The New York herald., 1877-02-10
A MYSTERIOUS TREASURE.
Strange Story of Life Among the
Aborigines.
AN OLD AZTEC CAVE DISCOVERED.
Curious and Valuable Gold Or
nanents Found.
DETROIT, Feb. S. 1877.


Lee at Appomattox the government had portions OF
three brgadss Of cavalry on their way West the In
dian country serve the fow remaining months
OF their three years. enlistment Tho Michigan cav
airy brigade, reduced 70 about 1000 men, were 4
marched through to Colorado. AS the mon had only
short time TO spirit OF indignation prevailed
that they were not discharged In Washington. and
desertions were both frequent and humorous About
tho middle OF July, 1865, scout with tho command
named Charles Burton, became angercd and disguised
with general order and he induced live private
soldiers TO desert the service and follow him. II was
his intention, doubt. to organize gang OF rough
riders and become prairie robbor. Tho nvo soldiers
all Mich gandors but four OF them deserted Bur
ton the first night out and returned to the command
The hrh, private Henry Reynolds, was ready
for anything desperate, and within week
the two men had picked up enough strag-
glers, teamsters and half-breods to make up u
band OF thirtysix men, BY hanging around the camps
OF tho cavalry for week the outlaws succeeded
in stealing horses enough mount the whole party,
and the band we'll provided with arms and ammu-
milton. There was railroad tho Great Plains
that time Burton's object, unfolded,
haunt the overland trail and rob ricnd and loo
The band was largo enough have successfully at
tackled an ing weaker than government tram, but
before they had struck blow quarrel between
Burton and Reynolds The men took sides, two were
killed. ond tho soldier rode away tho head of six OF
tho pdrty wnile the rest remained with the scout.
What became Of this last party knows cares,
bu. the career Of the band OF seven was brief and
bloody.
ATTACK BY INDIANA
They were on the south fork Of the Platte River,
near Longs Peak, whom attacked by party OF In
dams. During the half hours fight four Of tho men
were killed the others captured Two burned
at tho stake, leaving Reynolds as tho sole
survivor. He AYERS that his lite was saved
by his making certain Masonic Signals which
seemed to be readily understood by the chief
of the war party Tie soldier tells straight story Of
bis life for the next year. There was little incident
excitement, being prisoher in Indian village,
fairly treated but closely guarded He very handy
at carving pipes, mending saddles and brides and
making. moccasns and kept at such work most of
the time In 1867 he sold to another band for two
ponies and pound OF powder, and during that sum-
mcr he taken into Arizona near tho head waters
OF the Rio San Pedro. He was in measure content
with his situation, being well used and having the
same fare tho IndIans still good opportunity for
escape might not have been neglected In the spring
OF 1868, whe yet the San Pedro, he fell and broke
his right The Indian doctors had not tho skill
set the broken arm and tho band looked upon the
white man as a useless burden, since he could no
longer usc his best hand Part OF the warriors
sired TO hold grand feast and TO torture him. Roy
nolds could speak <he dialect very well, and
having overheard enough TO convince him that
he was TO be put out OF the way by sale
death he determined to escape Reynolds had no
other tie to bind him TO homo and civilization than
aged mother at Grand Rapids, and until his lie
threatened, he had great anxiety to escape from
tho Indians He leading FREQ, wild lifc had suli.
cent all his wants. and had accustomed himself 10
tho habits and customs Of the red men. At the time
Of the accident he was In love with squaw named
Wind That W hspcrs, and perhaps might have been
adopted into The tribe and become husband and
father
ESCAPE FROM THE INDIAN VILLAGE.
About the time no found out that he be sold
or tortured the squaw came 10 him and revealed the
plan, and II agreed that they should away
Rether. Tho preparations occupied but few hours
The village situated the west bank OF the Rio
San Pedro and one night, after everything had be-
quict the squaw stole horse, rifle and guam
trty OF food. and the Two crossed the stream and
Leadca for the Wahsatch Mountains, intending to
hours OF darkness, the squaw guiding tho horse and
the soldier sitting behind her 1T break OF day they dis
covered that sney were being pursued & but & bur,
an hour ahead OF pursuit. He was abandoned there,
and the fugitives sought safety In the gucnes and
canyons They were hunted for day or two. but tho
Indians finally tired Of tho search. Left In that wild
region, with scarce hope Of ever. seeing who lace
lived among the mountains until June, 1870 Gamo
was plenty and by means OF the rifle aud traps they
secured an abundance Of iood bands Oi lnuians Hc-
quently passed through the mountains, but the pair
lived comfortably and in safety
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
In tho fall Of 1869, while they hunting for
warm and secure place In which 10 pass tho wintcr
the squaw made wonderful discovery. She found,
the western bnse OF the mountains and at bend IN
q ravne or gulch. cavo which had been fashtoncd
from the earth and rock by human hands. Within q
distance of fifteen miles OF this cave were the runs
oil three Aztec villages, with faint evidences that
road had once led from Of tho villages
to tho cave. The cavity. Reynolds says, was
walled up, aud 1t took HIM and the
stone masons and effect an entrance. He says there
hundreds Of bodies 10 tho cave, the black dust
Of hundreds Of bodies AS 10 his further discoveries
he Is silent, but lie has exhibited several wealthy
In gold, such as have never been seen before.
AFTER TREASURE I'll
In May, 1870, the squaw died, and about that
time body Of Indians made such search
after Reynolds that he turned his steps
eastward, and after weeks Of fatigue and adven-
turo made his way into Mexico. II was not until
year ago that the cx-sodier returned TO Michigan:
As he refuses for his time between 1870 and
1875 tho reader WILL perhaps suspect that Reynolds
had four stout walls around him for that period.
Ever his return he has been cautiously and
visit the mountains. Who finally advanced him
the money necessary to III out his band OF
treasure seekers Is known only to himself
and the capitalist, but II Is certain that no has
tho means to push his enterprise He left here to-day
Tor San Diego having two strangers with him, and
other men from Michigan, enough TO make up band
OF twenty-five, are to meet him In Chicago. Reynolds
has traverscd tho State and hunted up hts old cavalry
the subject, they must have taken solemn oath Of
silence, and feel confident that they have big thing
IN prospect II Is believed that Detroit capitalist
urns he'd the money, and. no mas tho reputation OF
beng both miscry and shrewd, It is fair to conclude
that he had plain evidences OF great profit from the
enterprise.