Arizona weekly citizen., 1892-02-20
LOST TREASURE. A Legend of the Yuma
 Apache Indians. GOLD IN A BOX CANYON. Indians Carryinr it of OVertaken
 by a Flood aud Drowned. a Single Survivor Returns to tell the kTale-SubseguentV Vain Search
 For the Canyon.
GOLD IN A BOX CANYON

The Yuma-Apaches have a story which although old. is still told and be- lieved by them. They say that many years ago during the hot weather, whilst warriors of tnelr tribe were hunting the elusive mountain sneep m the Castle Dome range, they entered box ca ny On , one when was entirely new to them. The walls of the caC yUn were of white and pink tiuor spar, almost perpendi- cular and hundreds Of feet in height.
 The great canyon was entered at night fail and 1t was decided to camp there until morning, as the surroundings looked good tor water-tanks to be found and the precious fluid was becom
 ng scarce among the party. When daylight came the warriors looked around but no trace of water could be found. Matters Were becoming serious, as the nearest known tank was b miles away. About Sne time that almost all hope hat fled, shout from young brave at the head of the canyon an- nounced the discovery of water. A rush
 was made to the place and pool of water cool and clear as crystal was found running over from its empouo uod- ment of granite, tiny stream flowing d short distance down the canyon where 1t soon sank beneath the loose gravel. The tank proved to be d spring which came up from below the face Of the canyons wall and on the upper side the decomposed iron-rock, quartz and spar could be seen piled up, as if dumped from the workings of mine. The h. dians camped there for some time awaiting the coming of mountain sheep for water. Late in the evening a large amount of game was killed and the hunters made preparations to leave for home. Iu the morning number Of young bucks took bath in the limpid pool and OF reaching the bank of de- composed rock it was found to be fully une-haif gold. Nuggets, large and small, were found in great profusion. Great excitement prevailed and the Indians carried away all they could pack. They anew the preciods metal could be traded off in Mexico for knives, beads, panocha. tobacco and mescal. With songs of joy, they began their journey homeward. Suddenly the sky became black, the thunder pealed and lightning flashed and 1t seemed as If the rain was falling in rlver-like volume. In terror the In AtdDS AOl lnO1 hhch luIl we'll that If they did rot ges out of the oox canyon before the waters fro,n tLe ;loudburst came down. it meant death to one and all. With roar of mighty force the wall of foaming water came down, sweeping every thing before It.
 Only one of the Indians escaped death, and as he wearIly made his way home, sadly mourned over the terrible end which had overtasen his relatives and comrades. Upon arriving home the h. dian told his story of adventure and showed the g"lG he had found in :he mysterous box canyon. An old man of the tribe then spoke out ID words of an ger and condemnation, saying that the fuma-A paches had oeen warned years before oy the great spirit to never en- ter the canyon as 1t was the abiding place of the gods. The chiefs of the tribe had kept their people away from the forbidden spot for years, and It seemed necessary for the great chief to teach them lesson they never would forget.
 The legend above was told years ago to Nick Gunther, "Long John" Borland and Neil Johnson. who made repeated searches for the canyon and spring, but without success. A nun Der of the h. dians say they kLOw just where to go and find the place, but nothing on earth could tempt them to either go there or point out the way. Some gold has been found on the Castle Dome range, but in trifling quantities. The best show of gold in that section So far as found is m the copper camp, Montezuma district, where the yellow metal is found in the copper ore.
 The story of the Indians find is be- lieved by many, and who knows but that III years. to come the box canyon treasure house may be found and it's immense wealth distributed among those who reed it most?-Yuma Sen- tinaI