Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1906-08-03
Ola L.s.as. Of D..,h v.n.y.


Death Valley il certuinly q place Of
great interest 10 the outeide world, and
the Rhyolite Herald Is taking advantage.
naturally, Of its close proximity TO that
region 10 hunt up some very interesting
legends regarding thus wierd portion Of
the West. In a recent issue it gives
eone Of these fascinating ~accounte, ON
excerpt Of which is here given:
while gold seems to be the underly.
ing cause OF the great interest taken in
Death Valley, yet a mysterious fascin.
alton takes possession Of all who once
brave it's dangers. Numberless legends
have been handed down from Renern.
lion to q neratiop, Of strange happen.
inRs almost beyond human explanation,
yot at the bottom OF all runs the streak
OF gold. for which men daily sell their
lives and oitt ntimes their very souls.
-Old Indian trails and signs still point
the way from spring to sprinR telling
whether the water is good or had. the
distance from one TO The other, the pass
abe and impassable canyons, the loca-
ton OF old Indian villages, etc. In
order to read the sisns correctly, one
must be familiar with their ways and
custome, aud over then it has become
difficult OIL account Of changes tina are
constantly taking place through natural
ard human agencies.
The trails are of different penode,
some being much later than others. At
intervals, beside the trails are mopu-
ments OF stone, with a pointed rock
showing the dire ctiope to take. Two
rocks LointinR in opposite directions in
dictate TINT it is impassable. The lcca-
ton OF metate st ,Des ID also significant.
A metate stone is a flat stone, followed
in the center. used for grinding acorns
for flour. mud will be found uot more
than a hhlf days travel from water.
Many springs known To the Indians are
not down on the mape.
-EndeavoriuH To tind u pBss through
the mountains. on a recent trip. a party
followed the Indian trail and signs, and
were led & course. which passed three
syringe, AMI some Old breasi-works
which Indians had used To hide behind
when lying I'D wait for mountain sheep.
"Oue Of the fret gold excItements was
back in the t%iitIea, when Brey fogle
found fine free gold, but was unable tn
return tn he exact spot. lie WA after
ward hit with u stone, hurled by nm
Indian, which is supposed to have in
jnred his BRAN.
slfnQfIX haE RNnFEGlnl thG4 tINln
that the Breyiogle lind WIS between
Willow Springs and the Original Bull.
frog. Charlie Nyman thinks il is be-.
tween Keane Springs, Willow Springs
and Death Valley. while one ~ Brey-
togle's party dc.cribed Hole in. Rock.
Tho win'l b-"aka are located about Is
miles fonth OF Rhyolite. Another
legend il OF an Indian who went into
Cerro Gordn, with n rock full Of free
gold. which he cold for 60. Tie white
man tried to get him 10 tell where he
found it, but the lDdian WIS wise and
kept lite location to himself. lie was
accidentiy killed a short time after
while hunting sheep and the secret died
with Inn. Some think this lind WIS the
came rs B~reyfople'R.
-l1Ie valley itself IL abOut all that it
has been painted. At times n man or
beast wonld mire ont OF sight and at
other times the shifting sands would
bury him alive. Yet men live there yrnr
after year. without feeling TINT they
ars incurrinR any unusual amount Of
danger. They know where they may or
emergencies. 1t is safe to say that II
few more years will see a wonderful
change in Death Valley Of the past. and
gold will TO the cause Of its final eur.
render to the will OF man..