The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-17
THE SECRET OF A RICH MINE.
A Man Condemned to Death the Only
One Who Possessed 1t.
From the Denver Republican.

From the Denver Republican.
Enoch Davis lies In the Utah peniten-
tiary 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 supremescou of the
United States, and the decision of the
lower courts, ordering the infection of
the death penalty, was sustained Peo-
pie of the territory who are conversant
with the facts connected with the cruel
murder for which he was tried are anx-
1ous 10 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 .acquittal
by prominent men.
It now comes to light that this is the
only known living person who owns the
secret to great gold treasure hidden in
the dark canyons 90 the Wahsatch noun
tains. The gold fields are supposed to be
the richest in the great west. They are
situated in an almost impenetrable gorge
about 90 miles east of Salt Lake city, on
the Utah Indian reservation. The In
dams will not permit prospectors to pass
within five miles of the alleged treasure
vaults. The American Asphalt Company
composed of Denver and New York CAPT
tallsts, almost succeeded last spring in
securing lease upon these lands for the
ostensible purpose of working the de-
posits of asphaltum. Some interested
parties thought the company intended 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 reins of
government in all of Utah, he was visited
by an old California miner named Ed
mund Rhodes. At the close of the inter
view the miner departed quickly into the
East mountains, accompanied by his son
John. II is related that the old gentle
man had some deal with Brigham where
by he agreed TO deliver hts weight in
gold to the president within a specified
time.
In about six weeks from the time of de-
parture the father and son returned and
delivered to Brigham two sacks of pure
gold, weighing something over so pounds
each. The man was instructed not to at
tempt to work any claim, nor divulge the
secret to any person. II was then the
policy Of Brigham, as leader of the church
to prevent the opening Of mines within
the territory. He counselled the saints
to make irrigation bitches and reclaim
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 son. In
1870 the son, John Rhodes, then man,
decided to again visit the gold fields He
did so, and was supposed to have been
killed by the Indians, as he never re-
turned The matter had almost been for
gotten 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
gold fields, which are described as being
most wonderful. The doomed man saws
the Indians killed Rhodes and he escaped.
He has kept the matter secret until
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 Sanpect county has the only dia-
gram made by Davis descriptive of the
country. The prisoner has offered to 90
in shackles and chains to the old sluices
worked by old man Rhodes years ago. if
he is assured protection and his life
spared. The old-timers of Utah have
looked longingly at those canyons for
many years in the hope that some day
they might be permitted to inspect the
supposed rich pockets of gold