Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Desert Magazine 1968 July
Desert Magazine 1968 July
M
3ff
. IN TRAVEL ADVEN
JULY 1968
•s-
VACATION TOURS
PEGLEG OR PERALTA?
maAc Oide*
4 Book Reviews
WILLIAM KNYVETT
Publisher 6 We Hunt Sea Shells
By MARIE VALORE
JACK PEPPER 7 Mini Owl
Editor By LOUISE PRICE BELL
ELTA SHIVELY
8 Modoc Indian Wars
Executive Secretary
By ANDREW FLINK
MARVEL BARRETT
10 About Dowsers and Doubters
Business
By JACK DELANEY
LLOYD SHIVELY
Circulation
12 Lee's Ferry
By ARNOLD TILDEN
EVALYNE SMITH
Subscriptions
15 Bottle Houses
By ROBERTA M. STARRY
CHORAL PEPPER
Travel Feature Editor
18 Carson Hill
By ROBERT O. BUCK
JACK DELANEY
Staff Writer
20 Patrick's Point State Park
By MILO A. BIRD
BILL BRYAN
Back Country Editor 22 Pegleg Nuggets or Peralta Gold?
AL MERRYMAN 25 Fort Churchill, Nevada
Staff Artist By JOHN L. ROBIE
A GUIDE BOOK TO THE In addition to the 304 pages of excel- Henrietta & Slim Barnard have chosen trips
lent color and black and white photo- that they consider the most interesting. The
SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA book contains a map, a story of the trip with
graphs with text, there is a 16-page ap- what to wear and expenses, which include
By Russ Leadabrand pendix which is a complete guide includ- gasoline, meais and motels and all necessary
expenses.
This is the fifth of the author's series ing places of interest and a historical Book can be bought by sending check or
of guidebooks to the mountains and des- chronology of past events. Hardcover, money order for $3.10 to
erts of Southern California. Illustrated high quality coated paper, large 81/2 x 11 SLIM BARNARD ENTERPRISES
6000 SUNSET BOULEVARD
with good photographs and maps, this format, it is the first complete pictorial HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90028
volume covers the Sierran region south coverage of the "largest" city in the or on sale at
of the Sequoia National Park, including world. Advance price through June 30, Desert Magazine Book Shop
most of the Sequoia National Forest. $9.95. Starting July 1, $11.75. PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260
UfoHunt
ward toward the beach. The contrast
between sheer cliffs and sandy stretches
is like a Winslow Homer painting of a
seascape, almost too beautiful to be real.
La Jolla is a favorite ground for skin-
divers who search the floor of the coast
it's HYDRAULIC
ALASKAN CAMPERS NORTHWEST, INC., 6410 South 143rd Street. (Tukwila), Seattle Wash. 98168, Dept. D. G. R. Grubbs Manufacturing, Inc. d / b / a
ALASKAN CAMPER SALES, 5761 Culler Blvd., Houston, Texas 77021, Dept. D
ALASKAN CAMPER SALES, INC., (S.F. Sacramento area) Intersection of Interstate Highway 80 and State 2 1 .
Route 1, Box 332, Suisun City, California 94585, Dept. D. FORT LUPTON CAMPERS, INC., 1100 Denver Ave., Fort Lupton, Colorado 80621, Dept. D.
* •
- \ .
- fc;
would chip ice from the caves to make jBjjj -^ j
their ice cream. Ice tunnels and forma-
tions that resemble translucent flowers
make Crystal Cave one of the most in-
teresting of the entire system. It has ice
pendants that are translucent and several
feet high, along with a huge iceberg tun- f . * . •«*••*
LEE'S FERRY
FROt>TlERSmfln,IRfl!L BLflZER,
BUILDER. B fTTRH OF GREflT
HlDOfTHTRBLE COURBGL
by Arnold Tilden
OR a distance of 500 used the same crossing on his first six flats as a rest stop and supply depot.
miles, from Moab, expeditions to the Indian country. In Here he abandoned one of his boats, the
Utah, to Hoover Dam, 1869, on his seventh trip, he rediscover- Nellie Powell, as unsafe. This boat, later
there is only one readily ed the much more accessible route Es- salvaged by Lee, became the first com-
accessible water level calante had originally found but had mercial ferry, replacing the log raft orig-
crossing on the Colo- been unable to use. In that same year, inally used by Hamblin on his trip to the
rado River. It was to this spot that the John Wesley Powell, heading a U. S. Hopis.
pioneer explorer John D. Lee fled to es- Geological Survey team, made his first Lee, accompanied by his wife Emma,
cape punishment for his part in the voyage through the canyons, stopping at reached the area about Christmas time,
Mountain Meadow Massacre in 1857 in the wide flats at the mouth of the Paria 1871. Although excommunicated by the
which 137 immigrants were massacred River which later were to be the site of Church, he was nevertheless under its
by a party of Indians and whites under Lee's ranch and ferry. orders to build and operate a ferry at
the leadership of Lee. Major Powell repeated his canyon trip this out-of-the-way spot, a ferry (that was
Excommunicated by the Mormon in 1871, again utilizing the same wide essential to the direct route from Utah
Church, hunted by the United States
Army, Lee, with one of his wives, even-
tually sought sanctuary in an isolated
canyon in the depths of the Indian coun-
try. Here he was to perform his last sig-
nificant service for his Church and for
his fellowmen prior to his capture, trial
and execution for murder.
It was in the year of the Declaration
of Independence, however, that the first
party of white men to visit this area
passed through on their return from an
unsuccessful attempt to find a short route
from Santa Fe to California. Unable to
ford the river because of high water, the
Spanish Padres, Escalante and Domin-
guez, climbed the formidable walls of
the canyon and continued up the west
bank of the river to the difficult but not
impossible "Crossing of the Fathers,"
which is now at the bottom of Lake
Powell.
