Pegleg's Black Gold Nuggets

[Ed T]

I was never really familiar with the names of the ranges out there. Yet I do recall that we drove past a dry lake bed area on the way to the OP Black that I mentioned.

As for knowing anyone at Las Pulgas or 29 Palms, the answer is no.

I do believe that the name of the Company commander at the time was Huff. I think that he may have been a Major or Lt Col. Though I am not quiet sure. He was transfered to Okinawa Japan though shortly after the mission that I have spoken of. The reason I know this is because I was transfered to the Company that he was with in Japan. It was a FSSG Communication Company stationed on the camp nearest Naha.

There was also a crazy Guamanian Gunny stationed at HQ 3/11 Com CO. at the time. I don't recall his name though.

I wish I could remember more but it was a long time ago, about 20 years or so.
Ed T

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[Oroblanco]

Greetings,

Pegleglooker wrote:

Hey Oro,
I see the inflation hasn't hit you as much as others... I don't even have 2 sheckels to rub together....

Actually the inflation (or devaluation of our currency) has hit pretty hard, that is why we are down to the two shekels - that tells you how deep we had to dig to get it!

I hope you get that Nissan bud, you need a steel mule to get into the country you tramp around!

Ed T wrote:

I take it that the OP may have stood for Operational Post...

That might be the correct term amigo - I have heard it to mean "observation post" also, the name for a spot where a Forward Observer would be posted to watch the arty hits and call in corrections to the aim. Not a job I would want! Ed if you had a way to get access, do you think you might be able to return to the site using just your memory and maps?

Good luck and good hunting amigos, I hope you find the treasures that you seek.
your friend,
Roy ~ Oroblanco

[Ed T]

I am not quite sure I would be able to do that Roy. Even when I was assigned as a driver out there, I was never given any maps. I was basically a follower following the leader.

Seeing that I have other deposits I am working with, I am not really that interested in taking a trek out in the desert without knowing exactly where I was heading.

That is why I have posted the information on here for those who might be interested. And one other thing I remembered is that there was a SSGT named Hall at HQ 3/11 at that time also. I am pretty sure his first name began with a D. I think that the time frame was either 85 or 86. I am inclined to say it was in 86. And as for the dignitary who was watching the dog and pony show, I believe it was a well known politician.

I hope this info helps someone on their quest.

Ed T

[pegleglooker]

Hey Ed T,
First of all I wanted to say thankx for all the info you have already given us. But I can help and wonder if there is a website for former marines to go to and talk about old war stories. I remember going to one for the Army years ago. I was able to reconnect with some friends from the 23rd combat engineers, when I was stationed there from 1976-79. I don't remember the site though. If anyone knows of this site it would be GREAT to post it here.
Once again Ed T, thankx, and if you remember ANYTHING -PLEASE- post it here. Sometimes the smallest detail that might mean nothing to you, could be the key to finding what one is looking for.

PLL

[Ed T]

I do not know of any site like that pegleg. Yet I do recall the name of the other marine who was up on the ledge with me with the parachutes. I believe his last name was Johnson, and at the time we were on the ledge we were both LCPL's. I did visit 3/11 when I returned from Oki in 87 and he was still there, but he had been promoted to CPL. I believe he was from Tennessee or Alabama, though I believe it was Tennessee. Though he was not in radio, he was in the group who ran wire and climbed poles to connect the phone systems.

Ed T

[gollum]

Come on guys! OP ONLY MEANS ONE THING (especially when referring to Field Artillery):

OBSERVATION POST!

It's where they sit sit and watch the places the arty rounds hit. From there, they correct fire on the fly.

If this was on 29 Palms, it's most likely at the South end of the Bullion Mts. There is a very large impact area there.

Best-Mike

[Oroblanco]

HOLA mi amigo Mike, - and I agree, this was mentioned above, reply #141. Not often when I can do that!

[gollum]

HOLA mi amigo Mike, - and I agree, this was mentioned above, reply #141. Not often when I can do that!

Jeez! Ijust skipped right past that post. Sorry. We do agree however.

Boogeyman,

I know. I will just say that I had a long talk with Dr. Roy Roush, and found out a few things I didn't know before. I also won't go into detail as he is no longer with us. I do use the San Sebastian Marsh Massacre Story, though, because not only was it in his book, but in a couple of issues of a couple of treasure Mags, along with pics of him at the site with MD in hand. Can't really dispute that. Also becuse of a secondary verification; a few years ago a guy riding his Quadrunner in the San Sebastian Marsh Area flipped over and cut his arm on something. When he dug that something out of the sand, it was a gold box with a crucifix inside. Saw that article in some newspaper.

Happy Easter-Mike

[Oroblanco]

HOLA mi amigo Mike,

Gollum wrote:

Jeez! Ijust skipped right past that post.

Dang, my posts must be getting REALLY boring!

I had not heard of the Marsh Massacre story - would you mind posting a synopsis? (Or where to find it?) Thank you in advance,
your friend - Oroblanco

HAPPY EASTER TOO!

[gollum]

No problem;

1812 a group of Spanish Renegade Soldiers put their boat ashore near Oceanside, Ca. They head inland and South raiding missions, towns, and such all the way down into Mexico. On their way back, they had 10 Oxcarts full of gold, silver, etc.

At or near the border, they raided a Yaqui Indian Village while the braves were away. When they returned, they headed out after the Spaniards. Caught them at San Sebastian Marsh (between Ocotillo Wells and the Salton Sea). Massacred them all but three whom they caught up with and killed around Indio.

