Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-12-21
A CAVE OF GOLD.
The Marvellous Story Told by an Old
Prespcetor 10 'sTenderfoot'' Re-
nnrfar.
Rocky Mountain News.

Mr. Charles T. Johnson. an old
miner and prOspector, arrived IN Den
yer late last evening from the South
and is stopping at Charplot's. A re
porter Of the News called upon aim
and IN the course Of conversation
ELECTED from him a most remarkable
story of adventures with the Indians
and discoveries of marvellous wealth,
which will have an important bearing
upon the future Of Arizona and the
States bordering upon it. Mr.. John
son said: You may remember that
some two years ago two young men
of an adventuresome spirit, named
Merrick and Matthews, started from
a ranch of the formers father, situated
on the lower San Juan. in quest Of
some fabulous deposits of gold SAID to
exist on the bOarder of the Indian
reservation, some hundred miles DIS
tant. Being thoroughly mounted
end armed and prepared for any
emergencies they started 1ull of hope
TO investigate the truth Of the lege@ds
which had been current among the
Navajos for long time. After a
weary journey lasting some weeks,
during which they crossed a success
sion of barren plain. but by numer-
Gus deep canyons, eventually reach
ing the mountains of which they were
in guest. After severalda IS wander
ing, during which they mct with fire
quent signs of Indians, they came
upon arude sort Of forge or furnace
bearing evidence Of having been at
one time in active use in fabricating
some kind of metal; this from evi-
dences found in the neighborhood
they soon discovered to be gold and
in fact piece of the precious metal
of considerable size were found
which had been subjected to the ac-
ton of fire and partially hammered
into shape In the vicinity they also
picked up nuggets of large size.
While looking for the ledge from
which this float had come, they We're
surprised one day by the Indians,
who came upon them IN considerable
force. and before they could make
any attempt to defend themselves
poor Merricll was killed. His com
panion, after enduring incredible
hardship, escaped from the country
and made his way back to the home
of Merrick,s parents, carrying the
mournful news Of his fate, but also
bearing tangible evidence Of the
wealth Of the country in small bag
of nuggets of surprising richness.
The matter of finding the source of
this auriferOuS wealth remained in
allegiance until carly the past summer,
when a party Of thirty miners, brave
and hardy men, thoroughly Injured to
the hardShips Of a new country, one
OF which | was once. started to retrace
the route of the i'll fated Merrick and
find the immense deposit which it was
certain existed there. After two
weeks of a forced march, during
which many detours had to be made
to avoid the gaping chasms with
which the plains were scanned, they
reached the Treasur mountains. eau
tiousIy at first they began their
search, but not meeting any Indians
they soon divided up INTO small par
ties and made a somewhat thorough
investigation of the country, but for
IA long time without success. One
day | became separated from the
party to which was attached, and
found myself in forest of fallen tim
Der through which it was impossible
to ride Fastening NY horse to a
large trunk, and noting particularly
the surroundings, | started in search
of my companions. | had not gone
far when, stepping upon some loose
brush, suddenly found myself fall
ing down what seemed an inclined
plane How Tar | went | know not,
but upon reaching tie bottom dis
covered myself IN a SORT OF cave,
when soon asccrtalned was lac
"nGefSfouHa Workings Oh a mime.
Wy l[lSit soon CAV way 70 my m
prospecting l'iSI'i'''H' : - ''1he 'ile
worse io' titc i''ll' "li" tiSiil'G " can
ulH' W VII 'o y, NJ WIN
me. Wo S"IierleS lc'i rom C'le Dol
'oia OF tl'9 SiiaiI, anu l'N'i!S one l
PGiie'r;'te" Inap' 9oiiie my lee'
"h''l ioI'l" was ~ 4 y. St'l' 81 pure
quart ricil'S NE"'i't" WIN SoIo' puI
tilicheF INA y ma" ever seen oSlofe.
All 3fou,il me Shoile Il'e precious
hleIal am" i'llliIoilS were IN SlSilI III
every direction. Ny citndle lad now
become exhausted, ana groplng my
way back TO the loot OF the shalt l
e~raNrd III VAN 10 cumo It's prccIpl-
touS sides, with bat ilttle nope OF It's
beng any avail began shouting at
the top of my voice until was hoarse.
Suddenly heard an answering cry,
and pretty soon teit, rather than
saw a cord OF rope touching me ON the
face. GraSPing tins tightly, felt
myself beng raised quickly to the
surface, aud was landed IN the md
die OF my companions.
1t seems that shortly after had be-
come separated from them they had
missed me, and, ever fearful of In
dams had began cautious search of
the neighborhood. led on by occasion
al prints made ov the hoofs of nv
horse. These had enabled them to
find nv faithful animal standing as
had left him. which was not far from
the shaft. They had examined every
foot of ground, calling frequently,
and had almost given up the search
when they heard my voice, It was
some time before they realized NV DO
sitiou. but Euding the mouth of the
shaft, they had fastened several lariat
ropcs to.rethrr and lowered Them TO
me. thus ENABLING me to make my cs-
cape. W. All campcd at the spot that
night. and the next day several were
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