Almost 100 years later, the Mormon The muddy water of the Paria River, foreground, is contrasted with the blue
missionary to the Hopis, Jacob Hamblin, water of the Colorado for several miles below the entrance before they merge.
to the newly established Mormon colon- and the isolated northland, the so-called Rim of the Grand Canyon became more
ies in Arizona. Lee was an ideal choice Arizona Strip. Ranching, prospecting, necessary, and as State Highways began
for this assignment. A man accustomed mining, and, after World War I, pros- to replace county roads, the Navajo
to the mountains and deserts of the pecting for oil kept the ferry busy Bridge, spanning Marble Canyon on top
West, he was desirous of isolation which through most of the 1920s. of the plateau about six miles downstream
might safeguard him from arrest and The end came suddenly and most ap- from Lee's Ferry, was authorized. It was
prosecution. Upon reaching the mouth of propriately. As road usage increased, as anticipated that the new bridge would be
Paria, he immediately laid out a ranch, communication by wheeled vehicles be- completed in 1929. Perhaps the gods of
installed a system of irrigation, salvaged tween southern Arizona and the North the river were aware of the plans of man
Major Powell's abandoned boat, and es-
tablished the required ferry.
Emma Lee, upon seeing the area for
the first time, is reported to have ex-
claimed, "Oh, what a lonely dell." And
"Lonely Dell" it was for many years until
Emma, widowed by the capture, trial
reasures
YOU CAN'T
and execution of her husband on March
23, 1877, transferred the property to the
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day
Saints. Although "The Lonely Dell" had
been the name of the ranch and ferry,
travelers referred to it as "Lee's Ferry,"
a name that became official with the es-
METAL LOCATORS
LOCATE GOLD, SILVER, COINS, HISTORICAL RELICS
ROTH INDUSTRIES, BOX 2548DM HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. 9 0 0 2 8
275 0 I COMPLETE
w.
Ik. being preserved, and facilities1 for the
,ri|tfjji
future are being built. A brand new
blacktop road from the north end of the
5w
Navajo Bridge to the ferry site has just
been completed, and the campground has
ramadas, barbecue pits, sanitary facilities
with running water, and even an ice
machine. Launching ramps for small
boats are available, along with a store
and filling station for cars and boats.
For those who are only interested in a
quick glimpse of sandstone cliffs, it is
• another beautiful spot where desert,
mountains and river all come together.
i For anyone with an interest in how the
West began, it is a hub from which ra-
BOTTLE
HOUSES
by RobeRTA M. STARRY
HERE are countless bot- The only surplus of anything in Tono- still has entire buildings or rooms built
tle collectors today but pah was the empty bottles dumped be- of bottles, but so covered with cement
their urge to possess hind the tent saloons. An ingenious miner, or stucco that the present occupants are
the glass containers believed to be J. E. Youngstran, built a not aware they live in a glass house. One
does not equal the col- house, using over 10,000 beer and whis- such building is alleged to stand just
lectors of 1900 to 1906 key bottles held together with adobe. back of the Tonopah Club. A search for
in southwestern Nevada. Those pioneer The glass building material provided clues to existing bottle houses may draw
collectors were not concerned with em- colorful lighting during the day hours a blank, but the narrow streets, the boom
bossed names, mold marks, color or and the twelve to eighteen-inch walls period houses clinging to steep grades or
bubbles in the glass; they just wanted proved to be good insulation against the holding back the once fast growing mine
bottles, the more the better. extremes of hot and cold. dump, are worth the search.
The bottle craze started the winter of Tonopah's first bottle house, completed The back streets of Tonopah have the
1900 when prospectors rushed to the in 1902, stood until 1965, when it was full flavor of time standing still. The
new silver discovery near a place the torn down to supply present day col- landmarks of the $150,000,000 bonanza
Indians called Tonopah, meaning little lectors demands for old bottles. From are still there, weathered and silent. Only
water. Fortunate were those who came early day news items and the memories the main street has bowed to neon lights,
by wagon or packed in a tent, as there of old timers, it seems there were other modern motels and gas stations. Along
were no living accommodations, only bottle houses in Tonopah, but through the multi-level street, long-skirted women
wind-swept nothingness. The first lum- the years rooms were added or removed and heavy booted miners have been re-
ber freighted in was immediately built and exteriors changed so that the original placed by girls in mini skirts and men
into frame work, rough bars and benches buildings are not recognizable. in sandles.
for the tent saloons. There are those who believe Tonopah Twenty six miles south of Tonopah
RENT
in the yard of Lillian Berg. Bottles form
both ends of a cave from the ground to mind the visitor Round Mountain was
peak of the roof, providing light to that part of the 1900-1906 newly discovered
portion of the cave below ground level. mineral wealth of Nevada, when bottles
Though Round Mountain had a gold were collected for building—but only
strike in 1906 the bottle cave was not after the builders had emptied them. •
A NEW COMMANDER 720
K
METAL LOCATOR
by
DAY- WEEKEND-OR LONGER
LOW COST
NO DEPOSIT
RENTAL CAN APPLY
TO PURCHASE PRICE
Only $149.50
$16.00 down $16.00 month
Your BANKAMERICARD Welcome
Al
5426 RESEDA BLVD., TARZANA, CALIF.
When in Palm Springs rentals can be obtained
at the Sun & Sands, 568 Warm Sands Drive,
Palm Springs 714/327-8112
CALL Q/IQ O C C n DAY/
The famed bottle house in Rhyolite as it looked when completed in 1905, a (213) O H - O ' f c O O U NG I HT
51,000 bottle monument to a once roaring mining town. Hours— Daily 10:30-9 p.m. — Sunday 12-9 p.m.
