Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-12-11

ter; that they left the spring at day break
and travelled toward the sun (meanine
eastward). When the sun was at such
place in the sky (pointing to its posi-
ton at about o'clock in the afternoon.
as near as the Governor could define it)
they arrived at three little pachapas
(buttes) where her Indian found the
gold. In the corrupted'Spanish of her
dialect, she said there was's Muncso, MUM
CLIO, MUNCHO Or0n scattered over the
three Pachdpas.
THIRD TRADITION.
In 1860 there was at Yuma a dis
charged soldier. an Irishman, whose
name has not been preserved, who had
managed to secure the confidence and
good will of the Indians living about
the fort. One.of the bucks told him
that he knew where there was plenty of
gold, and offered 10 pilot him to it. The
Irishman got an outfit and he and his
Indian disappeared between two DAYS.
1t was not known what direction they
had taken, and nobody concerned him
self particularly about the matter. In
seven or eight days the two returned.
They kept their own counsel about the
objects and result of their trip, and a
few days afterward the Irishman took
his departure for San Francisco.
The first trace of him in the metropo-
lis is that he was stopping at the What
Cheer House. One evening company
OF miners was assembled in the bar
room, and the talk ran upon rich finds.
The lrishman listened some time TO
their fabulous stories and then chimed
in with the boast that they were nothing
compared with his mine. He then en-
tered considerably into details about a
certain ledge of free gold, but was care
full TO withhold any hint of its where
abouts. Some seemed to doubt his story,
and by way of a clincher he took from
his pocket nugget of virgin gold worth
probably two hundred and fifty dollars.
''An' | can show yez more than that, y
he continued, drawing out frayed
pocket book, from whose depths he ex-
humed a certificate of deposit for $780,
600 issued by the San Francisco Mint.
Upon this showing the Irishman had
no difficulty in organizing party of
five or six to return with him to his
mine.
The last known of this party is that
they fitted out in Los Angeles with a
team and the paraphernalia of MN
ing expedition.
1t Is supposed that hin. of their fate
is conveyed by the discovery on the
desert, some years later, of the skeletons
of several men and the remains of
wagon. These ghastly souvenirs were
found on what was supposed TO be the
route from the tabled mine to Yuma
How the party persisted can only be
matter of conjecture.
THE DE CoURCr STORY.
DIR. DeCourcy now lives at Yuma,
and is well known by the old-timers of
Southern California. Formerly he was
n practicing physician of Los Angeles
What should induce him to leave that
garden spot and make his abode for
years in place which is aptly described
as next door TO hell, will be deyel-
oped in the course of this narrative.
About fifteen years ago miner, who
had already crossed the desert from
California TO Arizona, concluded to re-
turn, and he set out on a saddle mule
for his perilous journey. Going out he
had followed the Butterfield stage route
by way of Warmers Ranch and Cresa
Creek. Returning he thought he
could shorten the distance somewhat
by DETECTING to the northward and
c ming out through San Gorgonio Pass.
Being unacquainted with this route, he
went too far south and entered the
''badlands" referred TO in previous
part of this article. After infinite hard
ships he finally got through; but in
stead of finding his exit by way of San
Gorgonio, he came out by Cresa Greek
Canyon, reaching Temecula as the first
settlement.
On the second day out from the Colo
RADIO side of the desert the miner found
himself utterly bewildered, and he rode
10 the top of little butte near by to
lake his bearings. While there he
to look down and was astound-
I'd to find the hill literally covered with
broken quartz and particles of free gold
He described the place as not defined
ledge, but what is known in miners
parlance as "bustup." He lost little
lime in dismounting and empting his
saddle-bags of surplus clothing and
that could be dispensed with;
filling them in turn with rich ore and
loose mineral, which he was able to
gather from the ground.
Resuming his journey be found his way
out of the desert as described, and in
due course of travel arrived Mt Los An
geles. Here, as the result of hardships
endured, he fell sick. DIR. De Courcy
was called. and attended him through
a long and serious prostration. As the
man was finally convalescing, he opened
his heart to the Doctor, telling the story
Of his discovery ON the desert, and pro-
iucing the saddle-bags IN proof thereof.
THE CONTENTS OF THE BAGS
DR.. De Courcv estimated to be worth at
east seven thousand dollars. From this
store he was given as his fee for medical
two thousand dollars worth
Of the precious metal. In response to a
protest from the Doctor that he was be-
inc paid better than he deserved, the
miner said in an oif-hand way that it
didn't amount to anything; he would
soon be where he could get plenty
more.
As soon as the man was strong enough
10 be about. he and DIR. DeCourcy, with
one other whom they took into the
scheme, set about organizing an expe-
dition to the mine. They purchased
wagon and; n team of mules, with the
outfit, but just as they were
about to start, the man succumbed to
the excitement and over-exertion, took
n relapse and died. The expedition was
then out of the question. as it involved
too many hardships and uncertainties to
be undertaken by novices.
But DR. De Courcy never gave up his
hopes of some day finding the treasure.
Eight years ago, in order to gain more
about the country and to
further the search if possible. he took
up his residence in Yuma. That is the
reason why he left the garden spot.
CONTINUING HIS QUEST.
His method of prosecuting the search
is said to be by Indians, two or more of
whom he has in his employ constantly.
At all seasons of the year when it is
practicable. he keeps these men out
prospecting the desert. endeavoring to
trace again the footsteps of the lost
patient. Evidently the Doctor is I'M
pressed with the perils involved in the
no less than he is with the reality
of the ledge itself, and he wisely refrains
from offering himself as another victim
to its glttering attractions.
1t was from DIR. DeCourcy that the
Cover obtained much infor-
nation regarding the probable where
abouts of the mine, as well as this part
of its traditional history. For this ex-
press purpose Cover paid n visit to Yu-