One story has the indians burning the oxcarts and burying the loot on the spot (which I believe), and the other has the Indians carrying the loot off into the mountains. The grand prize of the loot is supposed to be a solid gold crucifix about 5' X 3' X 3" thick. Supposed to take a dozen men to lift it.

Now the entire area is a Wilderness Area at the Eastern End of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Best-Mike

[Oroblanco]

Thank you Mike, interesting story to say the least! Is it safe to presume you have researched this (hence your support) and found confirmatory information?
Roy

[pegleglooker]

hello all,
Oro check reply #63-66 in this thread about the san Sebastion massacre. I've been out there looking around.. didn't find anything though....

PLL

[Ed T]

There is one other thing that I remembered about the outing which I have spoken of. At the time we were out there on the mission I have spoken of, we were trying out a new frequency hopping radio for the very first time. This radio was to take the place of the prc 77, or so I was informed at the time. It was also going to replace the prc 38, I maybe wrong on this prc 38, though it was the crypto radio at the time. So, if anyone can do some research in this area, they should be able to put themselves in the area which I have been speaking of.

And you just might find yourself an old rusted winchester, or a pile of rust.

Ed T

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HIO CUB: A side thingie our Cu property in the piedras verdes copper area has the oxidized Cu showing on the surface rocks...it almost looks like soot, but it doesn't brush off. A simple acid test with a piece of clean iron (a nail in this case ) quickly becomes coated with Cu.

Don Jose de La Mancha

[pegleglooker]

Hey all,
Thought you guys might want to look at this video about Pegleg. He does a good job in promoting the story, but some of what he says is not " totally " accurate. The video production is pretty good, content.....weeelllllll

http://www.desertusa.com/video_pages...lo_wells2.html

PLL

[pegleglooker]

hey all,
This " may " be VERY VERY important... and then again it may be not... I was looking at the Mormon Battalion info and came across a man by the name John G Smith. Why is this important ?? Simple, H E W Wilson quoted an article that he had read about a John O Smith who was a guide out of Yuma. So I was wondering... wouldn't a military veteran make a GREAT guide.
"Hello sir are you looking to get to San Diego or LA ?"
" yes "
" Well my name is John Smith and I was a member of the Mormon Battalion and know every inch of this land... "
etc etc.
If I was from the east I would have known about the Mormon Battalion and it's great feat. Oh yes... I would trust him.. After all he and his boys cut through Box Canyon with just hand tools !!!!!!
I just hope the guy had a pegleg..

PLL

[mountaindigger]

Greetings fellow black nugget hunters. I also have been hunting the nuggets in the desert for several years and have perhaps avoided some of you at one time or the other. I hunt in the mountains in the summer and the desert in the winter. I believe there are several locations and they are related to the ancient river of gold. I have been to many of the areas in So Cal and find the minerals to be consistent in each location. I ran across this on the web and wanted to post it as a possibility of more information.

Sunflower Springs, California - Peg Leg Smith Rock: Baseline for Lost Peg Leg Gold
I just read your story on the Peg Leg Smith Monument. My wife's Dad had a cabin in the California desert in Sunflower Springs. There is a large rock about 1/4 mile from the cabin. Carved on the face of it is the inscription: "Peg Leg Smith Zalias, Springs 1854."
Peg Leg Smith had wandered into Warner Springs in late 1854 with gold nuggets the size of a fist in the saddle bags on his horse. He told those who found him suffering from dehydration that he found the gold nuggets in the Old Woman Mountains near Essex. He also told them that he had carved his name on a rock where he could see the location of his gold looking away from the rock. The gold was where you could see three buttes looking away from the rock and it was just laying on top of the ground. No one believed him because no one had ever found gold nuggets in The Old Woman Mountains. The statue of the Old Woman for whom the mountain range is named can also be seen from this inscription. The rock is located southeast of the cabin and the letters are about 5-6 feet tall.
If this information leads you to the lost gold I want my share of the findings. [Ralph Amet, 01/09/2008]

[pegleglooker]

Hi Ralph,
Welcome to Tnet....... Zalias huh.... I have not come across that name but the year seems about right. As I'm sure you know, there were several " pegleg's " in the area. I'm interested in why he was that far north ?? Most people but him in Anza Borrego area or possibly the Chocolate Mts. I have heard of a " few " stories with him that far north, however, what path was he on ? and why would he go from there to Warner's Ranch- so far south-. Sounds like it might be a crossover from the Lost Arch story...

PLL

[Old Dog]

PLL,
I think you may be correct.
If we can get Roy back to confirm it we could be on the right track.

I sure have been enjoying this thread.
thanks guys.

Thom

[pegleglooker]

hey gang,
I'll throw another monkey wrench into it... I met a guy at the --deleted--go pow wow, and was suppose to meet him this morning at Pala Mission. He was a no show but I did meet some interesting people. One of which said, that Pegleg's Mom was involved in a shoot out in Valley Center ( a city near San Diego ). He said it was his family and Pegs that was involved. Anyway he's going to copy the newspaper article and email it to me. When I have it I'll post it. I asked him what year did it happen and he said late 1800's or very early 1900's. This " may " shed some light on the angle I have been saying that Thomas L Smith was NOT the pegleg of legend. My contention is that Pegs was a guide out of Yuma and a outlaw, and that's why there hasn't been much " proven " material available. If one is a successful outlaw -and always on the run-, then there would be little " truth " written about them ( except for the ones who wanted fame- James brothers etc. ). I hope to get the article soon... we'll see...

PLL