The sun., 1885-06-28
RICH MINES IN THE DESERT.
THE LOST oUNsT9HT LEDGE AND THE
THREE HILLS OF GOLD.

SAN FRANCISCO, juno 10.-M0st people
are aware OF the existence OF what is called
the Colorado desert. but beyond the eeograph-
ical description OF desert az "a sandy
waste" they have little idea OF what this
vast extent OF country Is like. The entire
southeastern part OF the State Of California. in
cluding the major portion OF San Bernardno.
San Diego. and Inyo counties Ia comprised
within the boundaries OF tho Colorado desert.
bordering on tho river OF that name. An arm
OF this waste. known rs the Mojave desert. pro-
jects westward between two ranges Of noun
tains toward tho Pacific cutting of tho fertile
portions OF tho great Lulare basin from the
orange groves and vineyards OF Los Angeles.
Here the Mojave Rivor. finding Its source in
the almost everlasting SHOWS Of the northern
slopes OF the San Bernardino range. loses IT..
self In the sand. then reappears. and ie finally
Far away to tho north Is tho evil famed Death
valley. shut In by mountains over whose wnstes
lie scattered the blenched remains OF many
poor traveller and prospector, as we'll as the
perish q thirst with their masters. Hors too.
may yet be seon the wagons of tho unlucky
owners the iron work bright Us on the day they
were " % abandoned years ago. and mute Witnesses
While vast level stretches Of sand may be
found in some parts OF this desert, II is out up
In oil d, by barren and
saw-tooth- like peaks and corresnondingly deep
cahons look so much alike rs to bewilder even
times heavy clouds gather around the submits
OF these peaks. and. bursting. send volumes Of
~ Se Sp Sy ns trs saas S
where. for the sake OF the gain derived from
mon. weary or careless OF the comforts OF civ.
ilization. have established themselves in rude
tains. gaunt and bnro Of vegetation, their sides
cut and Scared in thousand fantastic shapes.
many times present combination Of brilliant
eye-wearying and dssolats beyond description:
Although much Of this desert is devoid of
fertile ' portions % Of the STATE. only % needns
water to become productiye; there are still vast
STRETCHES ENr covered with shifting sands
tain ranges Of this region wero rich in stores
Of gold and silver. and many q proprietor has
Some have been rewarded. but many poor
fellow has paid with his life for his temerity.
M sms and
heard OF afterward. Marvellous stories Of rich
finds are continually being told. however.
ssa tns sac SAX m. Rs
customary stoppage in that vicinity for the
deserts and mountain ranges chat lay is besween
borders Q, the Pacific. Here the, tales they
most in use. Induced them, to abandon the
led i them down through @ soathern i HH Utah and
across the Colorado River into the midst Of the
then M S desert BY the time they hst
had lost most. Of the strength secured by tho
stay at Salt Lake. and the travellers entered
many misgivings. To press on: however. seem
"a the Sn ,hnx To- Id do sna H.
hsustsd, and one after another the wagons
hor a. Iout toi.t itu
hand on the members OF the Inflated little
party. and in quick succession the weaker ones
roadside. Their scant stores grew scantier. no
water was found. and finally the party became
reduced to four men. Who when tie lust
what supplies they could carry, and pressed on
over the sands aud mountains toward the
near . rocky ledge. ono OF these men. while
examining his rifle. found that the sight at the
dron nad @ PsSTme or ana
q whitish meta!lic substance In the rock close at
Whtted % out and ttsd into see the Weapon % nj r r1as
substitute for the lost sight Next day. and
their camp thsy resumed their weary journey.
After suffering innumerable hardships and
priy@tions under which two Of the little party
finally succumbed. tho two survivors at last
reached a sottsment In the Los Angeles valley:
Here the peculiar nature OF tho rudely carved
acquainted With metals. and he Immediately
pronounced it to be pure native silver and
The cou ony ths
the general lay, Of the country in the vicin;
seemed to be an abundance OF the white metal.
but that he had attached no Importance to the
probably travelled by the uniortunate men men
each day with the number OF days they had
wandered after making the camp. q general
idea was formed OF about where the ledge
should be. party was at once organized. and
search made for what was by common consent
named the Gunsigh hit lodge. but no success WAS
met with. Since TINT time numerous efforts
have been made to locate tho rich deposit. but
while those 81 making a & ths senrsn have At various
still nothing has ever been found answering the
description given by the maker of the now
Although there are any number OF stories
told OF iabul lousiy rich deposits OF gold and sill
s By gsa1 rs issar r Ssss
can be no doubt that there does exist some-
where in the desert ledge OF gold quartz.
diseovered ] % and % worked Away ' back in 'sh tho
early part Of the thirties. party OF hunters.
eapSonious % lou name Of % Smith hI Were rap se
ping on the hcndwatsrs OF tho Colorado River:
the Colorado desert On the third night out
from the river. when in the midst of the
s's 'nSy sys eAess esr.osisy sa ss ''us
their number to climb limb one Of these sle;
VatlOns. he IOunu tnut IL was composed OF
a mass Of partially decompossd black looking
rock. thickly sprinkled with yeliOwish Particles
Of varying size. Such thing IN the presence
OF gold in this state wRs not then dreamed Of.
but. from curiosity ut the peculiar appearance
Of the rock. several pieces OF 1t were gathered
upund carried away by the party. Those spsci-
mems were retained until after the discovery Of
gold in lS4S. when accident led to their being
examined by nn expert In such matters. who
unhositatingly pronounced the yellow particles
to be pure gold. But one or two Of tho old party
had remained in the State. and upon learning
the true nature OF the mineral. PegleK ut Onc
organized an expedition to endeayor to redis-
cover the little hin which was rich with gold.
On the way down. however. the party had nll
their stock run of by Indian and this 80 dis
psrforcs obliged to follow suit One Of the best
known and most reliable men In southern Cal
ifornia to-day Mt one time carried on \ large
cattle ranch In San Diego county and EN- poyed
q numb ber OF Indians as herdsrs. This ranch
is on tho border Of the desert. One day one Of
these hordsrs came to his employer and asked
for some money. ia he wished to 20 to Los An
gel0s. Vel knowing that this WAS but Rn OK
cuse Tor going on u spree. AMI rs tho ranch
work was pressing. tho request WAS refused.
The Indian did not seem much put out by the
refusal. but replied:
All right. ! know where thero is plenty OF
gold. can get all want
He then took a saddle animal and struck ont
in ths direction of the desert He was gone
thr6e lnys and when no retlrnel he uisDu yel