The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-12-17
STRANGE THINGS
IN DEATH VALLEY
Story of Two Old Prospect
Ors Who Have Spent
Months There


published at Caliente, New. two old Mon
tana prospectors. Doc" Winslow and
Mar in Dunlap. recently arrived in that
town from a prospecting trip through
Death Valley. The newspaper states the
men have been prospecting for Montana
parties and are on their way to that state
TO make a report of their find and to
make arrangements for further develop
ment work. The story follows:
'They went into the valley in June
and since that date returned to civil Ia
visions. They have trave ed over $40
mi es through the valley. guided by Jim
Dutch. halfbree d Moapa Indi n Tney
spent nearly two months in what they
call the Saw Tooth range and have made
locations in the locality of twenty-four
claims
They have twice been on the border
land of death from thirst and once were
/ hemmed in by a terrific sand storm,
which killed their pack animals and near
! ly destroyed Dunlap's sight.
'Tfey found some of he most peculiar
formation in that district ever seen by
the eye of man. In one place at the foot
of a high mountain of lime and white
quartz they found an old shaft sunk In
the gran.,e bed rock fifty feet. The shaft
was round and about four feet in diam
e.er. with holes on two sides. which had
miners.
In the center of the shaft had at one
time been a cen-er post running to the
surface. notched every twelve inches and
; sp'iced in the center with deer thongs.
This was spaced and leaning on one
sde of the shaft. The granite had evil
IDENTIFY been softer when sunk on than at
present. for 1t had evidently been worked
with stone implements. as the marks on
the sides of the shaft would show.
"At the bottom of the shaft were three
hammers of stone, which were sent to
the Smithsonian institute at Washington.
and two copper basins What the shaft
had been used for Is beyond conjecture,
as there seemed to be no naturalization
In the granite.
About 100 feet above the shaft. up the
mountain. was a room cut into the lime
formation, and in the center of the room
was tive-foot sink. presumably used for
baths. A trail had been worn in the rock
from the shaft 10 the room. which WAS
hewn after the manner of the cliff dwell
ers' habitations on the Colorado river.
Nearly l2O niles from the south line
Of the valley they struck ledge of gilt
piled up to a height of over 1000 feet.
They were g'assy and impossible of ac-
cess above the vaiey. being heated near
ly red hot under the blazing summer
sun. They were evidently of volcanic
formation. and showed evidence of hav-
irg been deposited during some terr BILE
volcanic upheaval. Numbers OF these
rocks were inscribed with range hiero-
gyphics. which were not deci ..ei alb by
the prospect ors. out which they copied
crudely. and which consist of roughly
cut pictures of shuri horned deer noun
tain sheep and long-legged birds with
webbed ieet. They also include cuts in
basi elief of nude men and women I'm pos
lures of worship. dancing and fighting,
Stars, CROSSES and triang'es were also en-
graved on the rocks. and several suns.
with long rays. were among the displays
II the ancient picture gallery.
- bout III rty miles furher north the
prospectors struck a well-worn trail lead
ing Ia the apex of a range of snow-white
quartz. which they gained after infne
itirdships. and found ledge four feet
IN width. I'm which cubes of wire gold
were lidinly seen.
This edge was located and traced for
over three miles 20 the northwest. and
samples taken from 4 were shown 10
the Progress representative. which. II Is
estimated will go into the hundreds Of
dollars per top."