The herald., 1893-05-18
PEGLEG IS A BLOOMING LIAR,
His Mine Proved a Myth by
Returned Prospectors.
Ex-Sheriff Aguirre and a Party Re.
turn from FruitIess Search.
all of Pegleg's Old Landmarks Found
and the Place where the Mine
Ought to Be, but No Gold Was
to Be Found There.

II the historical Pegleg mine had ever
existed, Ed. Mellus and his companions
would probably have found it, but Mr.
Mellus says there never was such
mine and states moreover that the ina
ginative Mr.. Pegleg was blamed old
liar.
Ex-Deputy Sheriff Mellus, who has 80
rudely torn away the veil OF romance
which has surrounded the lost Ell Dora
do for over 80 years, has,been a crank on
the subject since he was 16, 18 years
ago. Just 10 years back hs
made his first search for
lost gold, taking the Hidden Spr
as his object point. According to ~
able information this hidden spring y
in the locality OF the mine and V
necessary on account of the lack OF watef
in the desert. With the aid Of an la-
dian, who was informed that Mellus was
hunting mountain sheep, the spring WIS
found, in little oasis covering abou
quarter OF an acre OF territory. Sa'
fed with this result, Mellus returned to
Los Angeles with the determination
resuming his search on the first opp
tunity. But funds were not plentiful
and he never had the opportunity until
last February, when Judge Brun
son offered to grubstake him and
his companions in their hunt for
the long lost mine. On the 18th OF Feb
Tuary last Mellus, in company with his
Aguirre and q well-known prospector,
Michael Kirby, started out with four
horses and eight burros for the Colorado
Thnu la for a lIttlo uQIlPV
known as the "Vallecitos," intending to
make that their headquarters. The
journey was o long and rough one.
Their progress was barred with the al
most impenetrable jungles of cacti
and prickly meecal plants through
which the treasure seekers had to hew
their way. The season was the
rainy one, and the travellers often
rode day and night through the pouring
rain without finding shelter or dwelling
of any kind. At last they reached the
little valley and made their camp before
commencing their march across the des-
ert. After short rest the burros were.
reladen and q start made for the three
buttes, which old Pegleg had described
as being the locality in which he found
the shining gold in heaps. Taking warn
ing from the fate OF the numerous pros
pectors who had lost their lives in the
search, Mellus fret saw to their water
supply. Eight barrels, containing elev-
en- gallons apiece, we're packed on the
burros, and the journey was begun. Some
miles out the party overtood female
epiritualist medium in company with
three Americans. The medium stated
that she knew where the treasure lay
and that she was going to the exact spot
but she rather dispelled the illusion by
asking Mellus and his companions
in what direction the hidden spring lay.
Che did not receive satisfactory an
swer. Melius advised her to consult the
spirits, and also warned her against
undertaking the journey without water,
drawing graphic picture Of death from
thirst, which latter effort 30 scared the
spiritualistic party that they inconti-
nently turned tail and made for homo.
Not knowing exactly how long 1t
would be before they reached the
spring, the party determined to hus-
band their water supply and for four
days the unfortunate burros plodded
along in the burning sand without g
drop OF water. At the best of times a
burro is Hulky animal, and by the
time the water was reached the beasts
OIL DufUtu WtTd uOb III DUJll bcubte VI lIlt
word. They were led to the stream
with their four days thirst on them,
but in vain, the burros were dead sulky
and would only look at the refreshing
liquid and snort, and it was not until
they thought they had evinced their
sense OF mans injustice that they would
condescend to wet their lips.
From this spring, which is 80 carefully
concealed by nature that man may BIZ
parching with thirst within 80 feet OF it
and not discover its existence, they
made their way to the three historical
buttes, along which, old Pegleg had
stated, lay the gold. They we're reached,
and wasting no time the party com
menced their search. Days and days
were passed in fruitless hunting. There
were no signs of gold. All of
Pegleg's landm~sks we've found, all
was there except the precious metal.
The only approach to it, was decom-
posed ledge running northwest and
Southeast. The ledge was honey combsd
throughout, and the prospectors dug to
O depth of twenty feet, but when the
dirt came to be washed, not even color
could be found. All that remained were
small garnets none larger than a pins
head. The whole country for two miles
around was thoroughly examined and
at last the disgusted treasure seekers
packed up and made their way back
over the desert. Speaking to reporter
yesterday, Mar. Mellurs said
81 want to say for the benefit OF future
prospectors that there is and can be no
such place as the Pegleg mine. have
looked up old Pegleg'e record. and dig
ing from the evidence OF his friends and
acquaintances, the old man was blamed
old liar. He has been the cause OF many
good man losing his life, and want to
say right here, that he was fakir Of the
first water.
''The only foundation l can find for
the story is that years ago, miners in 60
ing to Fort Yuma used to take the old
Butterfeld route. which leads in the oi-
rection OF the supposed Pegleg mine.
The Cahuilla Indians used to make a
practice OF am bushing these miners and
robbing them OF their gold dust.
II know for fact thai IL miners were
shot down at one time. The Indians,
afraid to bring back this dust at
one time, used to bury it in
the desert, and account for their
possession of it, by stating they had
found wonderful mine, the locality
of which of course they would not de-
scribe. In my opinion this is the source
of the story of the wonderful Pegiee
mine. Old Pegleg drew on his imagiDs-
tion, which WAS good one. Why, he
said he got lost and woke woke up one
morning to find glitterng Jumps OF gold
Ill =.