SENNER'S GOLD
"...Searching for treasure is for the fearless unless one is satisfied to have their adventures vicariously, by reading about it." - Helen Corbin
I've finally completed the book, Senner's Gold by Helen Corbin - which really turned out to be a good and bittersweet story. I took the time to read it slowly, engrossed in its sincerity and carefully holding to the details that Mrs. Corbin presented. In some cases, the book is a love story surprisingly stated - and in other cases, a solid case made where legend meets factual evidence. So, much of the information within the book, can be validated - by records of sorts and if you utilize a current map while following details of the book; you'll find that the details in the story are well presented. In doing so, I found there to be 3 different ways to achieve a climb to the Mesa/summit of the Northern part of the mountain range. One that Al took (Siphon Draw), one that Tom Kollenborn and Bob Corbin traversed (coming from the back side of Flatiron riding horses, via the Old West Boulder Canyon), as well as a third that rides up from the North end - towards 'Canyon of the Falls' hike near Massacre Grounds. Of course, I have yet to get there physically myself, to see if this third path is viable.
As it turns out (at least for me, due to not knowing the whole story), that there really was a Dr. Amos Basset, a Katie (Ann Pruitt), as well as a Joe Gibson - all who've been validated in their time of the late 1800's leading into the early 1900's. It isn't a stretch to believe the general idea of what occurred and what might have occurred, as Helen Corbin does a good job of writing in such a way, that her style brings in supposed details of how Al corresponded with Katie and others around him, and it is presented believable. Is the book a finite detailed non-fiction account of everything that occurred back then regarding Al Senner and his daily travels; I would suppose it is not, but I would say - there's more information on this story than on most other legends/lore/stories of the Superstition Mountains and what it might be hiding.
For the book itself, I enjoyed the read and felt that Helen did a considerably good job, for one not living back then and to give an account of said characters, if not for just the imagination. The book paints the scene in such a way - where you are "teleported" back in a time, where life was not easy and one had to work hard to just, in some cases, survive. Looking at today's world we live in and comparing the past with the present, its a wonder that anyone could make a living back then, in those hard 'mining' times. It would seem, that to gain a foothold on life - one would have to go above and beyond. even if it meant being involved in illegal dealings - so that he or she might achieve some success.
There are things, that did catch my attention in the book - some being certain details in the book, that are different to some of the info that's been floating out there in the conversational world. When Al Senner fell off the Western mesa edge - it was NOT due to a snowstorm or a gale force of wind, though a storm was in full effect when Dr. Basset and Joe Gibson went looking for Senner. It appeared to the Doc and Mr. Gibson, that the narrow trail along the very edge of the mesa, gave out completely - which sent Al, his mule and his horse Lady, straight down to their death. The body of Senner was found 800 feet below a mesa and not 1000 to 2000 feet which has been stated in past posts. These details are important to the way I see it, as these cleared up some questionable details - and they can play a big part in locating the cache(s). Of course, there are many who are well quipped with this book and its details - so I would be ignorant to believe no one has figured the difference of certain details. It does though, come down to paying attention to every detail in the book. Again, how much of Helen's book is factual and how much is fictional, can only be uncovered by making the same trip out there that Al, Tom, Bob, Dr. Basset, and Joe Gibson proceeded to do during their time frame.
Here are some observations I gleaned from reading Helen's book:
1. Senner, while working at the mine - took double compared to the average high-grader.
2. Al Senner hid the Ore he took, placed in Rabbit AND Deer skins he created himself.
3. When Senner had his cache(s), they were pushed into crevasses and was packed and covered by mud and caliche, which I believe has made said caches almost impossible to locate.
4. It would take Senner about an hour to climb up (his) mesa, after settling his horse Lady at the bottom foothill of Siphon Draw. At one point, Al had to literally climb on all fours just to reach the very top of the mesa in question. So, the area of interest must be extremely steep.
5. The whole 3 tree (Pines) detail in an interesting clue. In the book, Al would reach the top where the 3 Pines were located, and it was mentioned they were 30' tall at that time. When Tom Kollenborn and Bob Corbin made their way up from the back side of the mountain (flatiron), they too were able to view the same supposed 3 pines. Not knowing how many tree there are today up there, will only be uncovered (at least for me) with a physical trip up there, as I'm sure over time, there has been additional tree growth.
6. It seems that the path that Dr. Basset and Joe Gibson took to find Al's body - was the very same path that Tom Kollenborn and Bob Corbin took - which was via Old West Boulder Canyon. This was the case due to riding horses - which is impossible to use while tying to reach the mesa via Siphon Draw.
7. Al Senner's body was found in a canyon (Flatiron Canyon - adeptly named by Tom Kollenborn), located in between Hog Canyon and Monument Canyon - 800 feet below a very narrow cliff above. His body was NOT found in Monument Canyon like other posts have mentioned.
8. Senner's cache(s) were burried 40 feet away from the 3 (Pines) trees (as Al liked to title them as). He had to kneel to remove rocks - that exposed his cache(s). At the time, there was only 3 Pines up on the mesa. Today might be very different. Question is, did Senner hide his cache(s) at his campsite like the story leas us to believe?
