The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-29
TO FIND 4 NUGGET
Colorado Miner VIII Attempt
to Find 1t.
is WORTH $4,000
Weighs 1000 Pounds and Is
One Gold.

years. 1t weighs, or did weigh ~ 10 1yvs
pounds, and is worth from $4,000 to $780,
COO, or from $4,000 to $4,000 more than
the famous Australian nugget was worth.
I he above figures are obtained by esti-
mating that one-third Of the rock is solid
gold, valued at $40 a pound.
H H. Wilcox, at present in Denver,
but for 30 years a prospector in Colorado,
Arizona and Montana, says that he in
tends TO find that lump of gold, though
many men have hunted for it in vain, and
not few have lost their lives in the at
tempt Since the day Wilcox heard the
story of this wonderful hidden wealth.
or vast fortune, he has set his heart on
securing IT, and with that end III view
he has saved his money, until now he has
enough, he thinks. TO supply him until
he can make tour Of that portion OF
the canon in which the nugget lies.
About the middle of July the journey will
begin.
Ten years ago this month 9. Otis Pierce.
Ellis Finch, Albert Rutherford and Chap
Smith, the two former Of Colorado and
the two latter of Arizona, were prospect
ing in Arizona near the great Colorado
RirCl, which runs through tue GrorG
Canon in the northern part OF tile STAGE.
They had often heard that native gold
CO. lid be found along the res ot tie
canon and they decided to try their luck.
With pack animals and enough provisions
to last them for three months, the four
rrospectors babe farewell to civilization
and began a journey which was destined
For three of four weeks nothing was
discovered to lead the men TO believe that
any kind of mineral was to be found, to
say nothing OF native gold.
One day while they were eating break
fast near the rim of the canon. at
point where the wall is about 500 to 900
feet above the river, and where it would
be impossible TO make a descent for Toe
miles upstream and downstream they dis
covered what appeared to be number
of iron boulders, weighing from 500 to
1900 pounds each. To pass away the
time before beginning another days jour
ney they pried up a boulder and rolled
1t over the rim. Down it tumbled 90 the
rushing stream below. Another and an
other was rolled down with the same
delightful result.
Near the bllnk was one which looked
as If 1t weighed from 80 to 1000 pounds.
II was pried from its bed and balanced
on the brink of the precipice. While the
huge thing stood there tottering. ready to
make it's awful leap. the four men chanc-
ed to look at the bottom that portion
which had not been exposed to the vea-
Their, and they were delighted to find
that for which they had searched-native
gold Just Cor a little while did they
have a chance to discover it, for it was
gradually slipping from them. The dis
covery was made too late. and before
they realized what had happened it was
rolling and tumbling in space and soon
splashed into the river. Pierce. who tells
the story, says the boulder was composed
OF gold and quartz. That portion ex-
posed to the weather resembled rusty
iron.
For five minutes the men seemed stup-
efed and dazed; then for the first time
they realized that they had lost a for
tune. Another look into the yawning
chasm below convinced them that an
attempt to go down meant certain death.
There was only one thing TO do. and
that was TO get a rope or a cable. The
nearest place to secure one was 100 miles
away. and that meant ten days travel.
Pierce and Finch set out on the long
journey, and Rutherford and Smith re-
NAMED behind TO keep watch.
The cable was brought and arranged,
and Rutherford went down; but the trip
was : disappointment. There was
shifting sand at the bottom of the river.
and he concluded that either the rock
was buried or had been washed farther
en- Until darkness drove him away the
man searched. but OF no avail. Next
morning a abnd of Indians surprised the
Irospectors.
In the encounter Rutherford and Finch
were killed and Pierce and Smith were
taken prisoners Many times since his
escape Pierce has attempted TO relocate
the place and until recently was unable
n do so. but he had no money and many
OF those TO whom he told the wonderful
story accepted it with great deal OF eau
ton. Some believed him and went IN
scare hof the treasure. but all returned
empty-handed Thousands OF dollars
have been expend Nfaecnt: Deb q iengotse
have been expended In equipments and
two or three lives have been lost.
Now comes Wilcox. who says he can
and will fnd that wealth. Ut few men
IN the West have sone through as many
experiences as he and few have had as
many narrow escapes from death. six
years agc he was prospecting near Lead
vile. in Lake County when he was caught
in 4 snow slide which carried him 30
feet he was badly hurt and fer weeks
bis life hung n the balance. White work
ing in = deep raine Fl LeadvIlie he Vas
caught BY a cave-in and was sntonbed
for u days Food Was sent u him
through an from pipe IN Routt county
last summer he had an encounter with
q wounded bear. = friend killed the ani-
nal Jus, T. tire 70 save viicoxs life.
such man ought 70 - brave enough 70
undertake journey which ray end n
death.
wilcox was seen day o. tEo ego.
'.Pierce told ne ire story q the nuEEss
several years s-o. and I believed hk7z.'
said Wilcox He vas not sbie . Snd
the place until recently though snd he
had 70 money. : have saved SINE, and
an going - make The trfp. ard when
return you may have IooE ~ = fortune
al in ere lump
Wilcox has not only saved zaozs- but
ne has gained knowiesgs and has besz
70 the Grand Canyon Two Or three tines-