Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-04-18
THE LOST SACK.
The Buried Treasure OF a Venturesoma
PROPRIETOR.

PROPRIETOR
Virginia Enterprise.
The search for lost or buried treasure
has always been an a.luring occupation,
and lost mines are the jack o lanterns of
many a prospecting expedition. There
has been more money sunk in a vain hunt
for Capt. KIdd's money and Valuables
than that celebrated seafaring rOad-agent
ever sunk, either in the ocean or on the
New England coast, and so long as human
nature undergOes no change the myster-
iOus hidden fortune Will be a powerful
entcement to those who have even q
small allowance of the prOspectOr's dis
position. The story of the lost sack came
here with the InyO county men, and,
at first, received little or no attention,
being crowded out of prominence by the
hustle Of business in a new country.
Affairs having become settled, the legend
has asserted its individuality, and now,
In the leisure moments around barrOOm
stoves, it is told with variations and ex-
aggeratiOns to suit the taste Of the
narrator and listeners. The story, shOrn
of decoration, Is as follows: In the very
early days a venturesOme prOspectOr
made his way across the mountains to
the ellis range, somewhere within the
present boundary of the reservation.
For months he worked an extremely
great hardships and privatiOns, and in
constant danger of discovery by the
Indians, He could pound the gold out
and wash it with water from the lake,
and the wonderful yield induced him to
remain with his treasure too long. One
evening he was seen by Indians as he
was getting water, and, although at too
great a distance to be immediately
followed and killed, he knew that instant
n T1nnaaenrTEy HoufiIvT
ting his nuggets and dust into two canvas
sacks, and. taking with him the small
store of dried rabbit meat which he had
fortunately prepared a few days before
he started to make his way to California
in the most direct line. Loaded down
with the gold, which amounted to sever
al thousand dollars, his progress across
the Hawthorne fiat, in the DIRECTION Of
North canyon, was slow and difficult,
and daylight Overtaking him, he found
himself within sight of some Indian fires
Fearing discovery, he concealed himself
for two days behind one of the numerous
huge powders which lie scattered over
the upper end of the fiat, but his prOvis-
ions becoming exhausted, and parched
with thirst, he determined on the third
night to risk detection and make an
effort to escape. He was so weak that Ii
was impossible for him to take with him
his mind to abandon the entire treasure.
Accordingly, he hid the largestsack under
the bOWlder, and started on his weary
and dangerous trip across the mountains.
After many marvellous escapes and in-
conceivable suffering he arrived at q
miners camp on the TuOlumns river, and
there received food and nursing He
had been crazed by the intense hunger
and thirst which he had suffered,
combined with the long and severe
strain on his mind, but still chung to a
sack of gold that was worth nearly S.. 600.
For a long time he was unable to give
an account of himself, but at last recOv-
cred sufficiently to be able to guide a
strong party of prospector5 that set out
to find his mine. He had, however,
Overrated his strength. The tax on his
system had been too great, and just as
they arrived at the crest Of the mountains,
where he could recognize Walker lake
andspOint out approximately, the lOca-
ton of his claim and the spot where he
had concealed his bag Of gold. he gave
way under the fatigue and exposure Of
the journey. The party made a diligent
search for the bOWlder, but wind had
Obliterated his tracks, and while they
were yet hunting for it a band of Indisns
attacked them. Driven. of, they never
returned as a company, but at different
times solitary prOspectOrs have endeav-
Ored tn find the ledge, and frequent have
been the quiet hunts for the lost sack
under the boWlder. The action of the
elements has removed all traces Of the
surface scratching done by the unfOrtun-
ate miner, and no one has yet been able
to locate the big rock where the treasure
lies hidden.