The Coconino sun., 1923-03-16
EXPLORERS WILL SEEK
GOLD NEAR HOLBROOK


All aboard, get ready for the vast
gold hunt. A party of adventurers,
headed by Fred Maryot, a French Ca
ladian and former employe OF the
United States Geological Survey, and
0r. Claude G. Baker, wealthy Wichita,
Kansas, dentist, will come this way
next spring en- route to Zuni Indian
reservation, in quest Of $5,000,000 in
cold. The point is located on the
Arizona-New Mexico state line, east
If Holbrook about 100 miles.
The fable has gone out that the
gold has been buried in the Zuni noun
Gains for the last three centuries.
Wichita has just heard of the buried
sreasure and has now planned an ex-
oedition which it is expected will make
The romances of Treasure Island
and Captain Kidd look commonplace.
1t is not known how many there
viii be in the party, but it is the
guess that the party will expand like
! SNOWFALL rolling down hill as it gets
under way. Some already. have ex-
pressed a desire to be counted in on
ONE of the spoils to be gathered
after the gold is uncovered from its
ancient resting place.
1t is predicted that the party will
expand to such proportions that there
nay not be enough gold to go around
,fter it is uncovered.
The ancient tale, CLEANED from some
alleged old French documents, limited
1T in obscure and forgotten histories
rave the treasure seekers their first
secret knowledge Of the gold cache.
In 1920, as the story goes, the
French government then in control
If the vast tract known as the Louis
ANA territory, sent party Of 800 to
explore the land between Louisiana
and the Pacific.
They went up the Rio Grande valley
and travelled inland. Running out Of
water they turned back toward the
river. They found territory which
evidently had been the scene of vol
.anic disturbance.
Scattered about on the ground and
IN cracks and crevices in the rocks
hey found gold--almost pure gold. 1t
was everywhere.
But before they could get away with
the metal the Frenchmen were at
lacked by Apachcs They beat the
savages off. But fearing another
raid, they buried the gold.
The Apaches returned with rein
.orcements. They slew all the French
nen save two. These escaped, made
heir way back to France and told
.heir story at the French court.
Greedy for the yellow metal, the
/ king sent powerful expedition to re-
/ .over it. But the expedition never
vas heard from. The ship doubtless
went down at sea with all hands.
But this tale is not the only clew
% the treasure. Ia 1898 two sheep
ierders were watching theil. flocks
srazing in the rough region near Zuni
| eservation.
A deep shaft was disclosed. Hall
was down it was barred by q big
lat rock. The sheephorders threw
his aside. In the dark passageway
hey could see two heavy wooden
locrs with iron bars. At the pits
bottom lay an object resembling an
ron crucible. An ancient raWhide
adder crumbled when they touched
| it.
Terrified, the superstitious sheep
| lerders closed the pit and never again
listed it. But they told their discov-
ery to a Spaniard who repeated it 70
| Maryot when he was exploring New
Mexico for the United States geolog-
| cal survey.
The same sheepherders, say Maryot
and Baker, will serve as guides in the
| present expedition. They are certain
he mysterious pit contains the French
gold.
.I'm convinced we'll find the treas
re-" says Maryot.-Holbrook Trib-
! une.