The Coconino sun., 1925-06-12

y
county, a woman whose identity au-
thorities have refused to divulge, and
Governor w. w. Brandon, who grant
ed the parole.
"Fhe opening scene was laid at
Speigner prison, 25 miles from Mont
gomery.
"A handsome touring car rolls
through the gate on the afternoon of
May IA, and two men alight. A paper
authorizing relase of Charles Win
nagle into their custody is exhibited
to Warden George p Wells, who is
sues an order to the turnkey. In a
few minutes, man, AZ years old, of
light build, with sandy hair and hazel
eyes is brought forth with handcuffs
about his wrists. He enters the car
with the two men and departs in the
direction of Montgomery.
"The next scene is the Jail of Mont
gomery county, just before the dawn
of May 15 The two men, recognized
as Sheriff Phelps and Berto H. john
son, enter, and the sandy haired pris-
oner, after night in the death cell,
is taken to the union station, where
the trio board fast train.
"Scene three opens in the little
town of Flagstaff, Ariz., nesting III
the shadows of tall cliffs and ON the
brink of the Grand Canyon. In a
dimly lit room of hotel in the city
the three men band together and dis
cuss plans for the coming adventure.
"Winnagle has told again and again
a story of the wealth which he claim
ed to have hidden in the water-wash-
ed recess of the ancient cliff dwellers
home, and the titles which would bear
out his claim of aristocratic descent.
''The cliff, he said, could be seen IN
the distance about four miles from the
city as the crow flies, but perhaps
about Is miles along the winding
mountain trail.
"Winnagle's account Of the journey
from this point follows:
"'We left Flagstaff. early one day
shortly after our arrival and with one
pack horse and two lead horses we
picked our way along the trail. II
was scorching hot, and the sharp
climb soon began to- show its effect
upon the party. We paused several
times TO rest.
"eHalf way up the mountain side
our pack horse became panicky and
darted away from the trail before we
could halt him. | believe ! could have
lassoed the ANIMAL but | could not
leave the party, having an insuper-
able aversion to bullets. | was not
handcuffed, of course, but | was or
my honor, you see, SO we let the horse
go.
with the horse went our camp
equipment, such as blankets, water
rations and other commodities. We
paused again to debate whether we
should continue the ascent or return
The distance did not appear so great
from this point, so we decided to con-
tinue the journey.
"'When we had reached spot
about two miles above the level of the
canyon rim, Mr.. Johnson, overcome BY
fatigue, halted, and Sheriff Phelps
and | continued the climb.
"'We had almost reached the spot
where / had secreted the papers that
would prove my title and ancestry ano
the gold nuggets that | had smugglec
across the line from Mexico, when We
again halted. Our throats were
parched and already we were begin.
ming to feel the gnawing pangs OF
hunger.
"'From this spot the ascent wat
perilous. Sheriff Phelps proceeded u
about % yards below the ledge thai
marked the dugout where the papers
were hidden, and there permitted me
to finish the climb.
Everywhere about us were loose
treacherous rocks, and misstep al