the comforts of civilized life for short
Davenpors animals had been turned ont to in
the adjacent mountains he started search for them
lie dressed usual and vest plaid striped in
peculiar manner-thc only that pattern which had
there The Scotchman and negro remained
home Several days passed and Davenport did not return
His friends neghbors searched the mountains far and
near but of the missing could be found He
was alive. FOUL play suspected and the
Scotchman and arrested by committee Of min
and tried suspicion of having killed Davenport for his
money but particle Of proof could be brought against
the accused, dollar Of the treasure be found in their
possession. They released but strict watch kept
upon movements and they shortly left the
bar they oyerakcn the point where Lewiston
stands, and searched for Davenpor but in vain
The belief gained ground that Davenport either killed
in the mountains by Indians thing by in
those times that if killed by his late companions his gold
still buried somewhere the vicinity the bar The
Scochman and together in Sacramento and
then both disappeared Davenport and his fate forgot
ten people had neither time disposition in those days
trouble themselves much about missing only here
there miners cabin did Davenports gold
form the theme of conversation.
In 1850 two miners working with a"'cradle" Big Flat
discovered about three feet below the surface the remains of
a human being The body exhumed the miners
collected around the CHASTITY remains and decid
ed that the uneared body His well
remembered enveiopcd the skeleton and the spectaccs
he usually found in his coat pocket None doubt
ed that the those of their late companion The
skull showed the deep marks of heavy blows from Ratchet
and was crushed in several places Broken bones plainly in
caed ferocity his fend-h murderers All present
thought the Scocbmap and who beyond
reach The remains of Davenport decenty bu-
though thought of it, seriously
attempted to discover the hidden treasure