The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-03-29

been entirelJ wiped out; Papuan was
the last man of the tribe to escape the
hostile arrows. pitfalls and traps that
were laid for him Only one tribe had
treated his people favorably, the Mo-
have Indians.
When an hope for. his people was
gone, he wandered into the tribal ter
ritory OF the Mohaves, which was To-
Gated in what at this time is Yuma
county On the Colorado river. There
he took up with an old squaw. who
seemed almost friendless among her
people. and the two were married with
all the tribal ceremonial.
The squaw was not unappreciative.
She wanted to show her devotion to
her lord and master, and frequently
the two Indians wandered away from
the remainder of the tribe for days
at time. Whenever they returned
they brought with them nuggets, all
they could carry. and distributed them
among the other Indians and barter
ed with the few white traders who
happened that way.
One of them. Bill Mccoy, after
whom the Mccoy range OF mountains
in Riverside county. California. is
named, was running a store at Ehren-
berg, a government post. In California
during 1864 and for two years later.
To him came Papuan with his hoard
of gold. so much that Mccoy could
scarcely believe his eyes. The Indian
bought hvishly. traded for anything
and everything that his heart desired.
and in less than two years had con-
tributed to Mccoy about $4,000 worth
of gold nuggets.
The trader tried every possible in
gratiating method to learn the secret
of his mine He wheedled. coaxed.
threatened. and made big offers OF
beads, jewels and horses. but never
could learn Papuan's secret. He sent
his men to follow him. but they were
never successful In keeping the trail.
In 1886 the Apaches carried their en-
nifty to the Mchave Indians. and by
their indignities stirred them finally
to battle. Papuan, valiant warrior
In his day. joined the people that had
made him one of their own. He was
killed, but in the rout of the Mohaves.
his wife managed to escape.
The story Of the GOLD had been wsft-
ed abroad, and about Is years ago
middle-aged German Of stalwart build.
H. w. Hartman, arrived in Ehrenberg
and began collecting the data pertain
ing to the placer diggings- He dis
covered that Papuan's sQuaw was still
living, and his plan at once embraced
her. He sought out the decimated
tribe. and found the squaw, now
withered old bag, and began to work
upon her sympathy.
He cared for her like son, looked
after her every want and all the time
tried to secure from her the location
OF the rich treasure-troye. For months
she refused to divulge her secret. and
Hartman had just about decided that
all his work was vain. when one day
she told him to prepare for journey
into the mountains after the treas
ure
At the same time she was stricken
with q severe cold. The cold became
rapidly worse and finally evolved into
pneumonia. Her death was only .
matter of hours. Hartman did not lose
all hope, however, for she informed
him Of one other who knew the secret
hiding of the placer, one Chinkinnow.
who to this day is still alive.
On,him Hartman lavished his atten-
tion. Chinkinnow was afraid Of the
spirits of those who hac gone before.
He demurred, refused. then half prom
Used. and one fair day he started out
with the German to show what he had
seen as the adopted son Of Papuan ON
two or three visits to the diggings. He
struck out for the southwest end of
the Papuan range Of mountains. came
to within few miles, then contrived
to destroy the greater portion OF the
water supply, and the trip had to be
abandoned to hasten back to the Col
orado, 20 miles away, to secure the
needed fluid.
Then Chinkinnow refused absolutely
to 20 again. Hartman went, but failed
/ to And the diggings in the canyons and
rulches that in late summer are dlled
with torrents which tear through the
range with perfect fury. In q few
weeks they again are as dry a. the
desert itself. Many times the shriy-
eled old Indian has accepted large fees
to take prospectors to the place. His
cunning old soul has always found .
way to get out Of accomplishing the
| feat. Always, however. as though by
instinct, he has started In the same
direction.
Yet prospectors have not failed en-
tirely in their trouble. They have
realized that because Of the heavy