Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-05-23

EE % a time possible. Even after the
1904 completion Of the roads there was
STxS difficulty in obtaining water for the
~ S34 purpose of supplying the engines
the little stations necessary wher-
ever there a siding
In order to secure water in abundance, the
Santa Fe railroad had ordered tunnel bored in
the Clipper range located in San Bernardino
county from eight to ten miles northwest of
Dandy, the station to which it was to be piped II
discovered in a large quantity. This all happened
within a score of years The man who volun-
teered for the work. competent mining man,
who was well acquainted with the sinking OF
shafts and the boring of tunnels, Thomas
Schofeld Of Los Angeles.
firing of work one day in early June of 1894,
he started on a prospecting trip, something which
he did whenever he felt in need Of relaxation.
He wandered into one Of the canyons close at
hand and discovered there a spring. What to
him was more surprising and even startling was
the trail that led up the canyon, stopping at the
watering place.
The trail, at times very indistinct because of
the solid rock formation, led over three four
small hills the hogback Of two ranges and then
into another canyon. This he followed until 1t
ended in a blank wall and he realized that the
trail had been lost. Going back a short distance
he discovered 1t winding up the side Of the hill.
II led to two immense rocks rivaling the towers
Of an old English castle. They seemed to form
the portal to the wealth beyond and nature had
set them so closely together that they allowed
Just sufficient passageway to permit burro we'll
packed to enter
And Just beyond the portal stood an isolated
rock There beside the black boulder of enor-
nous size stood the shreds OF what had been q
camp. The wooden upright supports were still
standing. and draped from them, floating in the
breeze, were the shreds of what had been a
tent. Brush had been carefully piled up around
the sides. Inside there a bench of boughs,
still covered with a blanket which was like the
tent covering. dilapidated and ragged. The stir-
ness Of the place and the fact that man had been
making his habitation there struck Schoheld like
q blow from fist.
pile of railroad ties, a number Of rusty ole
axes which had been used as wedges for splitting
the ties for tagging, a few other mining tools
and some badly decomposed food still lay about
the place. indicating very sudden abandonment
OF the camp by its owner The most conspicuous
Of all things about the place an old-fashioned
heavily rusted Dutch oven the largest Schofeld
had ever seen and triie over two feet in diam
eter. So oppressive was the place and so nerve
racking the immediate strain. that he continued
on the trail which led away from the camp.
Just short distance away he came to a shaft
where considerable work had been done. It was
sunk upon a series of small stringers that ran
parallel to one another for a long distance and
ut intervals Of about six inches. He counted
twelve Of these peculiar formations In the rock
and they were Of almost solid gold! He tested
them, morning" great strings Of coarse gold
The surrounding ore Of an indigo-blue
quartz formation, and ito me the stringers pass
ing through the dark porphyry. appeared bed OF
roses of golden hues hidden in the depths of
giant bed Of violets," said Schofield in telling of
his discovery. II traced these lines Of highgrade
ore for distance OF nearly 5000 feet and found
them widening and enlarging as they went They
interested me so that failed to notice for hours
that the day was fast waning and that would be
forced to remain there over night.
The mystery the awe and even the fear of
that night l shall never forget. Was I in the
haunt Of robber crew who had found wealth far
richer than could be obtained from their nefar-
ious trade in the city? Had the owners been
cruelty murdered and their wealth carried on by
some one else? Was the victim Of some strange
or would awaken to find all
the wealth and the adventure of the day dream?
These and countless other suggestions coursed
through my throbbing BRAIN and slept little that
night
I'm the morning explored the shaft at the
hrst light OF breaking sun above the Jagged sky.
line Of broken peaks. I found that the shaft had
been sunk to possibly seventy eighty feet, that
It was equipped with a windlass rope and bucket
md that 1t had been well timbered all the way
70 the bottom. Outside discovered large pile
81 ore Indicative Of the fact that little or none of
he product Of the mine had ever been carried
away
After gathering a number OF fine samples and
! large quantity Of the horned gold went back
% the camp and there again / was attracted by
he Dutch oven. Something seemed to draw me
oward 1t. 1t contained gold! Half of It was full
II the product and there was unable to cart IL
way All marks Of those who resided there were
" such an old stamp that never thought wheth.
II 1t would be right or wrong. The idea of DOS
ession Of so much wealth nearly overwhelmed
ne, and after grasping some OF It I started back
o the camp by the tunnel, planning trip to Los
angeles to see whether it was really gold that
lad found"
And when Scho6eld had his ore and his metal
ested he found that 1t was the real article and
hat he had made himself richer by several hun
red dollars with Just the small amount he had
zen able to lug out on his person. II fired him
nth the desire to return at once and obtain all
Il the treasure II the right owners had not re-
urned. But he has never been able to get back
D the Dutch oveni
In coming back from the mine he had paid lit.
lie heed to the general direction taken He had
ollowed the trail blindly on his way I'D and
gain on his return Journey Consequently after
number Of weeks, when he returned with a part
er to look for the treasure and found that some
errifc rains and even a waterspout had been
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