whiskers
Jr. Member
San Matillo Mountains, New Mexico
Old prospector gives this story: "Early in the 1870s A Indian friend told young Manuel Taylor he could lead him to "heap much gold". They outfitted and penetrated the wild San Matillo mountains country. Finally they reached a spot from where the Redskin pointed to a streak of red earth, much like brick dust and grunted dramatically: "Here heap much gold!" Taylor was disappointed to see no trace of gold in it. He was then ignorant of metallurgy. However, he wrapped some of the stuff in a handkerchief and threw it into one of his pack bags. They returned to Silver City, N.M. One day months later Taylor was cleaning his bags and found some of the red dust. Idly rubbing it between his palms he suddenly noticed many particles of fine gold appearing as the coarser grains broke away. He went to an assayer to learn that the dust tested $2100 gold to the ton." He could never find the spot again.
-Essence of article in the San Jose Mercury, Oct 8, 1926 (page 24, column 1)
-Jim Lyons
Old prospector gives this story: "Early in the 1870s A Indian friend told young Manuel Taylor he could lead him to "heap much gold". They outfitted and penetrated the wild San Matillo mountains country. Finally they reached a spot from where the Redskin pointed to a streak of red earth, much like brick dust and grunted dramatically: "Here heap much gold!" Taylor was disappointed to see no trace of gold in it. He was then ignorant of metallurgy. However, he wrapped some of the stuff in a handkerchief and threw it into one of his pack bags. They returned to Silver City, N.M. One day months later Taylor was cleaning his bags and found some of the red dust. Idly rubbing it between his palms he suddenly noticed many particles of fine gold appearing as the coarser grains broke away. He went to an assayer to learn that the dust tested $2100 gold to the ton." He could never find the spot again.
-Essence of article in the San Jose Mercury, Oct 8, 1926 (page 24, column 1)
-Jim Lyons