ERHAPS no single spot James Carson was a restless sort and When word got out of the rich placers
has contributed more results of his few days of mining the in Angel's Creek, miners flocked to the
to the vaults at Fort gravels of the creek were disappointing. area. By early spring of the following
Knox than that preci- He had averaged less than three ounces year (1849) the population of the camp
pitous, mine-scarred a day. Carson and another miner, George was 300, exclusive of Indians.
promontory on the Angel, formed a group to explore the With the influx of miners, George
Mother Lode in Calaveras County, Cali- little known Sierra Nevada foothill re- thought it more profitable to run a trad-
fornia known as Carson Hill. gion of California. ing post, so he set up a store, freighting
When James H. Carson (no relation Among the group were John and Dan in supplies from Sacramento and Stockton
to the famous trail blazer, Kit Carson) Murphy. John Murphy had been, in ad- by pack animals and later by wagon. Jim
stood on top of this escarpment in the dition to mining, running a trading post Carson moved on about four miles from
spring of 1849 he did not know he was in partnership with Captain Weber. John Angel's Camp to a stream later named
standing on top of one of the richest was Weber's brother-in-law, Weber hav- Carson's Creek. Here the richness of the
gold deposits the world has ever known. ing married John's younger sister, Ellen. deposits of gold nuggets was more to
Little did he dream that from mines John had been a lieutenant under Cap- Jim's liking. His group mined for ten
such as the Morgan, Melones, South tain Weber in the Mexican War. They days, with each man averaging 180
Carolina, Union, Santa Clara, Iron Moun- left Weber's Creek on a summer day in ounces of gold.
tain, Finnegan and Irvine would come a 1848 for a prospecting excursion of the With the coming of spring of 1849,
golden hoard rivaling the fabled treas- region since named the California Moth- Jim Carson returned to his diggings on
ures of King Midas. He would never er Lode. Carson Creek where he resumed min-
know the ground under his feet would The first day they reached the Con- ing. Early in 1850 he abandoned his dig-
produce in excess of $26,000,000. sumnes River. Here they made camp and gings in the creek, exploring the length
While Carson's sojourn in this area tried their luck in the gravels of the of the great San Joaquin Valley. At some
was brief, it is fitting that it should bear stream bed. The results were good, but point in his wanderings, he took time to
his name, for it was he who blazed the the region farther south still beckoned. write his small book, "Recollections of
trail to this area in August of 1848. Re- So they moved on to Sutter Creek. Here the Early Mines." This was published
cently discharged from Colonel Jona- prospects were very good and a few days in Stockton in 1852.
than Stevenson's famous 7th regiment were spent before packing up and mov- With the coming of statehood, James
of New York Volunteers, he was one of ing on to the Mokelumne River, pros- Carson was elected to the State Legis-
the first to hear of Marshall's discovery pecting every stream they crossed. lature from Calaveras County in 1852.
of the yellow metal at Sutter's Mill, near After spending a few days panning on He fell ill shortly after, and died near
Coloma, late in January of the previous the Calaveras River, they reached a clear Emory's Ferry in January, 1853.
winter. He joined a small group which running, small, as yet unnamed creek in
In October of 1850, William Hance
ventured farther up the American River. August of 1848. Gold was plentiful,
Carson and a few others drifted off was looking for a stray mule. On the
with the group panning as much as ten
a little to the south, where they camped ounces per man in a single day. Here, at hill above Carson's abandoned diggings
by the side of a trickling mountain what was later named Angels Camp, on in the creek he saw an outcropping of
brook. This was Weber's Creek, having Angels Creek, the party broke up. George white quartz. Knocking off a chunk, he
been discovered by Captain Weber, the Angel, and the few members of the found it contained 14 ounces of gold.
founder of Stockton, who had been there party who elected to stay with him, He had found the Mother Lode.
in March of that year. mined the rich placers in the creek. Hance sold the claim to the Carson
Treasure Locator! This answer to Mr. Bean's letter is make sure I covered the area com-
not intended to belittle him in any way pletely. Nevertheless, somebody has
The 'Commander' 720
as he is obviously and sincerely inter- dug two holes there and certainly
unsurpassed for locating
buried treasure, coins, Civil ested in the location of the black nug- could have found nuggets I missed.
War relics and for beach- gets. He has, I believe, located the If they did I suspect you will hear
combing, features the general area, and his letter is very from them. Anyway, if they will show
"Tell-Tone" Signal. Locates cleverly written with the aim of get- their evidence in the form of the dis-
any metal object under dirt, ting more detailed clues. I've already tinctive black nuggets, this will con-
sand, mud, rock, etc. No given another good clue. I wonder if firm it.
cumbersome cords — he can figure it out. In answer to his I will make this final observation:
completely transistorized, letter in the May 1968 issue, I have If the black nuggets are native to the
battery powered. been checking recently. (More later.) area—which is the original theory I
There is little I can add or say about advanced — and it is still perfectly
EFFECTIVE DEPTH RANGE
(Under Normal Conditions) Mr. Walls' and Mr. Harris' authenti- valid, then I think other deposits will
cation of the sword-sheath "throat" turn up as I've described previously.
in the January and February 1968 If the Peralta caravan theory is cor-
3" Bullet issues. The letters speak for them- rect, then, of course, the nuggets
7" Penny selves. It is clear that the artifact was would be confined to the area where
8-12" Silver contemporary with the Peralta caravan. they were lost or whatever it was that
Dollar caused them to be left there and, in
18" Pistol
To Choral Pepper, February issue:
which event, I've recovered the whole
24" Jar of
Your letter is one more good piece of
shipment, or at least all but the nug-
Coins
information that ties the black Pegleg
gets that are too small or too deep to
30" Kettle nuggets to the Peralta caravan.
be detected. Well, the two holes have
36" Placer Gold To William Deane, February issue: got me wondering if I missed a few.
