Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-02-14
RUSH TO KIOWA REGION.
Home Seekers Will Flock to the
Wichita Mountains.
STORIES OF HIDDEN TREASURE

titles Are to Be Found In the WICK
itas Is Yet to BE Determined-Indi-
an Legends of Mounts Scott and
Sheridan.
Among the many attractions Of the
far famed Kiowa and Comanche coun-
try probably none has created such
widespread interest as the Wichita
mountains since it has been noised
abroad that they abound in buried min
eral wealth. Opportunity knocks but
seldom at the poor mans door, and as
this is the last of the large Indian res
ervations to be opened to settlement it
behooves him to take time by the fore
lock in this instance, says Florence
Crofford, the Ninnekah q. T) CORE
spondent of the Kansas City Times.
An unusually eager rush of homeseek-
ers is expected, this reservation holding
forth, as it does, such rare induce
ments in the way of climate, soil, game,
fruit, pasturage, mineral resources and,
best of all, streams of pure, healthful
water. Its topography should be stud
led with Jealous care by homeless in
truder and Intelligent Indian alike.
Perhaps there is no range of noun
tains in all the broad southwest so re-
plete with romantic legends or accred-
tied with such vast hordes Of hidden
treasure of gold and silver as the Wich
ita range. They are supposed to be
outcroppings of the Rocky mountains.
They take their rise near Fort Sill, the
principal chain running for distance
of 60 miles northwest, when they dis
appear. The peculiar formation of the
great masses of gigantic granite bowl
ders piled high in picturesque confu-
sion upon the summit of the mountains
gives to the Wichita range an individ-
Ual charm that is lacking in most minor
mountain chains.
Prospectors drawn thitherward by
the greed of gold have tried time and
again to locate mining claims in the
heart of this rich region, only to be re-
ported at the agency by lynx eyed red
skins, who jealousy guard the treasure
buried in the mountains silent breast
The unfortunate "sooners" are there
upon sum marily escorted to the borders
of the reservation by a squad of Fort
Sill soldiers with strict orders to return
no more. It is an undisputed fact back
ed by intelligent investigation that
gold, silver copper, iron, tin, asphalt
tum, coal and other minerals are to be
found in these mountains. though
whether they exist in paying quantities
is yet to be determined.
An ancient Indian legend tells how
years ago a band of red men, in de-
Tending their stronghold from invading
palefaces, exhausted their supply Of
bullets and, lead being unobtainable,
they nodded a fresh supply of bullets
from that wonderful yellow metal
yielded up TO them from the depths of
their rocky haunts.
Mount Scott, the proud patriarch Of
the range. lifts his hoary head and
moss begirt powders 1,4OO feet above
the level of the encircling plain and
1000 feet above the sea level This
mountain was so named in honor of
General Winfield Scott by General
Sherman, who also founded the mill
| tary post at Fort Sill. His satellites
| are many-among them Saddle noun
| tain, which bears so striking a resem-
| blance to the huge saddle of bygone
| days, even recognizable miles away,
| that the name is naturally suggested
|
| ernment signal station on its summit,
| hence the name; picturesque Mount
| Sheridan, whose wild, rugged rocks,
| rising sheer from the ground, cast gro
| tesque shadows upon the rolling green
| valley embracing it's feet, and Medi-
| cine Bluff mountain, taking it's name
| from the creek of the same name near
| Fort Sill.
| A very romantic Indian legend clings
| to this queer shaped mountain, which
| presents the appearance of. having
been cut in two from summit to base,
! one-half alone remaining. The Indians
| regard this freak of nature with deep
| veneration. In days of old two of
| their brayest young warriors sued for
the hand of the same dusky damsel
She, like the Sioux chiefs daughter,
| celebrated in song and story, set for
them well nigh hopeless wager. They
| were to mount on their fleet ponies,
ride to Medicine Bluff, and, after
making medicine" and blindfoldina
both men and animals, ride at full
speed to the top Of the mountain. The
young brave who was courageous
enough to ride off the bluff was to
have won the maid, but, alas! for the
bronze checked beauty, both lovers
met with cruel and instant death!
The ascent to Mount Scott reveals
marvels of natures lavish handiwork
| -varicolOred rocks, round and oblong
powders of dark brown hue, which
on being broken display yiyid streaks