Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1894-03-30
PRECIOUS MINE SECRET
held BY A CONDEMNED
UTAH MAN.

UTAH MAN.
Denver Ores and Metals.
Eaoch Davis lies in the Utah
penitentiary awaiting the death
sentence as an atonement for the
murder OF his wife. He is poor
man, without friends. His case
was appealed to the Supreme
Court of the United States aud the
decision of the lower courts, order.
ing tho infliction of the death
penalty, was sustained. People OF
the territory who are conversant
with the facts connsctei with the
cruel murder, for which he was
tried, are anxious to know why he
is not executed, and are equally
concerned about the cause for so
much assistance having been rem
dered in attempts to secure an ac-
quittal by prominent men,
II now comes to light that this ia
the only known living person who
owns the secret to great gold
treasure hidden In the dark canons
of the Wahsatch mountains. The
gold fields are supposed to be the
richest IN the great West They
are situated in the almost impene-
trable gorge, about sixty five miles
east of Salt Lake CITY, on the
Uintah Indian reservation. The
Indians will not permit Prospec-
tors to pass within five miles of
the alleged treasure vaults. The
American Asphalt Company, com
posed of Denver and New York
capitalists. almost succeeded last
spring in securing lease upon
these lands for the ostrnsiole pur-
pose of working the deposits of
asphaltum. Some interested par
ties thought the company intend
ed to seek for gold and. through
the efforts Of Delegate Rawlins,
prevented the lease being granted.
The story connected with the
discovery and partial working of
the gold fields is also strange
one. Several years ago when
Brigham Young held the relns of
government in all of Utah, he was
visited by an old California miner
named Edward Rhodes. At the
close of the interview the miner
departed quickly into the east
mountains, accom- mpanied by his
son John, 1t is related that the
old gentleman had some deal with
Brigham whereby he agreed to
deliver his weight in gold to the
president within a specified time.
About six weeks from the time
of the departure father and son re
turned and delivered to Brigham
two sacks of pure gold weighing
something over eighty pounds each.
The man was instructed not to at
tempt to work the claim, nor di-
vuIge the secret to any one. 1t
was then the policy of Brigham,
as leader of the church, to prevent
the opening of mines within the
territory. He counciied the saints
to make irrigation bitches and re-
claim all the arid lands, leaving
the development OF mines to future
generations.
The old miner died and left his
secret unknown to any mortal but
his soa. In 1875 the son, John
Rhodes, then a man. decided to
again visit the gold fields. He
did so and was supposed to have
been killed by the Indisns, 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 be, in company
with Rhodes, visited and inspected
the gold fields, which are describ-
e, as being most wonderful. The
doomed nsn says the !adieae XII
led Rhodes and he escaped. He
has kept the matter secret until
now. because people might think
that be killd Rhodes.
Several mining men OF Salt Lake
eCity are very much excited over
The story A man IN Sanpete coun.
Ity has tie only diagram made by
Davis descriptive Of the country
The prisoner has offered to 60 IN
shackles and chains TO the old
sluices worked by old man Rhodes
wears ago lsss.s is assured prntec
fioS fsfia fSss .fss-ssr
old timers of Utah have looked
longingly at those canons for
many years in hope that some
day they might be permitted to IN
spect the supposed rich pockets of
gold.