Mexican Pocket AZ Gold Stash

[TokyoTerror]

Any one know the story behind the Mexican Pocket stash in AZ. Been up there once, and found a beer can. From what I have read there should be a few graves there, does any one know where they are or if they even exist? If any one is interested in looking for this I would be up to compair notes and do some buddy hunting.

[djui5]

More info please

[Jeffro]

I'd need a county and other names.... I can't find anything on this one, by this name. I've got tons of references to a bunch of mines, etc. down there.

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

Sounds similar to the details of the "Mexican Hat Pocket" story but not sure if that was in arizona or california. siegfried schlagrule

[TokyoTerror]

All I know is that Ken Weinman wrote an article in W&E Treasure about Mexican Pocket. Wish I knew how to get ahold of Ken and ask him a few questions. The story goes like this: In the 1880's, 12 bandits of the Valenzuelo Gang were tracked down by Sherriff C.P. Owens in northern Arizona. He killed 7 of the bandits. All the saddlebags were missing. Two separate caches were found; one contained $5,000 in gold and silver coins, a few years later, $8,000 was found in saddlebags in another cache in the same area. It was presumed that another 10 caches of outlaw loot remains buried. Now I contacted Marshal Trimble, he is posed to be the "official AZ historian" and he said that he never heard of this. The story adds that C.P. buried the bandits where he shot them. So if I could find out if there really are graves up there, at least I'd have some validity to the story and a starting point to boot. So is there anyone out there who knows anything about this story??
Thanks

[Buck]

All I know is that Ken Weinman wrote an article in W&E Treasure about Mexican Pocket. Wish I knew how to get ahold of Ken and ask him a few questions. The story goes like this: In the 1880's, 12 bandits of the Valenzuelo Gang were tracked down by Sherriff C.P. Owens in northern Arizona. He killed 7 of the bandits. All the saddlebags were missing. Two separate caches were found; one contained $5,000 in gold and silver coins, a few years later, $8,000 was found in saddlebags in another cache in the same area. It was presumed that another 10 caches of outlaw loot remains buried. Now I contacted Marshal Trimble, he is posed to be the "official AZ historian" and he said that he never heard of this. The story adds that C.P. buried the bandits where he shot them. So if I could find out if there really are graves up there, at least I'd have some validity to the story and a starting point to boot. So is there anyone out there who knows anything about this story??
Thanks

Hello About two/three years ago I read some thing about that in a old treasure magazine if you want I will try and locate the magazine

[TokyoTerror]

That would be wonderful, thanks for the offer!!
If you are interested, team hunting is always a possibility.

[Sonoita-Bob]

Hi TT

From the article you mentioned it seems they are the same details that were reported in the much earlier and very detailed story by Maurice Kildare in Long John's Treasure World June-July 1973. To my knowledge this was the first full story on this buried treasure which has a good basis in fact. One of the saddlebags recovered by Pete Brogdon was reported in the Flagstaff Champion Weekly in October 1888. My son-in-law, originally from Flagstaff is related to Brogdon and he says that Brogdon's find is an old family story.

I had researched this one in the 70's to take our Phoenix Boy Scout troop on a campout to the location with their metal detectors when I was a troop leader. But we never made the trip, unfortunately. My 1962 7 1/2 min series Mountainaire, AZ Quad shows Mexican Pocket on the East side of AZ Hwy 89 Alt alongside Pumphouse Canyon and directly across the highway from Oak Creek Vista Campground. This is INCORRECT, the actual Mexican Pocket is a short distance North of this towards Flagstaff, along side Kelly Wash near an old gravel pit (1960's) also East of Hwy 89A.

Later, in the March-April 1975 issue of Long John's True Treasure, a reader wrote in to the Questions Column how to find Mexican Pocket. Here is the answer as published:


A. There are two Mexican Pockets in the same area, but most map makers locate them both incorrectly. The correct Mexican Pocket is 12.5 miles south of Flagstaff on the east side of the Oak Creek-Sedona Highway. The pocket, or park, is visible from the highway, since it was logged over many years ago. END OF ANSWER
Now the question is, from where in Flagstaff do you start your mileage count?

If you have trouble locating the issues I referenced, may I suggest:
Bill Hendrickson
2019 Center Street
Cortez, CO 81321
970 565-7392
He use to advertise in most Treasure Magazines.

Hope this helps & good hunting.
Sonoita Bob

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bump

[lastleg]

TT:

You might be able to find Ken in the Alberquerque phone book. Or W&E
might put you in contact. You didn't say if he actually went to the site. He
mainly stays in New Mexico. My guess is he is repeating the printed yarns.