Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-01-25
From the West Coast Signal."l
THE TREASURE-HUNTERS.
a "Reminiscences in the EARLY History
OfTrlnity County.

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Trinity mines began to spread. As usual
the most ex:ravagant rumors and stories
were aaoat in regard to their immense
yield and extent, and Trinity river became
/ the California Mecca OF the ever restless,
intrepid miner. They came from all parts
of this State and Oregon-men of refine
ment and culture. and men not much
above the brute men educated in the
paths of virtue, and villains of the deepest
dye all mixed and mingled on terms Of
social equality, aud IN the ieverish excite
ment and greed for gold all tho evil pas
sions in mans breast flourished with lux
uriant growth, often sutl6cating by their
ranluess the teachings and promptings ef
II better nature. Nearly every nationali-
ty of Europe had its representatives here,
and Southern men frequently brought II
iuvoiito, trustworthy slave to work with
and for them In the mines.
Shasta was then unknown, but Read
ing's Springs was the name which had
been given the place where Shasta now
stands. y Southern man, named Davon-
pert, had made Readings Springs his
home, working IN the mines there. He
had slave known as Good, )" and report
said that he had been very successful in
his mining operations. When the news
reached th6re Of the wonderful richness of
the Trinity mines, Davenport and many
others concluded to go to the new E
Dorado, accompanied by his slavo soon
found himself at Big Flat on Trinity
river, and commenced mining on a small
bar afterwards known as Davenport Bar
From all accounts it proved to be the
richest bar on Trinity river. 1t was posi-
lively known that Davenport took out
from 5000 to S500a day, and some accounts
placed it at an even higher figure. At
any rate Davenport was considered very
wealthy man-how wealthy none could
tell, ms he, in common with most minors
in those days, was in the habit Of buryinP
his gold. 1t was known that Davenport
had several stone bottles filed with gold,
which he had brought from Readings
Springs, and Tint he had filled many more
since his arrival on the Trinity. He YVES
a quiet, unassuming gentlemen, well
liked by his fellow miners, and enjoyed
the esteem Of all who knew him. During
the summer Of 10 he had taken Scotch
man in his employ, who of course knew
how much money Davenport was making
and this man and the negro were soon on
the most intimate terms.
The rainy season of 10 set in, and
Davenport made known that he mtonded
to leave the bar and spend the winter in
the Valley. This excited no attention, rs
it wNs customary for successful miners to
lcave the inhospitabe mountains during
the winter, to enjoy in the more advanced
regions Of tho Sacramento Valley the
comforts of civilized life Tor a short sea
son. Davenports anirnals had been
turned ont to graza in the adjacent noun.
taias, md ne stntted to search for them.
He was dressed as usual, and woro vest
plaid or striped in peculiar mnnner-the
only one Of that pattern which had ever
been seen there. The Seotchman and
negro remained at home. Several days
pas.ed and Davenport did not RETURN
His friends and neighbors searched the
mountains far aud near, but no trace of
the missing man could be found. He was
never more seen alive. Foul play was
suspected, and the Scotchman and negro
were arrested oy comm ittce Of miners,
and tred on suspicion OF having killed
Davenport for his money, bat nota parti-
Gle Of proof could be found against the
accused, nor dollar of tho treasure be
found in their possession. They ware
released, bat strict watch was kept upon
their movements, and when they shortly
after left tho bar they were oyertaken at
the point whore Lewiston now stands, and
searched for Dayenport's treasure, but in
vain They had no gold with them, and
we're allowed to depart. The gained
ground that Davenport was eithar killed
In the mountains by Indians, "a thing by
no means rare In tlose times) or that it
killed bv his late companions his gold was
stll buried somewhere in the vicinity Of
the bar. The Scotchman and negro were
seen together in Sacramento, and then
both disappeared. Davenport and his
fate were forgotten ; people had neither
time or disposition in those days to trouble
themselves much about missing man ;
only here and there, in some minors
cabin, did Davenport's buried gold form
the theme of conversation.
In 1850 two miners working with a
"cradle" op Big Flat, discovered about
three feet below the surface the remains
Of & human being The body was soon
exhumed F.; :he miners collected around
the ghastly remains, and it was soon de-
cid.d that the unesrthed body was that OF
Davenport. His we'll remembered vest
enveloped the skeleton, and the speotacles
he usually wore vera found in his coat
pocket None doubted that the remains
were those Of their late companion. The
skull showed the deep marks Of heavy
blows from hatchet, and was crushed in
several places. Broken bones plainly in
dicated the ierocity Of his hsndi-h muir
derers. All present thought of the Scotch
man and negro, who were nov beyond
their reach The remains of Davenport
were decently buried, and though many
thought it, no one ever seriously attompt-
ed to discover the hidden treasure.
In the summer OF 1865 a man with a
team arrived at Salt Lake CITY, on his