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

Needles, where Fields with his share of the gold
started for the east to secure capital for develop
ment Jamison turned his mules back to Homer
then, and on back to the Piute Bend to his In
dams, arriving there in a deirium caused by a
relapse into fever acquired on the trip from the
diggings His squaw nursed him tenderly and
medicine men Of the tribe gave him herbs. but
Jamison died.
Fields came back when he heard Of this. He
had chicken heart induced by past experiences.
and nothing would induce him to start out alone
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 the country he had conceived It, but they all
failed in the relocation of the treasure.
Three men rode lesurely 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-galon 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 stopped to
camp in the 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 hills that lag directly In his path.
He crossed them, and on the farther side dscov-
cred canyon into which he plunged without the
least fear and with renewed hope Of salvation.
1t contained abundant vegetation, and what was
more than all the rest, 1t carried In its deepest
embrace little mountain stream
Arriving at its banks, Goler, nearly delirious
from lack Of water. gave his 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
1t was a nugget weighing several ounces There
were others near it. and Goler bewildered at his
good fortune. pulled forth three of the pieces of
gold and then stopped to think of food for he
had not taken nourishment for more than a 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 riding he came out upon q
plain Just ahead Of him he saw what apparent.
ly had teen the bed of big body of water
1t was all dried out and lay In straight east
erly line with Mount San Antonio or Mount
Badly as 1t is more generally known In the south
west The snow-capped peak gave Goer encour-
agement and also indicated the proper direction
to the little mining town at the foot of the famou,
Arrowhead where the Indians found relief from
many Ills in the waters that purled from several
springs.
II required another day for him to reach this
place, and when he did he was completely ex-
hausted and his horse fearfully faded and ready
to collapse
Three weeks elapsed before he had fully recoy-
cred. and then he showed the treasures that he
had collected
why there is enough of this stun to load sew.
erai wagons where found IT, and I am going to
bring in load in less than month" he assured
some Of his friends
He at once set out to ft up a wagon with broad.
trimmed wheels. light canvas top and team OF
sturdy horses
The day he set out, large gathering watched
him on and several prospectors followed. hoping
to be In on the wealth that he had discover In
a Few days they returned disguised with the fact
that Goer apparently did not know whittier he
was travelling In a 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 |
sIory-one OF reverses and loss, until finally he |
had spent all Of the money he had accumulated |
In 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 1856 In 1891 an old and odd character Hen |
MOSS who made his home In San Bernardino.
started out on one Of his regular prospecting |
trips One Of his burros wandered away from the |
other three, and Moss started to follow the lost |
animal with his entire train
The wandering burro found a canyon and in u
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 and
also found two or three fair-sized nuggets The
discovery went to his head. He failed to place
his locating stakes and hurried back to San Ber.
nardino to celebrate his good fortune
With borrowed capital he fitted nm a second
time. and when he left town he might have been
mistaken at distance for the Pied Piper OF
damelin More than half the male Inhabitants
d San Bernardino were at his back all equipped
'or 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
40 avail
Guess | might well take you along" he
SAID one day when his patience had been frazzled
70 a rag
This time he proceeded directly to the distant
'ange In the open desert. And when he neared
ne canyon those who were following him reaIizaA