In my assessment of possible location outside of the known areas, seems to now rest on the Northern end of Flatiron, near the 'Canyon of the Falls'. It looks possible to ride a horse up to at least, the area West of Massacre Grounds just before the steep climb up to the 'Canyon of the Falls'. A feat that Senner might have taken. In the area before the waterfall, seems to have pockets of water (seeps or springs) at certain times of the year, just after a rainfall - all being reinforced with a waterfall above. This would allow a rider to station his or her horse where water was available and then, make ones' way up to the top. That all being said, this endeavor wouldn't necessarily require a horse, as the path in question can be reached by foot, but a very long walk it would be.
As much as it seemed, that Al was a simple guy - he certainly seemed to have a 'craftiness' about himself. He was certainly crafty enough to high grade ore to last one, a lifetime, without being caught per say. Even though Senner as beaten, by foremen from the mine that Al worked at and left maimed, he was able to retain his ore and his secret location of his cache(s). That in itself, takes guts to hold out especially when someone wants you pulverized.
At this point, I'm convinced that NO ONE has found any of Al Senner's cache(s). I would gather, that if Tom Kollenborn and Bob Corbin had found anything - that they would have announced it to some degree. Just being able to solve a mystery has has eluded so many for so long, would be enticing enough to release the discovery for all to know about. As for these men IMHO - it wasn't about the gain-of-value, as to them it seemed more about correcting/solving something that was lost to the Ages. I do respect that way of thinking.
So, as I wrap this one up - I go forward now armed with better clues (Helen's book) that should be accurate to some level of understanding. With all that's been stated in the past and all who've made the trek out there, I for one, have made the decision to follow up where many have left off at.
I'll be heading out to the Superstition Mountains this October for Rendezvous - and in doing so, will make a trip up the mountain via Siphon Draw. I want to be in Al's shoes and follow his path FIRST, as I find it necessary to see what he saw and understand the surrounding area. Since I'll be on foot and not riding horseback, it will be a slow and cumbersome trek to say the least. Of course, the slow pace will give me, I believe an edge on taking in the surrounding environment - comparing it to the clues from Helen's book. I am aware that Helen more than likely added details to the story, so that a story could be written for all to read in a comprehensive way. This, not just for entertainment, but to fill in gaps of the unknown, so I am not ignorant to the fact - that Helen couldn't have known all that Al was thinking nor could she know, all that Senner did and where his path took him to, specifically.
Further down the road - on an additional trip outside of my first try, would be to hike up towards the 'Canyon of the Falls' and search the canyon floor as well as up near the waterfall itself. Though I don't believe Senner actually went down that canyon as he was leaving the mountain - I do believe he could have covered the area near the top, going down behind the backside of Flatiron - the way Tom Kollenborn and Bob Corbin took as they came up to Senner's campsite. It's very possible that Senner hid his cache(s) BEHIND the mesa and not actually on the mesa that he was known to climb onto. The area of interest here, would not be just looking at the Old West Boulder Canyon, but areas off from said canyon.
I'm also in the camp of thinking that Senner never reached his cache(s) that fateful day - as the Doc (Basset) never found any gold on Senner's body nor attached to his mule or Lady; Senner's loyal steed. I'm carrying in the known fact, that Senner was smart when it came to concealing his cache(s) and that he would have been paranoid enough to have hidden his cache(s) well and away from his campsites. For him to have pulled out all of his cache(s), would have required several trips up there and down - taking each cache carefully concealing the ore within his satchels. I don't believe he would have tried to bring it all down at one time - especially in bad weather (time of the year he chose to go up), not to mention the rumored 1000lbs. of Ore. It is hard to fathom, a guy who took many risks to not only high-grade ore, but to make trip after trip for over a year and not have an accident of any kind - to have fallen off a cliff once he finally decided to retrieve his cache(s) as a whole. It really does break your heart in thinking how hard Al worked for a dream he never got to live. In reflecting on how life was back then, compared to how it is today - I wonder, who had it harder. Those that, worked their fingers to the bone, to only find enough wealth to make a simple life or those today, who also work their fingers to the bone to only have a fraction of a life that they dream of. Maybe, its just a reality that, not so many things have really changed over the last 130 years.
As the sun sets on Goldfield today, with past events still ringing in the ears of those who seek a fortune, many today are still engulfed with the idea of enriching their lives. Whether it be in the 1800's of then or current times today, not much has seemed to change as I see it. As the seasons change and the landscapes evolve - even today, you can still hear talk of Al and his love Katie among treasure hunters, as least those who have an interest. Fate had seemed to have robbed Al Senner of his dreams, dreams of giving the love of his life Katie, a life of Love and Hope. This story, which quietly crept up on me as I pressed on with it - hit me harder than I as expecting. Knowing that the book was a book of a lost fortune - I found it to be more of a loss of the Heart and not just of valued minerals in the ground. As it once appeared to me, that Alfred Senner was just a thief high grading ore for his own selfish needs - was farthest from the truth in my humble opinion. In my assessment of Al Senner, I concluded that - Senner though desperate on some level, conducted himself humbly and was no different than most other miners in those times back then during the rush of obtaining gold ore, as survival was the front of every man's desire. I felt the reputation Al was labeled with by the People of Goldfield of this time, didn't give Senner credit to his character. I've come to the position that, there was a man who wanted to better himself and for the only woman he seemed to have a heart for - doing everything he could with what he had.
It was fate that had other plans.
-SpartanOC