Deposit
48" Metal Chest
You are right, I never at any time
60" Large Metallic made mention of "water-worn rocks a Sincerely,
Object
little over a mile" from where I found THE MAN WHO FOUND
the black nuggets. See my answer to PEGLEG-PERALTA BLACK GOLD
Mr. Bean above. P.S. To Mr. J. A. Lentz: You are an
To Mary Dunn: With your ability extremely logical fellow! •
FREE-CATALOG
The early morning sun still shines on Fort Churchill. From left to right, hospital, FUN & PROFIT
laundry, quartermaster's store and U. S. Army headquarters. WITH
METAL DETECTORS
The crumbling adobe walls of old to be a permanent post. The buildings GOLDAK, WHITE'S, DETECTRON, RAYSCOPE
Fort Churchill remind us of the hectic were constructed of adobe set on rock Prospecting and Hiking Equipment
Books — Topo Maps
activity and violence which caused the foundations. Barracks were erected along FREE—Indexes for Topo Maps, stock Western
establishment of this army post on the the west side of a quadrangle: post head- states, each state has index.
big bend of Nevada's Carson River on quarters, quartermaster's store, and laun- JACOBSEN SUPPLIERS
the 13th of July, I860. dry were on the east; two-story officers 9322 California A v c , South Gate, Calif.
quarters formed the north side; and along Phone 569-8041 90280
Troubles between the white settlers
and Paiute Indians erupted into open the south were the guardhouse, bakery,
war when Williams Station was burned stables and corrals.
and five whitemen were killed in re- During the Civil War it was an im-
taliation for stealing and misusing Indian portant outpost and main supply depot
squaws. One hundred and five settlers for the Nevada Military District. The BOOKS
from Carson City, Gold Hill, and Vir- mail and stage routes were patroled by
ginia City rode to Pyramid Lake to stop men from the Fort, and the Pony Ex-
press used it as a way station. It was
the uprising. They suffered defeat and
closed in 1870.
massacre. Major William J. Ormsby was
Today Fort Churchill is a Nevada
among those who fell. DESERT MAGAZINE
State Park. A delightful campground and
Named in honor of the Inspector Gen- picnic area has been built alongside the Order FREE Catalogue
eral of the United States Army, General Carson River. It is a peaceful recreation Palm Desert, California 92260
Sylvestor Churchill, the fort was built site that is enjoyed by many visitors. • BOOK STORE
Dyes
the white man is returning to nature
and will continue what may be a
lost art) we are reprinting this
article by Jerry Laudermilk
from the now out-of-print March 1945
issue of Desert Magazine.
HE "big room" of the these colors were the natural colored which serve to fix the color fast to the
ranch house at the LK wool of the Navajo sheep. But the black fiber. The theory as to how mordants
Bar, near Wickenburg, and red were artificial. Black was said to work is highly technical but briefly it
Arizona, had three be made from the leaves of a certain bush can be described as a kind of "go-be-
doors. There was the and a mineral the Navajo found in their tween" action where some chemical
old north door, sinister own territory, and the red came from which "likes" both the dye and the fiber
and forbidding for no obvious reason and boiling two different kinds of bark. My carries along the coloring material when
never used. Some doors are like that. aunt ran short of information at this it fastens itself upon the yarn. Other
Then there was the south door just about point but could contribute a few items of mordants work by putting the fibers in
the right means of egress if you had to her own about natural dyes. One plant a chemically friendly mood toward the
go to Phoenix to see a lawyer. Then there she showed me was a kind of dock, ca- dye so that the latter will stay fa$t after
was the door. This was simply the en- naigre (Rumex hymenosepalus), source it once colors the yarn. So much for.the
trance to the big room from the kitchen, of a reddish dye for leather and an black in my aunt's blanket. The red was
a door to invite loitering and conversa- orange-yellow on wool or cotton. The a different subject entirely.
tion. Its entire personality was friendly other plant was rabbit brush, Chryso- In old times the Indians found it dif-
and unsophisticated. It was several days thamnns nauseosus), whose blossoms fur- ficult to obtain a good red. With the ex-
before I realized that this feeling of nished a brilliant yellow on yarn or cloth. ception of the Pimas who had the means
good will radiated from a well-worn Na- The question of Indian dye making for making true reds and pinks which
vajo blanket that served as a rug in the has intrigued students of American I will describe later, the best they could
doorway. ethnology for a long time and much has produce were low-toned shades of red-
This blanket was obviously a veteran. been published in official reports, but in dish brown, pinkish tans and dusky or-
Certain frayed creases told of service as a some cases the information is unsatis- ange. These are the reds found in the
saddle blanket. Three burnt holes spoke factory. oldest textiles. Of course, before Span-
of campfires, and two darned places re- The origin of black dye is unknown ish times there was no wool except a
flected credit upon unknown owners. It but some of the Cliff-dwellers and Bas- little from mountain sheep killed in the
had been five years in its present place. A ket-makers were acquainted with a fast hunt. The only yarns of animal origin
little threadbare and trampled pretty black, perhaps this same dye prepared were made from the hair of rabbits,
smooth, the colors were still there, creamy by a formula now lost. They also had a dogs, badgers, etc., and from feathers.
white, grey, brown, black and a strangely fast red. After hundreds of years cotton These were twisted into string with
interesting reddish cinnamon that fitted textiles from the debris of long-aban- yucca fiber and cotton. With the arrival
the scheme as perfectly as the orange doned cliff houses near Kayenta in north- of sheep and plenty of wool there still
spots fit the pattern on a Gila monster. eastern Arizona still show strong color. was the difficulty about a true and bril-
But how did the Indian weaver get such These ancient dyers were no mere dab- liant red of scarlet or crimson shade.
