Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-11
MILLIONS OF GOLD.
The Long-Los. Gunsisht Lode Reported
Discovered.

The Long-Lost Gunsisht Lode Reported
Discovered.
The Los Angeles Herald contains the
following account of the return Of the party
who left that place some four weeks since
in search of the famous Goulder placers
and the long-lost Gunsight lode:
In firm, brave faith about month ago a
party left Los Angeles to search for the
golden glory of the Pacific slope. 1t con-
sisted of A. f. Judson, A. u. Spring and
Barney Carter. They went by team via
Cajon Pass down the Mojaye, over the
Moiave desert in Il northeasterly direction
from Barstow, passing by Blacks rancho,
and south Of Panamint around the foot OF
the Amargosa mountains into that caldron
of fire, Death Valley, under the fervent
heat of an August sun. Their object was
to follow as nearly as possible the supposed
trail that the lamented Goulder followed
when he discovered the. vast placers of
gold and gathered ii like the cleaning of
field of ripened grain.
Into the dazzling white plain they went
the burning sand scorching their sore and
swollen feet, and through the green Cog
giles over their eyes the reflected blazing
light nearly ruined the sight Of their weak
ened eyeballs.
To add 10 the horrors of the scene, the
bones OF emigrants and prospectorS, mules,
burros and oxen lay on the plain where
the possessors of these skeletons died from
thirst, heat or Starvation.
The party followed the north star toward
the land of their hopes. Occasionally q
great vulture sailed above them waiting to
see when one OF the party would perish TO
furnish him coveted meal. In the back
4
blade of grass ever grew to gladden. the eye
afforded no relief, while the heat was terri
BILE, and beyond the waste of shining sand
and fantastic forms of rugged rocks
bounded the horizon and seemed to sink
into the ocean OF a deep-blue sky. After
passing out of the north end of the valley
| they entered the east range of the Amar-
gosa mountains. Here they became be-
wildered and utterly lost. The water bar
rels became dry, ard shrunk and fell to
pieces, while the wagons shrunk and fell
apart. Fortunately, in that country wood
never decays, and pieces of the old wagons
of 40 were found from time to time where
the emigrants had burned part of them
to cook their food and then died unhonored
| and unsung. Out of these remnants OF
wagons they kept their vehicle in repair,
and pushed on, they knew not whittier.
digging into the sand they after a while
struck water, but, alas, it was salt. They
drank of it, but it only increased their SUI
fering. They poured it into the animals
mouths, but the animals threw it out.
AT last. more dead than alive they
reached the mountains, where they found
some timber and also some bunch grass for
their horses and spring of water. Pros
pecting was YEARLY and unsuccessfully car
ried on until one day, when digging for
water, they shoveled out gravel that
abounded in coarse gold, in chunks of the
value of dollar and five dollars apiece.
They then knew they had found the great
placer that Goulder discovered long years
ago. they staked out claim and gathered
some of the precious metal. 1t then seemed
certain that they were near the famous
Gunsight Lodges, and after long and tire
some searches they were rewarded with
finding lodges of gold-bearing rock, silver
ore, galena and copper. These lodges they
located and secured large number of
specimens.
They began their long and weary Journey
towards Los Angeles, some two hundred
miles distant, where they arrived yeste. day,
soiled, ragged bruised. sore, tired, with
weakened eyesight and wasted strength.
As soon as they had obtained refreshment
they sent for Herald reporter, to whom
they showed their rich specimens and told
their romantic tale of suffering and success.
johnson and Spring are in fair preserva-
ton, but Barney Carter was badly used up,
and was not able to receive company.
To-day preparations for opening the
placeres and using dry washers will begin,
and men, teams and tools will be engaged
to open the lodges. Steel wheels will be
pada fnr the WAGONS and galvanized iron
barrels will be made to hold water. Moth
ing but steel or iron seems to be able to
withstand the climate of the great, burning
Death Valley. By the time these prepare
tons are completed it is likely the heat will
greatly moderate. The returning party
will go from Los Angeles to a point near
Tehachapi by rail and then by teams to the
land of gold. II is likely that about three
weeks will elapse before the expedition will
get under way. In the meantime the dis
coverers are jubilant at the thought that
they have found the Gunsight mine and
the Goulder placers.