The National tribune., 1903-09-17

Governor Stafford and could never again
be induced TO join a prospecting eNpedl-
ton. although 1 had the buckskin bags
not even when little later Governor SAT-
ford went to pick up diamonds by the
bushel. as will be presently related in the
sequel to the gold hunt. as narrated to me
by n brother pioneer who belonged to the
Salt River party that stayed with Miner
and experienced the following adventures.
/ quote his own words:
THE END OF MINERS EXPEDITION.
Con reaching Pinal camp Cater the
ranch of Mr.. IriOn). it was agreed that
Miner should take l. or 20 men and go
back TO San Carlos, where he claimed to
have been misled, take up his trail. toll
low it To the "diggin's,' and then return
to U.S. They went to the top of Plnal
Mountain, where Miner with his field
glasses could see San Carlos, and from
this point of the lofty Pinals claimed-th
he could see his mountain, where the gold
was found by him. and informed us on his
return (Which was the next day), that II
was distant from Pinal camp only some IL
miles to the north. and that to get there
from where we were, in a direct line, was
impossible. owing to }he existence of GER
tain box canyons, and that to reach the
point desired we would have to so round
about way. There was great rejoicing over
the fact that all the others had left, and
thar our party only would enjoy the good
fortune of possessing the rich mines.
''Pnai camp had been abandoned only a
short time. and there were left behind
cracker boxes. stovepipe and nails. much
of which we gathered up. put III shape TOT
TRANSFORMATION and packed upon our AMI
mails for use in making rockers when we
should reach the mines. The thing was
now certain. no longer delusIon, ana
Miner became once more for brief pc
riod a trump regaining for the time his
lost prestige. Thus in the most hopeful
and Joyous mood we took our leave OF
Pinal camp. taking the trail to Picket
Post established in 1871 by Geo. Stone
mani. over the StoGeman grade. Miner.
lust before reaching Picket Post. pre-
tended tn recognize the country, and point
ed to the Queen Creek Canyon. stating
that when first in Arizona, on leaving
he came through it. When asked II he
brought his mules through it. he answered
YES. Some were present who knew the
fact that the military had failed to get
animals through this canyon. and had to
send thc:l stock back. finding that it was
all footman could do to get through.
Miner stock once again began to decline.
On reaching the Tanks Cater on Whit
low's raEchl. Miner Informed us that the
third canyon from our then standpoint was
the one leading to the mines. and ascend
ing il about eight miles we would find the
place he was in search of. We found
the third canyon, and went into camp
on its banks about noon time.
after a hasty dinner Miner, accompa-
MED by an old man named Pearce, started
out on foot without water or provisions.
to explore the canyon. Night and dark
ness ser in and Miner had not returned;
fires were built and kept blazing, and sig
nal guns fired at intervals during the
night. in the hope of aiding Miner and
Pearce to safely reach camp. Daylight
came CD and no Miner appeared; after
breakfast 4 meeting of the camp was
held. in order to consider the situation.
Some thought that the two absent ones
had been killed by Indians; others that
they had lost their way and were unable
to find our camp.
"a few sansuine ones believed Miner
had found the gold and would return
loaded down with the pure yellow stuff
that would astOnish us all and bid us re-
joice. We waited until noon, arranging
in the meantime for a picked lot of men
to go IL search of the missing ones, to
take up and follow their tracks until
found. or, if killed, bury their bodies.
About the time start was TO be made
Miner and Pearse came into camp, hun
cry and detected, utter disappointment
stamped on their countenances. not hav-
ing found anything. They had tried TO
retrace their footsteps, got lost, and camp
ed out all night. Miner said the next can
yon wgs the one. Some asserted that the
next canyon WAS the one through which
the Salt River flowed, Miner earnestly
contending that it was not. To settle the
matter we sent men the next day to ex-
anime and report. Miner accompanying
the party. 1t proved to be the Salt River
This being so. the Miner expedition ter
minated there and then. 1t consumed in
all about months time from its begin
ming until it 'iZZled' out. Miner was per-
mitted to follow in the rear Of the Salt
River people en- route for home. unmo-
Tested until he assumed to direct the route
to be taken. This was too much for the
sadly-deluded party: Mr.. Miner was quiet
ly but impressively informed that if he
spoke another word he would he hanged
to the first tree in sight"
Miner got safely out of the country and
back to San Francisco. The general upin-
ioii vas then. aid is now. that in no other
country would Miner have escaped nang-
ing Notwithstanding the just indignation
Of those he had so wantonly and persist
emily duped, he was permitted to leave
unmolestsd and unhurt by reason of .he
Soon f3lure anu IHrDearance characteristic
of the people of Arizona.
L personally had at no time any faith
or confidence in the truth of Miners story
offering from the very beginning to sell
out all interest for an old hen and chick
ems, in anything he might show us, barring
what We might accidentally find. ! was
induced to join the expedition under the
promise of certain parties that we would
first go with Miner, as this trip would
take not TO exceed 10 days from Grant,
as stated by him; then, if it proved a fail
ure. they would accompany me TO what IS
now the Globe district. With this pre-
vious understanding. after Miners fruit
less trip was ended, a company of 1S men
Joined me on further prospect trip on
orr own hook. To enable us to do so ad-
ditional supplies were needed, and in Or
der to obtain these three men with pack
mules went to Florence, the Others re-
manning in camp at the Tanks" to await
our return.
GOV. sAFFoRD's SEARCH FOR DIAMONDS.
On reaching Florence we were told that
Governor Stafford, in company with five
or six other men, had gone out to see and
locate some rich mines discovered on
she Miner trip and not disclosed by the
discoverer. On imparting this informa-
ton on our return from Florence, one of
our PARTY sang out: Diamonds. by God.
diamonds, boysw and then informed us
that a rich jewelry firm in San Francisco
had sent man to join the widely-adver-