The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-05-02
SECRET OF A RIC4 nINB.
a STRANGE sTouY FROM THE FAR
WEST,

In which a Murder, Rich Nine and Brig
ham Young Are Central Figures
Enoch Davis lies IN the Utah peniten-
tiary awaiting the death sentence as an
atonement for the murder of his wife
He is a poor man without friends. His
case was appealed to the supreme court
of the United States, and the decision OF
the lower courts. ordering the infection
of the death penalty, was sustained
People of he territory who are CONVEX
SAINT with the facts connected with the
crueI murder for which he was tried arc
anxious to know why be is not executed,
and are equally concerned about the
cause for so much assistance having been
rendered in attempts to secure an ac-
quittal by prominent men.
It now comes to light that this is the
only known living person who owns the
secret 10 a great gold treasure hidden in
the canyons Of tie Wahsatch mountains.
The gold fields are supposed to be the
richest in the great west. They are sit
mated in an almost impenetrable gorge
about 65 miles cast of Salt Lake City, on
the Utah Indian reservation. The In
dians will not permit prospector3 to pass
within five miles of the alleged treasure
vaults. TIE American Asphalt Compa-
ny, composed of Denver and New York
capitalists, almost succeeded last spring
in securing lease upon these lands for
the ostensible purpose of working the
deposits of asphalJum Some interested
parties thought the company intended
TO seek for gold and, through the efforts
of Delegate Rawlings, prevented the
lease being granted.
The story connected with the discOv-
cry and partial working of the gold fields
is also strange one Several years ago,
when Brigham Young held the rcins Of
government in all of Utah, he was visited
by AN old California miner named Ed
r1und Rhodes At the close ofthe inter
Wow fine mifr3fS departed quickly into the
East mountains, accompanies, ny ili0 sun
John. LIS related that the old gentIe-
man had some deal with Brigham where
by lac agreed to deliver his weight in
gold to the president within specified
time.
In about six weeks from the time of
departure the father and son returned
and delivered to Brigham two sacks OF
pure gold, weighing something over 81
pounds each The man was instructed
nos to attempt 10 work any claim, nor
divulge the secret tc any person. 1t was
then the policy of Brigham, as leader OF
the church. to prevent the opening of
mines within the territory. He counsel
ed the saints to make irrigation bitches
and reclaim the arid lands, leaving the
DEVELOPMENT of mines to future genera
tions.
The old miner died and left his secret
unknown to any mortal bat his son. In
1875 the son, John Rhodes, then man,
decided to again visit the g Id fields He
did So and was supposed to have been
killed by the Indians, as he never return
ed. The matter had almost been for
gotten until Enoc!l Davis was arrested
tor the murder of his wife. In his lonely
prison cell he related how he, in compa-
ny with Rhodes, visited AID inspected
the gold fields, which are described as
being most wonderful. The doomed man
saws the Indians xii ed Rhodes and he
escaped. tie has kept the matter secrei
until now, because people might think
he killed Rhodes.
Several mining men ofSalt Lake City
are very much excited over the story.
map in Sanpect county has the only dia-
gram made by Davis descriptive of the
country. The prisoner has offered to go
in shackles and chains to the old sluic s
worked by old man Rhodes years ago, If
lie is assured protection and his life
spared The old-timers of Utah have
looked lovingly at hose canyons for
many years in the hope that some day
they might be permitted to inspect the
supposed ijch pockets of gold.-Denver
Republican.
a Fem Tramp.