The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-14
A FABULOUS MINE.
The Secret Within the Breast OF
Wife Murderer.
Denver kennhIican.

DeHVer RepuDIlcau.
Enoch Davis lies in the Utah penltentafy
awaiting the death sentence as an at0nemen'
for the murder of his wife. He is a poor man.
without friends. His case was appealed 10 the
Supreme Court OF the United States, and the
decision OF the lower courts, oroerine
the 1nfiction OF the death penalty, was
sustained. People of the Territory VINO are
conVersant with the facts connected with the
cruel murder for which he was tried are anxious
10 know why lie is not executed, and are
equally concerned about the cause Tor 80 much
assistance having been rendered IN attempts 10
secure an acquittal by prominent men.
1t now comes to light that this is The only
known living person who owns the secret 10 a
great gold IT, asure hidden in the dark canyons
OF The Wahsatch Mountains The gold fields
are supposed to be the richest In the great
West. They are situated in an almost impene-
Lake City, on the Uiutah Indian Reservation.
The Indians will not permit DroSpectors to
pass within hVe miles OF the alleged treasure
vaults. Inc American Asphalt Comnany, com
posed OF Denver and New York capitalists. al
most succeeded last spring in securing lease
upon these lands for the ostensiDle purpose OF
working the deposits of asphaltum. Some In
Ierested parties thought the company intended
10 seek for gold, and, through ithe efforts OF
Delegate Rawlins, prevented the lease being
granted.
The story connected with the discovery and
partial working OF the gold fields is also a
strange one. Several years age, when Brig
ham Young held The reins of government in all
OF Utah. lie was ylsi ed by an old California
miner named EdwaId Rhodes. At the close of
the interview the miner departed quickly into
the East Mountains, accompanied by his son
John. IL Is lated that the old gentleman had
some deal with Brigham whereby he agreed
10 deliver his weight In gold TO the president
within a specified time.
La about six weeks from the time of the de-
parture the father and son returned and delv-
cred TO Brigham two sacks OF pure gold weigh
ing something over eighty pounds each. The
man WAS instruc ed not to ATTEMPT TO work the
claim, nor dlvulge the secret TO any person. 1t
was then the policy of Brigham, as leader Of the
church, to prevent the opening Of mines within
the Territory. be counseled the saints to
make irrigation bitches and reclaim the arid
lanOs, leaving the development OF mines to
future generations.
The old miner died and left his secret un-
known 10 any mortal blt his son. In 1876 the
son. John Rhodes, then a man, decided to again
visit the gold fields. He did so and was sup
posed 10 have been killed by the Indians, as he
never returned. The matter had almost been
forgotten until Enoch Davis was arrested
for the murder of his wife. In his lonely
prison cell he related how he, In company
with Rhodes, visited and inspected the golG
fields, which are described as being most won
derful. The doomed man says the Indians
Killed Rhodes and lie escaped. He has kept
the matter a secret till now, because people
might think that he killed Rhodes.
Several mining men OF Salt Lake City are
very much excited over the story. A man in
Sanpete County has The only diagram made by
Davis descriptive OF the country. The prisoner
has offered to go iD shackles and chains to the
old slulces worked by old man Rhodes years
ago If he is assured protection and his life is
spared. The Old-tmers OF Utah have looked
longlngly at those canyons Tor many years III
the hope that some day they might be permit
ted 10 inspect the supposed rich pocAets OF