pleasing colors that defied time and heed- blers in their art since they understood Later they met this need by unraveling
less boots? the importance of certain chemical assist- yarns from a type of Mexican red flan-
From my aunt I learned that some of ants to good dyeing called mordants nel called bayeta and re-weaving it in
Monsters
HEN Don Pedro Carril- in the valley near the lake, today called
lo acquired a grant of Elizabeth Lake. When one of his va-
several square leagues queros reported a terrible monster was
of land in the vicinity in the water, Chico and several of his
of Laguna del Diablo men rushed to the area. They heard a
or
in 1835 he built a hideous, screeching, hissing roar and
beautiful new home, stocked his ranch could smell the odor of the monster
with the best horses and cattle and set- hidden in the tules. Horses were so over-
tled down to a life of leisure. Three come with terror they bolted.
months later an unexplained fire com- Safe on a ridge, Chico said he saw a
pletely destroyed his house, barns and tremendous monster with enormous bat-
warehouses, leaving only charred ruins. like wings lashing the water of the lake.
"It is a place owned by the devil," he By the next morning the monster had dis-
said, leaving the area forever. The rich appeared and was not seen again for
land lay vacant until squatters settled on some time. Then Chico Lopez's horses
it in 1855. They, too, soon moved away, and cattle began to disappear. At first
remarking, "The place is haunted." he blamed the losses on grizzly bears.
Some years later a Chico Lopez settled One night there was a terrible com-
grass, trees, and bodies. Where the huge "I saw the victors dig a pit and then
pine and cedar once adorned the moun- pile the bags of gold nuggets into it and
tainside only sagebrush now grows. cover the same with bark, rocks, and
Human bones not consumed by the rag- dirt. It was a little ravine near a dense
ing flames have long since crumbled clump of trees . . . I don't see anything
away or have been carried off by coyotes like that now.
Subscriptions as Gifts
or mountain lions. "When darkness came, for some dis-
The massacre of the Spanish gold tance I crawled on my hands and knees
miners has been told on several occasions towards the creek. In the day time I
by the older members of Utah's Ute In-
dians. Other incidents have occurred
would hide and rest. Night after night
I felt my way through the darkness to-
Scenic Flights
which corroborate the story. wards the south. I all but starved to Over the West's Most «
Sometime during the late 1930s a death. After thus spending many days Spectacular Wonders
very old Mexican entered the Uintah and nights, I joined up with a family of
Basin where he said he had been a mem- white people, and for several years lived Lake Powell Glen Canyon Dam
ber of the Spanish gold miners. After with them—learned their language."
Rainbow Natural Bridge
relating, in substance, what has previous- There also have been reports of In- Grand Canyon Monument Valley
ly been told, he described the massacre. dians having gold nuggets, allegedly
Canyonlands National Park
"As we reached that deep defile, we taken from the Spanish cache.
Prehistoric Ruins
were attacked by Indians. Soon we were A young, white homesteader and his
hemmed in on all sides. For every one old Indian neighbor were visiting one ALSO
we killed, two or three seemed to come day when the older man pulled out of
from somewhere and take his place. We his pocket a handful of gold nuggets the
Combination Tours
In cooperation with land-based concession-
fought for our lives. After several hours, size of beans. When asked where he
aires, Page Aviation offers combination tours
I could see our fate was sealed. I crawl- had obtained them, the Indian pointed of real adventure. The best planes, boats,
ed up under the low and dropping toward the mountains and said, "I Jeeps, guides and equipment are provided to
branches of a juniper and lay there until make little hole—hole down in bark." make you comfortable—even though you
nightfall. He refused to take the young man to will be exploring some of Americas most
remote regions.
"From my hiding place I saw the In- the area, nor would he elaborate on the
dians massacre the last of our men. I location. * Two, Three and Four Day
heard the dying beg for mercy only to Mr. Murphy, one-time store owner Adventures
be mocked by the blood-thirsty savages. and former president of the Moon Lake
Many a wounded, helpless Spaniard had Stake, said once an elderly buck came Send for free brochure:
his scalp haggled off and then allowed to his store. After getting supplies on
to lie and slowly die in the parching sun, credit, the Indian said he would return
PAGE AVIATION
BOX 1385 PAGE, ARIZONA 86040
while the fiends reveled in the moans of and pay later.
Telephone 645-2231 - 645-2567
the dying. "In about ten days or two weeks he
PLEASE ZIP!
Desert Magazine and Uncle
Sam can handle your orders
a day faster if you will in-
clude your zip code in ALL
correspondence. And when
MOVING please inform us as
soon as possible and include
both OLD and NEW ZIP
CODES.
"Vandals!"
It's a Dog's Life *- or Cut round steak into thin strips. Cut
with the grain. Dip strips briefly in hot
brine—a quarter of a cup of salt to a
marker stands today where Canby was While the most decisive battle of the
Modoc Indian Wars shot. war was fought in the stronghold, the
Continued from Page 9 war itself had been fought over most of
The Indians returned to the strong-
swing. The lava beds became the setting hold. The Army sent for more men and the Siskiyou and Modoc county land
for the battle between the Army and a with the additional troops, plus the long areas. From Fandango Pass near the Ne-
small band of Modocs. awaited artillery, they attacked the strong- vada state line to the lava beds near
Captain Jack's stronghold, a huge hold. Surrounding the Indians on all Tule Lake, there were bloody massacres
cluster of rocks, provided a natural fort- sides, 1000 soldiers closed in. Jack and and battles. These were commonplace
ress for the Indians. The Army called for his braves had abandoned the fortress during the pre-stronghold fight.
