The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
THE DEAD MANS MINE.
Two Convicts who Expect to Open Another
Monte CrIsto When Set Free.

SAIL LAKE CITY. Nov. l@.-In cells OF the
Utah penitentiary two men sit and think Of the
opening OF another Monte Cristo when their
terms expire. The men are known as Matt
Warner. alias Ras Lewis, alias Ras Christian
sen. and William Wall. !. charge OF man
slaughter was proved against the two convicts
and they were ordered imprisoned for a term OF
five years. The crime was committed only n
few months ago. near Nerual. n small frontier
settlement in Uintah county on the border of
the Uintah Indian reservation. Two men were
killed and a third was seriously wounded in u
fight over the location OF a famous gold mine.
Nearly a half century ago. according to Utah
legends. a great gold field was discovered in one
of the hidden caiions OF the Uintah Mountains.
The claim was operated for one week, and by
order OF Brigham Young the owner left the
mine. which he never again beLcld. Early in
the fft'es, 50 goes the story. one Thomas
Knowles, an old California miner, came TO the
city of Salt Lake. He called upon President
Young, who then acted as Governor of the State
OF Deseret. The Mormon received Knowles in
q very hospitable manner. and before the inter-
view ended n bargain was made by which the
miner was to deliver his weight in gold to thu
Mormon President within three weeks from
that date.
On a bright June morning old man Knowles
and his son, q 1+-year-old boy. started from the
Mormon city for the deep Gallons of the snow
crowned Cintah Mountains. Man and boy, ac-
companied by n train Of burros or little pack
mules. travelled fo- five days to the southeast
and camped at night on the banks OF n small
ripping mountain stream. When daylight
dawned they discovered in the water flowing
at their feet large nuggets or shining gold. They
soon constructed some sluicc boxes from the
mountain pines and began the work OF washing
gold from tho sand. In less than n week tho
man and the boy returned without their pack
mules. which had been stolen by tie Indians.
but with two sacks, weighing eighty-Aye pounds,
filed with native gold.
The golden treasure was delivered to Young
according to contract. and Knowles was made
to swear That he would never again enter the
cahon except with the consent OF III Governor.
Waiting his rich deposit Of precious metal.
When Brigham Young passed away, young
OWL feeling no further restraint. decided
To find The golden canon. Accompanied by u
young man named Enoch Davis. he started for
nuggets. After several week, spent In search
ing; the men found the narrow mountain gorge
beside the old sluices. and began making prep.
%arations Tor taking out the gold. a band rim
dians. seeing their territory being eLcroaChed
on, tred INTO the camp and Killed young
Knowles. Davis ESCAPED to the city.
IN a lew months after making the first at
tempt Davis tried. with the aid of a man drawn
BY Knowles. to locate the precious cudon. All
efforts proved futile. as the In~diansdrovc wEite
men away from The treasure field. Al last
Davis removed with his family to Nernnl and
worked at the trade Of a blacksmith. thinking
that some day the Indians would be compelled
to surrender their claim on the mountains. and
he could then locate the gold placers. Years
passed away and Davis became u drunkard,
and abused his wife and family. In one Of his
drunk en- 'brnwiS he murdered his wife and cast
her body into a potato pit. y trial ensued, and
Davis was convicted and sentenced to be shot.
While the doomed man was lying In a cell
awaiting the cXecntioner. he determined to un-
old map was produced. and The prisoner related
the history OF the rich placer fields. His life
and discover the golden treasure. After many
weeks OF dlligeht search, the miners returned
WIN a sack OF ore. which, npon being nssayed
showed only a trace Of gold. The search was
given NJ. and the prisoner was speedily exc
cuted. An artist friend received the sketch Of
the mine and for a time all thought Of wealth.
in the ntah Mountains seemed To be banisncd.
A. tho SHOWS OF spring melted away and
made the high Gallons accessible. some dnrinT
prospectors attemrted To enter tho lurbiGaen
gorge to locate the Knowles mine. Two com.
panies pitched tents near the supposed spot,
An unpleasAutness was created by the factions
failing to agree on the division of the urnurrtv
The desprradnes imprisoned IN the Utah peni.
tertiary, according to tins evidence produced in
court were ennloyod to l.si-t in ousting ono
camp OF prospectqrs from the cahop. 4 morn
ing attack resulted in "A pitched battle, which
ended In thG killing OF two men and tho
deserted AT once, and no miner Las since entered
its shadows.
Among the Indians this spot Is known II,
Dead Mans Mine. II Is reached only by a long.
dangerous journey up small mountaia strraml,
rising many hundred tc"l above the water. 40
Indian has ever descended the cra.gy mountain
slope TO- the creek, ma none dare uass within
Knowles was killed, as they believe thnt lad
SPIRITS inhahit the canon. AT pro nt no pro-.
prCtor seems anxious to seek tho los, milo. mo
lrl-oners expect when liberated to rulrr he
greatest gold Aeld Of the world.
Since THE War.
Rhgup1nfIgtn nuI E4It ,lt.Mt la,