Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-05-10
SILVER.
A Prospecting Party From sonora in Search of a Lost Mine.
 TSilver Belt

A glamour always attends the search for lost treasure, or mines of precious metal supposed to be hidden where nature or man has erected some barrier to their possession, and the greater the difficulties interpOsed. the more will adventurous spirits strive to surmount them.
 A party of Sonoranians, headed by Pedro Encinas, stopped in Globe two weeks or more ago on their way north to the vicinity oi Fort Apache, in quest of a mine-a mountain of silver which years ago had been discover ed by cOmpadre, whose great age and infirmity prevented his returning himself to gain possession of the treas- ure He therefore told his secret to others, and one was found. having q knowledge of the locality, who offered to act as guide. As there was some doubt whether the treasure was locat- ed within the White Mountain res ervation or just beyond it's northern boundary, the prospecting party had the forethought to provide themselves with letters of recommendation from the Governor of Sonora and other Mexican officials, which they present. cd to Capt. J. L. BGiiis, acting Indian agent at San Carlos. who received them courteously, and granted them permission to prosecute the search, with the proviso. however, that if the mineral deposit was found to be On the reservation the exploration was to end
 L. K Thompson of Salt River, Gila county, and brother-in-law of the leader, Pedro Encinas, accompanied the party from Glohe. After several days travel they came in sight of a mountain which their guide declared Was the goal of their desire, but alas, to their discontinue it was found to be some miles within the peservatioH Their disappointment can wellbe i'm agined, when after and arduous jour ney of many hundred miles, and with the fortune almost within their grasp, to be compelled to re- linquish it. This they did, however, respecting their promise to Agent Bullis, and without further ado, turn ed about and retraced their steps homeward.
 The part of the journey, across the reservation, was replete with interest They passed through region which to the white man Is still almost terra incognito; country rich in mineral and agricultural resources, lying dor mant because of the indoIence and in capacity of the Indians, for whose ex- elusive benefit they were reserved. to profit by them.
 At the end of their outward trip, the explorers found evidences, in loca- ton monuments and other signs, that the region had previously been pros pected, and returning, when near Black River, discovery was made pointing to q revolting crime, prob ably committed by Indians prospec- tors camp was iound which bore un- mistakable signs of having been des- plated by revengelul foe, The inn pressi0ns made by the bodies of the campers, where they had slept in fan cied security, were plainly discernable. Cooking utensils battered as though their usefulness had been purposely destroyed, a Picis, , shovel, three empty cartridge belts, and remnants of clothing were scattered about The most convincing evidence of a crime having been perpetrated was, how ever, the remains of what lad been a great fire, and in the debris were found blackened human bones, sack of corn partially burned, and remnants of three saddles. On a charreI log were the marks of bears claws, where the beasts had crawled probably to feast upon human flesh. A canteen was picked up near by, which was partially filled with water which tasted fresh. The discoyerers concla- ded that the camp had been occupied not many months previous.