The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-21
LOST GOLD MINE FOUND.
Famous Adams Cave" in Arizona
Relocated After Long Search.


tHOueks Tank. Ariz., Correspondence
Chicago Inter ocean,
Harry c. Adams, formerly Of Pitts
DurG, Pa, and T. D. Harrison of Sa-
lem, O., with party of Navajo guides,
reached here four days ago with a re-
hdfkaDle story of the discovery Of
ADAMS cave, the most famous of all
the lost treasures of the west. For
nearly half century miners have told
the story Of the great treasure hidden
away IN the hills of the Navajo reser-
vation
shortly after the Indians had been
crowded back into the district they
now occupy, and the government had
sent out its soldiers to keep them there.
Henfy Adams came out from the east
and established a little trading store
near Fort Defiance. Adams traded
with the Indians and kept strictly
within the bounds of the law. so far,
at least, as appearances were con-
cerned. The Indians respected Adams
and were as friendly with the white
man as the race could be in those days.
one suitry afternoon Adams was sit
tlng in the shade Of his rude shack"
when three Navajo warriors ap-
preached and entered the store. Adams
followed them in. and the three began
70 point out one thing after another
ana gathered thu articles in bundle
To be carried away. Adams looked on
and said nothing The bucks helped
themselves, and. as they turned to go.
IN payment they laid a bag Of nuggets
on the counter.
Adams watched them disappear from
sight; he was busy thinking. The In
dams, he knew. had not been off the
reservation. The gold. therefore came
from the hills of the Navajo country.
Adams determined to try 10 find the
mine. He set out in a slow and eau
uous manner to become on better
terms with the Indians, and particu-
larry with the three who had brought
the gold TO the store. They came in
from time TO time and made payment
IN gold dust or nuggets, as they did on
their first visit.
Adams at last succeeded in inducing
them to show him the mine. The jour
ney was undertaken at night The
three Indians and Adams rode away
at twilight; no one knew Adams in
tention, and no one suspected his mo-
tive. The four rode all night and to-
ward morning the party halted at the
mouth OF a canyon.
The Indians here insisted that Ad-
ans be blindfolded The men rode on
in silence for an hour or two. then
halted again and dismounted. The
horses We're tied and Adams was led
UP the side of a steep hill, still blind
folded. and into a cave. The Indians
removed the bandage and invited Ad-
ans 10 look about him. The floor of
the cave was Uttered with gold mug
gets and ingOts. It seemed to be the
hiding place of the treasures of the old
races of Mexico, who, it is said. came
this far north to secrete their treas
ures from the Spaniards.
Adams begged TO be allowed to take
some of the treasure away, but the IN
dams refused. His eyes were again
bandaged, and be was led away as he
had come. Just as the Indians slipped
the kerchief over his eyes. Adams lifted
his gaze for q moment from the gold
and looked out the mouth OF the cave. /
A short distance away he saw three
peaks, alike in height and shape, but
SAW no other marks by which he might
know the place again. lie was allowed
TO see no m0Te.E The return journey
was accomplished in silence.
. g o
goods and spent all of his money in
an attempt to find the cave. Every eff
fort. however, failed. With all his
money gone, half-staTved and ragged,
he at last committed suicide. Previous
to doing so, he wrote a letter to his
brother in Pennsylvania, and gave a
detailed account of his search, with
maps Of the country and directions for
the probable location Of the place Of
wealth.
The brother preferred to remain on
the farm, hut his more adventuresorne
son started out to follow up the wealth
of his uncle. Scores OF times he met
hostile Indians, and. after searching
for several years, was forced to leave
the country.
Two years ago a government order
was issued, opening the reservation to
prCspeetOrs. providing the Indians were
given a certain percentage of the re-
suits in case valuable ore was found.
Adams at once returned to the search.
and with d party of Indian guides
secured the country. Three weeks ago,
in following up a deep wash in the Tu-
nicha mountains. he came upon d cave
in canyons side. On the floors of the
cave he failed to find the gold nuggets
anu iuEOtSs dS utSGElDtu bE AuE ttie-
inal finder of the cave, the Indians hav-
ing probably carried away most Of
them; but far back in the hole they
discovered another cTeviCe, and. crawl
ing through that. they came upon a
shaft Of what was apparently an aban-
doned mine. Strewn about the surface
were stone hammers and mauls, and
chunks Of ore glittering with gold
Down the shaftwas an immense ledge
Of gold ore, penetrated by tunnels and
shafts.
Gathering together some Of the best
specimens of the gold, the party hur-
ried here, leaving several guards at
the cave. They are fitting out an eX-
petition at Holbrook and engaging men
for heavy operations at their mine, and
viii leave soon TO return and equip the
old gold producer with modern ma
chinery-
Wanted One in Green.