heavy artillery, hoping to shorten the during the night, hiding in the Merrill Since the Indian War, the area has
battle. Before it arrived, the soldiers Ice Cave. There they stayed without food turned toward more peaceful activities.
tried to take the bastion by storm. How- and with only the water from the river The town of Tule Lake is the hub of a
ever, with bullets flying from every- in the cave. When the water was gone, rich farm area and has its own particular
where, the winter fog and the jagged, they tried to escape. Jack got away but kind of small town charm. If you have
unfamiliar terrain against them, the the others were caught. Jack later gave no camping gear, accommodations are
Army was repelled suffering 50 casual- himself up saying, "Jack's legs gave out." available at Tule Lake or Canby. Other-
ties. The Indians had none. He was taken into custody, transferred to wise, camping facilities, though at a
When it seemed that force wasn't Fort Klamath, Oregon and executed by minimum, are available near the Monu-
going to accomplish anything, the gov- hanging, thus ending the Modoc reign ment headquarters. Medicine Lake, a
ernment offered Captain Jack amnesty. of terror. Ironically, the execution took few miles south, offers excellent camp-
A peace parley was scheduled to take place in the reservation where Jack ing, fishing and boating opportunities.
place near the stronghold. General E. R. would have lived if he hadn't decided to What's your pleasure? Outdoor sports
S. Canby represented the Army. Jack go to Lost River. activities at Medicine Lake or geology,
considered accepting the amnesty but his The story of the stronghold war is told history and sightseeing at the lava beds.
braves, distrusting the soldiers, persuad- in the rocks themselves by markers placed They're all available in Modoc and Siski-
ed him to keep fighting. The scheduled throughout and relating various stages of you counties where the Stronghold and
meeting took place but before anything the battle. Going through this stone fort- the Lava Beds National Monument stand
was accomplished, Jack shot and killed ress, it's easy to see why 60 Modocs were ready to tell you of their roles in the his-
General Canby in cold blood. A historical able to hold off the Army troops. tory of the west. •
lone, Nevada
Box 1029, Gallup, N.M. 87301 g.JJ
INDIANLAND MAGAZINE—50c
Classified List 2000 In-Print Indian Books 35c
THINKING OF
BACKPACKING?
Get your free BY LAMBERT FLORIN
b r o c h u r e on
A monthly feature by the author of Ghost Town Album, Ghost Town Trails,
Find out why Kelty
Pack is preferred by
practiced backpack- Ghost Town Shadows, Ghost Town Treasures and Boot Hill
ers. Write for free lit-
erature and back-
packer's checklist.
LOCK STRAP
329 West Lotnita Ave , Dept. D, Glendale, Calif 91204
California residents add 5 % sales tax
feathers from one hand to another until activity on a limited scale, population Detect Gold Nuggets and Coins
Interchangable Loops
it falls asleep. As soon as it wakens, varying from two or three to thirty or Lightweight - Waterproof
more molasses and more feathers. In so. Many old structures remain from the 4 Years Warranty - Free Literature
place of the nerve racking yells there earliest days when building material was
will be silence and joy unspeakable." limited to that on hand. Our illustration MIKE KOVACS
shows one that could well have been the 4118V2 Verdugo Road
Any infants actually thus pacified had Los Angeles, Cal. 90065 Phone 255-1129
not reached their third birthdays when assay office touted in the Nye County
the county seat went to the upstart and News. Solidly constructed of stone, the
now more flourishing Belmont. The roof is covered with clay and gravel.
event signaled a steady decline for lone, There, each brief, damp spring, a crop
though the camp never became complete- of grass burgeons hopefully, only to sear
ly deserted. There have been periods of and turn yellow when rain ceases. •
Lapidary — rockhounding
— jewelry making... add up to
a fascinating creative art!
5 "CATALOG!
! NEVERGETSTUCKAGAIN!
Equip - t h Anxttronf Hi-Flounon
Ilia! Pro.e
DICK CEPEK
P. O. BOX 1 181 -D
9623 Calif. A v e .
SOUTH GATE,
CALIFORNIA 9 0 2 8 0 "BAJA-PROVEN" '
• Name
gAddresi
•city. -State Z*.
Li
BACK COUNTRY
by Bill Bryan
The phonograph record we have all got a real crowd. Cruise Chairman Dick Tierra Del Sol, and so many more. Al-
been waiting for has been released and Orson and his secretary, Carol Hunt, did most last in line were Jack and Ginger
is on the market. The JEEP DRIVING a tremendous job, along with the other Nunnally. The TV people wanted a pic
MAN by Jack and Sweet Ginger Nun- club members. I helped people past ture of them climbing our hill, so what
nually has made it big, and believe me checkpoint number one, which was the happens, they popped a rear axle. They
is going even bigger. If you have not first rough hill out of camp. Passing by drove back to camp with Dick Myers and
had the opportunity to hear them sing us we saw Hal and Niki Higgins, Lyle me tailing behind. At camp we removed
this really true to life song about Jeepers and Tillie Fransway and Merrit and the Mercury axle and found the splines
all you have to do is send $1.25 to Jack Ruth Ladberry, Bill and Betty Bedwell, stripped off on the inside one quarter
and Ginger at 14445 Domart Ave., Nor- Frank Robinson, the Loyd Seese family inch, which is the part into the power
walk, California and request your auto- and a whole bunch more from the lock. Dick Myers does not have power
graphed copy. Don't delay, do it today. lock so why not exchange with him,
Chuckwalla Jeep Club. We talked with
We didn't have the chance to attend which we did and got Jack running
members from the Geckos, Wanders,
the Phoenix Jeep Club Jamboree, but again.
