Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-12
Mining Men Wonder II Story is
True or Only a
Romance.
RICH FIND REEVES STORY.
should Discovery Prove True IL win
Open Rich Treasure House Ia
Colorado Desert.

The story OF the discovery and loss
/ OF the "Pegleg' mine IN the desert re-
gion Of the southern part OF the state
/ has been Oft narrated with many varia-
lions, says the Oakland Tribune. Il IS
one OF the earliest mining romances Of
southern California following the dis
coyery OF gold at Coloma by Marshall
In its original form the story went
that Pegleg. o. desert prospeCtor So
called because he was MANNED crawlsd
into bakersfield on one OF the early
days in n partially demented condi-
ton produced by the privation he had
suffered, bearing with him nuggets an ?
gold bearing quartz specimens. which
he represented hc had taken from q
ledge OF incompatible richness be had
discovered I'm his wanderings in the
desert region, but which he was never
afterward able 20 relocate. His story
was on a par with that other crt
myth known as tine "Gunsight" mine.
wherein a prospector had u7ed a piece
of native gold he had broken from the
outcrOppings Of a ledge which he came
across in his roamings in the desert
To- repair the barrel of his rife, and
the bearings Of which he was not
afterwards able 10 relocate When the
yellow Aster' mine at Randsburg was
discovered about ~ or rs years ago.
desert prospectors settled down TO the
belief that the "Gunsight' mine had
been found
MuCH-SOUGHT PROPERTY.
The "Pegleg" mine remained how
ever an object OF persistent. although
unsuccessful search by desert miners
for many years after the death Of the
MANNED prospectOr until 80 finally was
classed as one OF those alluring and
mythical romances created by the vivid
negotiations OF the early searchers for
the auriferous treasures hidden in the
inhospitsble waste In the southeastern
part Of the state. But the story OF
Pegleg's alleged discovery Is now re-
vlved by the return Of a miner from
that section Of the Colorado desert ly-
ing east Of the San Jacinto mountains,
IN san Diego county bearing with him
gold nuggets the largest OF which
nearly four ounces. and specimens Of
gold bearing quartz assaying $4,000
per ton, which he claims to have OBJ
tanned from the long-lost "Pegleg'
mine. This re-discovery. n IL be one.
constitutes part OF an aboriginal ro-
nance OF some years ago. when an old
Indian is alleged 20 have revealed TO
the miner the location Of the rich de-
post on pledge tnat the secret should
be kept until after his death. The lat
ter occurred recently. and the miner
was prompted to relocate his claim by
the recent discovery by two other min
ers of an equally rich ledge on Steam
boat mountain. which he az FIRST sus-
pected WAS the "Pegleg vein but
which turned out 10 Dee SO miles west
of the latter. Whether or not either OF
these rich finds Is I'm reality the
"Pcgleg' vein. they go far to prove
the great mineral wealth Of the Colo
RADIO desert region, which has long sus-
pected by mining men familiar with It's
geological formation TO be the richest
natural treasure stOrehOuse In the
state and which, when It's conquest
shall have been completed, viii prob
ably prove 10 be So