The Arizona sentinel., 1892-08-06

s'When l was a boy about twelve
years of age, [ ran away FROM home
on account of some fancied wrong
and while roaming around from place
to place [ met three men with a pack
train of three burros in camp. They
gave me food and treated me kindly
They offered to clothe and feed me ii
l would accompany them and cook
for them, at the same time stating
that they were prospectors. gladly
accepted the offer and accompanied
them to what appeared to be a per-
manent camp in the mountains. At
running spring where mesquite
and cottonwood tree grew were
erected two rough hunks, one large,
the other small. After resting few
days the men went into the noun
tains in the morning, returning in the
evening with something in yeast
powder cans, which were carefully
laid away. Prompted by curiosity,
during their absence, one day 1 open
ed one of the cans and found it to
contain large and small nuggets of
shining gold. I cautiously trailed
them the next day and found them
about one-fourth of mile from camp
busily engaged in taking out nuggets
of gold. On their return to camp
that evening they eyed me SUSPECT
ously and after l had turned into nv
blankets, the cans were deposited in
some other place that 1 never found,
and the next morning my troubles
commenced. 1 was spoken harshly
to, and threatened with punishment
on the least pretext. 1 have no doubt
they discovered my trail of the pre-
vious day and became exasperated at
the thought that 1 knew the secret of
their treasure. For several days fol-
lowing was cufed and otherwise
abused until [ became apprehensive
for my life and determined to escape
to some settlement. One morning
after they had left for the mountains
L hastily got together my blank cts,
some food and water and left them
forever. Carefully concealing my
tracks as proceeded, after three days
and two nights travel and several es-
capes from Indians l arrived foot sore
and weary at Aqua Caliente. Moth
ing more has ever been heard of the
Frenchmen. 1t is presumed they
were killed by Indians, and I am
now on my way to find the lost dig
gings of the lost Frenchmen. 1 can
go right to them"
" After several days fruitless search
we returned to Harrisburg If you
doubt my statements as above given,
refer you to "Jack" Swartz of
Yuma, who has knowrme for years,
and who will, no doubt, swear to my
for veracity, if called up
On to do so. That is all 1 know of
the lost Frenchmen or their lost dig
yings." Thus ends Mr.. Bears nara
tive.
And now come the startling and
gratifying intelligence that the
'Frenchmen's diggings have been
found by a party of Mexican pros
oectors at point some thirty miles
south of the Bonanza mine. Rumor
hath it that they have several large
nuggets of gold in their possession.
Numerous parties have at various
lines, penetrated the Eagle Tail and
). H. mountain ranges during the
asst twenty years in search of the
ost placers, but without avail.
The owners of the "Ben" Harrison
mining claim (Ohalk & Co.., have
commenced operations on their prop
'rty this morning, bright, with ex-
have been informed that Deputy U.
J. Marshal B. B. DeNure will soon
commence the extraction of ore from
he fine gold property owned by
Twins, Talbot & Co., of Phoenix.
This claim is situated about one and
! half miles from Harrisburg and
hows considerable free gold.
Yours, ETC.,
JOHN MCCAsEY, M. e.
HARRISBURG, Ariz., July 20, 1892.