Los Paisanos, Los Arrieols, Blythe Jeep
from what our club members tell us, we Chester Scott led the station wagon
Club, Cap Randel from the Orange
missed a ball. Congratulations, Phoenix, run. This was a 26 mile scenic tour at-
County Four Wheelers, Dick and Claudia
for sending home so many happy people tended by about 60 station wagons, pick-
Myers from the Drifters, Gene Morris,
looking forward to your next Jamboree. ups and novice drivers.
President of the California Association
We worked the 14th annual Indio * * *
of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, the Ocean-
The Napa Valley Jeepers hos'ted the
Cruise, and brother what a turn out! I side Four Wheelers. The Wandering
northern area meeting of the California
never did hear the exact figures other Wheels, the Inland Empire Ridge Rang- Association of Jeep Clubs on April 2nd,
4|ian 525 people enjoyed a pit barbe- ers, Bud Jackson from the Hemet Jeep 1968. There were 15 of the 19 northern
cue. By the size of the camp there must Club, Don McPherson from the River- area clubs present, which is a very good
have been at least 350 to 375 four- side Hill N Gully Riders, Dick Cepek showing. The club president for 1968 is
wheel-drives there; then toss in one and company, Larry Hoffman, publisher Lou Havens and their state delegate is
camper, tent or house car and you have of the 4 x. 4 and Dune Buggy News, Paul Donovan, Jr.
As reported by Bill Bryan, the 14th Annual Indio Cruise was a great success and enjoyed by families throughout Southern
California. Left to right, Cruise Chairman Dick Orson keeps an eye on the barbeque service; Doug Reeder and Herb and
Jane Hailing, from the Desert Foxes, check out a rough spot; Jack and Sweet Ginger Nunnally entertain around the fire.
OUT-OF-PRINT books at lowest prices! You FREE 128 page catalog on detectors, books and
name it—we tind it! Western Americana, maps. General Electronic Detection Co., 16238
desert and Indian books a specialty. Send Lakewood Blvd., Bellflower, Calif. 90706. • MINING
us your wants. No obligation. International "THE OLD BOTTLE EXCHANGE/'—Bottle collec- ASSAYS. COMPLETE, accurate, guaranteed. High-
Bookfinders. Box 3003-D, Beverly Hills, Calif. tors own monthly publication. Subscribe to- est quality spectrographic. Only $5.00 per
OVERLOOKED FORTUNES" in minerals and gem day, $4 year, receive free 50 word ad credit. sample. Reed Engineering, 620-R So. Ingle-
stones; here are a few of the 300 or more Sample 25c. OBX, Box 243, Bend, Oregon wood Aye., Inglewood, California 9 0 3 0 1 .
you may be overlooking: uranium, vanadium, 97701.
tin, tungsten, columbium, tantalum, nickel, • OLD COINS, STAMPS
cobalt, gold, silver, platinum, iridium, beryl- • BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
lium, emeralds, etc. Some worth $1 to $2 a CHOICE UNCIRCULATED silver dollars: 1800-81
pound, others $25 to $200 per ounce; an MAKE MONEY on government surplus. $1.00 S mint, 1883-84-85, 1899-1900-01-02 O
emerald the size of your thumb may be for informative report, including Directory of mint $3.50 each. 1878 CC mint $15.00.
worth $1000 or more,- learn how to find, Surplus Sales Offices. Alaine, Dept F, 2301 Illustrated Coin catalogue 50c. Shultz, Box
identify and cash in on them. New simple West Olive, Burbank, Calif. 91506. 746, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110.
system. Send for free copy "Overlooked For-
tunes in Minerals," it may lead to knowledge • GEMS • PHOTO SUPPLIES
which may make you rich! Duke's Research
Laboratory, Box 666-B, Truth or Consequences SHAMROCK ROCK SHOP, 593 West La Cadena MAKE MONEY with Your Camera. Over one
Drive. Riverside, California 92501. Parallel million photos and color slides are bought
New Mexico 87901.
to Riverside Freeway. Phone 686-3956. by newspapers, magazines and house organs
"A GUIDE For Insulator Collectors" (with prices]. Come in and browse; jewelry mountings, every year! Learn what kind of photos they
127 pages, 168 insulators described, sketched chains, supplies, minerals, slabs, rough ma- want . . . how to submit them . . . how
and priced, 4 group photographs, copies of terial, equipment, black lights, metal de- much they pay . . . laws and regulations.
10 patents, copies from old catalogs—and tectors, maps, rock and, bottle books. Let your camera provide a second income
more. An exciting new collecting field, start
POCKET GOLD, $2. Placer gold, $2. Gold du"st, for you. Booklet includes Directory of where
now and don't be sorry later. By J. C. Tib-
$1. Attractively displayed. Postpaid. Money- to sell your pictures. Booklet No. MO-54P,
bitts, order from me at "The Little Glass
back guarantee. Lester Lea, Box 237D, Mt. only $1.00. Goodmark Sales, 16007 King-
Shack," 3161 56th Str., Apt. B., Sacramento,
Shasta, California 96067. side Drive, Coving, Calif. 91722.
Calif. 95820. $3.00 (plus 5 % tax for Cali-
fornians) plus 25c for mail orders. CHOICE MINERAL specimens, gems, cutting ma- CUSTOM FILM finishing by mail since 1932.
terial, machinery, lapidary and jewelers sup- Morgan Camera Shop "The complete photo-
LOST DESERT GOLD, legendary and geological
plies, mountings, fluorescent lamps, books. graphic store," 6262 Sunset Blvd., Holly-
history of the southern California desert, with
photos and maps to pinpoint locations. $2.50 Sumner s, 21108 Devonshire, Chatsworth, Cal. wood, California 90028.
postpaid. Gedco Publishing Co., Box 67, Bell - FILMS AND PROCESSING mailers, both movies
flower, Cajjf.^90706. HOME STUDY and stills. Free price lists upon request. Ver-
NEVADA TREASURE Hunters Ghost Town Guide. LEARN OIL painting by mail. Also casein or don, P. O. Box 118, Tempe, Arizona 85281.
