Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1913-05-09

and nothing would induce him to start out alonc
on quest of wealth that lay hidden in the desert
near the three peaks
He sent other men for him. giving them a map
of tho country he had conceived It, but they all
failed in the relocation of the treasure.
Three men rode leisurely out Of the Panamint
range Of mountains at the edge Of that famous
sink Of mystery Death Valley, and on across
country toward San Bernardino their destination.
They were all on good horses, had ample packs.
and ten-gallon water canteens. They rode through
the heat Of the day, their horses kicking up the
dust Of the desert and leaving behind contin-
uous hazy vapor which always distinguishes any
thing Of life that moves in the desert wastes.
During the heat of the day they a.opped to
camp in tho shade of their horses, which were
watered and fed. Soon they started on. This
time there was not the same certainty the same
equanimity, among them and a quarrel arose as
to the proper direction to take. They quarraled
all that afternoon, and finding their water-supply
practically all gone on the following morning.
their words almost resulted in blows. They sepa-
rated.
One Of them Frank Goler, struck out alone in
an easterly direction, while the other two went
south.
BY noon of.the second day Goler had arrived ut
series Of low kills that lay directly in his path.
He crossed thens and on the farther side discov-
cred a canyon into which he plunged without the
least fear and with renewed hope Of salvation
It contained abundant vegetation, and what was
more than all tho rest 1t carried in it's deepest
embrace little mountain stream
Arriving at its banks, Goer nearly delirious
from lack Of water, gave h;s horse its freedom
and dropped to the edge of the stream and began
tapping up the cool; bright water. And while he
drank the rays Of the SUM- penetrating the foliage
OF an overhanging cottonwood, glinted upon some
thing on the bottom of the stream-something
yellow just beyond the touch Of his lips
It was a nugget Weighing several ounces. There
W others hnWi a
good fortune, pulled forth three of the pieces o:
gold and then stopped to think of food for he
had not taken nourshment for more than day.
He tucked the nuggets into the bosom Of his
shirt, caught his horse, mounted, and then pro
ceeded with all possible speed down the canyon
taking little time even to make proper survey Of
the location of the treasure. Finally, after sew
eral hours of rough Mding he came out upon a
plain. Just ahead of him he what apparent
ly had been the bed Of big body of water
It was all dried out and lay in straight east
erly line with Mount San Antonio Mount
Badly, as IT. is more generally known in the south
west Tho snow-capped peak gave Goler encour.
agement and also indicated the proper direction
to the little mining town at the fdet Of the famous
Arrowhead WHere the Indians found relief from
many Ills in the waters that purled from several
springs. Ese
1t required another day for him to reach this
place, and when he did he completely ex-
hausted and his horse fear!ully faded and ready
to collapse
Three weeks elapsed before he had fully recov-
cred, and then he showed the treasures that he
had collected
"Why, there is enough of this stuff to load sew
eral wagons where found It, and am going to
bring in load in less than a MONTH" he assured
some of his friends.
He at once set out to fit up a wagon with broad
trimmed wheels. light canvas top and team of
sturdy horses.
The day he set out, large gathering watched
him of and several prospectors followed, hoping
to be in on the wealth that he had discovered In
few days they returned, disguised with the fact
that Goler apparently did not know whittier he
was travelling In month he came back tired
out and disgruntled because he had been Unable
to relocate the same chain of hills and the hidden
waters. Six different times he went in search Of
his wealth and always returned with the same
story-one OF reverses and loss, until finally he
had spent all Of the money he had accumulated
in a lifetime and had to give up the quest
1t Is generally conceded that the Goler discov-
cry has since been found. His first location was
in 1886. In 1891 old and odd character, Hen
Moss who made his home in San Bernsrdino,
. started out on one of his regular prospecting
trips. One Of his burros wandered away from the
other three, and Moss started to follow ths lost
animal with his entire train.
The wandering burro found a canyon and in II
water, and in this way led Moss to the discovery
OF gold deposit. In few hours he PANIED out
several ounces of dust with his horn spoon ana
also found two three fair-sized nuggets The
discovery went to his head. He failed to Place
his locating stakes and hurried back to San Ser
nardino to celebrate his good fortune.
With borrowed capital he fitted up a second
Time and when he left town he might have Heen
mistaken at distance for the Pied Piper OF
Hamelin More than half the male Inhabitants
OF San Bernardino were at his back all equipped
for long journey with pack train or on horse.
Moss tried to throw them of his TRAIL doubled
on them. returned to San Bernardino, but all to
avail.
Guess I might as we'll take you along" he
said one day when his patience had been frazsled
to rag.
This time he proceeded directly to the distant
range in the open desert. And when he neared
the canyon those who were following him realized
the nearness of the end of their journey. Moss
spurred his horse ahead and left his pack train to
care for itself. There were better horses in that
group and race as he might, his hand unsteady
and his saddle not so well filled as others, he was
overtaken and passed
The stampeded prospectors, filled with lust for
gold. had reached their goal, and old Hen Moss
was one of the last to arrive the ground Of his