National Republican., 1883-11-30
A GAVE OF GOLD.
The Marvellous Story Told by An Old Pros
peCtor to "TenderfOot Reporter
Tumbiing into Untold weOIth-The Tale
OF tho wonderful Lamp Dwarfed.
Rockp Monn,nin Ne,rs.

Mr.. Charles T. johnson, an old minor and
prospector, arrived in Denver late last evon-
ing from the south and is stopping at Char
plots. A reporter of tho NCiCs called upon
him and in the course of conversation elected
from him q most remarkable story of adven-
lures with the Ihdians and discoveries of
marvellous wealth, which will have an inn
portant bearing upon tho future of Arizona
and the states bordering upon it. Mr.. john
son said "You may remember that somo two
years ago two young mon of an adventure
somo spirits, named Merrick and Matthews,
started from ranch of the formers father
situated on the lower San Juan, In quest
of somo fabulous deposits of gold
said to exist on the border of the Indian
reservation some hundred miles distant.
Being thoroughly mounted and armed and
prepared for any emergencies they started
full of hopo to investigate the truth of the
legends which had been current among the
Navaios for n long time. After weary jour
ney lasting some weeks, during which they
crossed q succession of barren plains, but by
numerous deep canyons, eventually reaching
the mountains of which they were in quest
After several days wanderings, during which
they met with frequent signs of Indians,
they came upon % rude sort of fpTge or fur
mace bearing evidences of having been at one
time in active use in fabricatina some Kind
of metal this from evidences fohud in the
neighborhood, they soon discovaed to be
gold, and in fact piece of the pren Gus metal
of considerable size was found which had
been subjected to the action of fire and par
TALLY 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 were surprised one day
bv the Indians, who came upon them in con-
siderable force, and before they could make
any attempt to defend themselves poor Mer-
rick was killed. His companion, after endur-
ing incredible hardships, escaped from the
country and made his way back to the homo
of Merrick's parents, carrying the mournful
news of his fate but also bearing tangible
evidence of the wealth of tho country in o
small bag of nuggets of surprising richness.
The matter of finding the source of this
auriferous wealth remained in abeyar CO until
early the past summer, when party of
thirty miners brave and hardy men, thor
oughly Injured to the hardships of new
country, ond Of which l was once started
to retrace the route of tho ill-fated Merrick
and find the immense deposit which it was
certain existed there. After two
weeks of forced march, during which
many detours had to be made to
avoid the gaping chasms with which tho
plains were scanned, they reached the Treas
ure mountains. Cautiously at first they
began their search, but not meeting any In
dians they soon divided up into small parties,
and made q somewhat thorough investiga-
tion of the country, but for long time with
out success. One day became separated from
the party to which was attached, and found
myself in q forest of fallen timber, through
which it was impossible TO ride. Fastening
my horse to a large trunk, and noting par
ticularly the surroundings, started in search
of my companions. | had not gone far when,
stepping upon some loose brush, j suddenly
found myself falling down what seemed an
inclined plane. How far l went know not
but upon reaching the bottom discovered
tanned was the underground workings
of a mine. My fright soon gave
way to my prospecting , aihSstihee,
worse for theefall, y and lighted h;;eaHdle
which fortunately / had brought with me.
Two galleries led from the bottom of the
shaft and taking the one the least incumbered
with debris l had penetrated perhaps some
fifty feet when 1 found was in a vein Of pure
white quartz, richly seemed with shining
metal mineral, which | knew at once was
gold, but in thicker and richer streaks than
10 dever before known in the history of gold
mining. All around me shone the precious
metal, and it is no exaggeration to say that
Millions were in sight in every direction. In
my excitement and elation at the Importance
of the discovery / had made, lost all idea of
time, but as matter of fact l had spent q
number of hours In the tunnel before / real
lied thoroughly my position, aud it flashed
through my mind that unless some means of
getting out of my cave of riches was found,
should perish in the midst of inexhaustible
wealth like the miser of old. My candle had
become exhausted, and cropping my way back
to the foot of the shaft essayed in vain to
climb its precpitous sides, with but little
hopes of its being Of any avail. ! began
shouting at the top of my voice until | was
hoarse Suddenly heard an answering cry,
and pretty soon / felt rather than saw cord
or rope touching me on the face. Grasping
this tightly, l felt myself raised quickly to
the surface and was landed in the midst of
my companions. 1t seems that shortly after
j had become separated from them they had
missed me, and ever fearful of Indians, had
began q cautious but thorough search of
the neighborhood led ON by occasional prints
made by the hoofs of my horse These
had enabled them to find my faithful an
imal, standing whore I had left him. which
was not far from the shaft. They had
examined almost every foot of ground, call
ing frequently, and had almost given up
the search when they heard my voice. 1t
was some time before they realized my
position, but finding the mouth of the shaft,
they had fastened several lariat ropes together
and lowered them to me, thus enabling me to
make my escape. We all camped at the spot
that night, and the next day several were
lowered into the shaft, when it was found
that my description did not begin TO picture
the enormous wealth upon which We had
thus accidentally fallen. After long con-
sderation, We decided that rs wo had no
means of realizing upon our find we would
make the best of our way back and procure
the machinery to develop this the richest de-
posit ever discovered, and it is upon this
errand that am now in Denver"
"But how do you account for the shaft and
tunnelsW
Easily enough; it is we'll known that this
whole country was mined hundreds of years
ago by the natives before the Spaniards came
here; in fact, it was their knowledge of the
existence of gold in immense quantities in
the interior of America that caused them to
brave many hardships for this universal god
In those days mining was carried on some
what differently from what il is now, tho
shafts all being somewhat inclined aud rough
ladders used by the miners on which they
mounted, carrying the ore in rude hampers
on their backs"
when do you retnrnf' t.-
I'm u few days, as soon MS have purchased
and shipped the necessary appliances as far
as the railway will take them tho balance
Of the distance We will have to pack with
hurrns