Large folded map. 800 place name glossary. acrylic. Amateur, advanced. Easy, fascinating,
Railroads, towns, camps, camel trail. $1.50. naturalistic. Easy payments. Art, Box 4 8 6 ,
Theron Fox, 1296-C Yosemite, San' Jose 26, Montrose, Colorado.
• PLANTS, SEED
California. EL RANCHO Galapagos Cactus Growers. You
ARIZONA TREASURE Hunters~Ghost Town Guide, are invited to visit our greenhouses and .cactus
• INDIAN GOODS gardens on the east slope of Copper Moun-
large folded map 1881, small early map,
1200 place name glossary, mines, camps, FINE RESERVATION-MADE Navajo, Zuni, Hopi tain. Star Route 1 , Box 7 1 0 , Twentynine
Indian reservations, etc. $1.50. Theron Fox, jewelry. Large selection of old pawn and Palms, California. Phone 362-4329.
1296-E Yosemite, San Jose, California. Kachina dolls. Navajo rugs, Yei blankets,
RANCHO ENVIRONMENTAL Nursery — Pro-
Chimayo blankets and vests, pottery. Kaibab
SURVIVAL BOOKS! Guerrilla Warfare, Wilder- fessional molecular temperature adaptat-
moccasins. A collector's paradise! Open daily
ness Living, Medical, Guns, Self Defense, tion. Treated Exotic Trees and Hi-Rise Na-
10 to 5:30, closed Mondays. Buffalo Trading
Nature. Books-—Vital, Fascinating, Extraor- tive Flora. Smoketree District, Twentynine
Post, Highway 18, Apple Valley, Calif.
dinary; Catalog free. Adobe Hacienda, Palms, Calif.
Route 3, Box 517A, Glendale, Arizona 85301. AUTHENTIC INDIAN |ewelry, Navajo rugs, &hi-
mayo blankets, squaw boots. Collector's
GUIDE TO MEXICO'S gems and minerals: locali-
ties, mines, maps, directions, contacts. Eng-
items. Closed Tuesdays. Pow-Wow Indian • REAL ESTATE
Trading Post, 19967 Ventura Blvd., East
lish-Spanish glossary, too. $2.00 postpaid. GOVERNMENT PUBLIC L A N D (400,000,000
Woodland Hills, Calif. Open Sundays.
Gemac, Mentone, Calif. 92359. acres) in 25 states. Low as $1.00 acre. 1968
GEMS & MINERALS," the monthly guide to report. Details $1.00. Land Information,
gems, minerals, and rock hobby fun. $4.50 • MAPS 422DM Washington Building, Washington
year. Sample 25c. Gems & Minerals, Mentone, SECTIONIZED COUNTY maps — San Bernardino D.C. 20005.
Calif. 92359. $3; Riverside $ 1 ; Imperial, small $ 1 , large HOMESTEAD LANDS now available 160-640
"ASSAULT ON BAJA," E. Washburn, 3?34 $2; San Diego $1.25; Inyo $2.50; Kern $1.25, acres. Write: Land Information, Dept. 7 1 1 ,
Cortland, Lynwood, Calif. $2.00 tax included, other California counties $1.25 each. Nevada P.O. Box 148 Postal Station A, Vancouver,
"zest of dicsovery" writes Belden; "wide- counties $1 each. Include 5 percent sales tax. British Columbia. Enclose $1.00 for Bulletin
eyed experience" says Powell USC. Topographic maps of all mapped western and Map index.
areas. Westwide Maps Co., 114 West Third
FRANK FISH—Treasure Hunter—said Gold is Street, Los Angeles 13, California. FOR INFORMATION on acreage, home or lot in
where you find it. His book "Buried Treasure or near this desert area, please write or
& Lost Mines" tells how and where to look, visit Ralph W. Fisher, Realtor, 73644 29-
93 locations, photos and maps. 19x24 • MINING Palms Highway, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
colored map pinpointing book locations. Book UTAH ASSAYING Company assays gold & silver, 92277.
$1.50. Map $1.50. Special: both $2.50 post- $3.00, platinum $3.00. Spectrographs $5.00. QUIET, PEACEFUL Southern Utah mountain val-
paid. Publisher, Erie Schaefer, 14728 Peyton 172 North 9th West, Salt Lake City, Utah ley, 2 '/j acres level, fertile and rich land
Drive, Chino, Calif. 91710. 84116. including '/j mineral rights $250. Cash or
PATENT MEDICINE Picture—New reference and COLLECTORS' ITEM: 1871 geographical map terms. Write: Dept. TPDM, P.O. Box 17401,
fun book. Over 3000 medicines listed alpha- print, rare issue, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Holladoy, Utah 84117.
betically, with pertinent information, 190 San Bernardino areas. All old stage, freight BLYTHE, CALIF., North Broadway, house num-
sketches, many capsule histories. $2.50 post- stops, trails, roads, towns, etc. 1 8 " x 2 4 " ber 9655. I have 1 'A acres of ground with
paid. Kay Devner, 8945 East 20th, Tucson, rolled, $2.95. Oma Mining Co., P.O. Box a house. All priced to sell. Alfred Jones,
Arizona 85710. 2247, Culver City, Calif. 90230. P.O. Box 932, Blythe, Calif. 92225.
ADDRESS
NAME
ADDRESS
Be sure to mention
NAME
ADDRESS