Idaho Treasure, The Diary of Jules DeFoe

[Esto Perpetua]

Jeez.... 2011 was the last time I posted here, man how time does fly. (even though I didn't post much at all here)
I was Id Hunter - but had to make a new login, old email defunct. I'm back, and hope that is okay with the mods and board here


Great to see some folks still interested in this old legend, it's a rumour that has been around in my town / county as long as I can remember - for many reasons.
I did get copies from the Utah Historical Society, the BJ Silliman (sp?) papers and read through them many times. I also loaned the stack to a friend for his input, and he came to the same conclusions that I have ultimately come to find as well. It's a good story, and it has the dramtic ups and downs.... is it factual.... who knows. I've spent many hours trying to find what libray might have the original diary, only to come up with zilch.

I'm not one to dismiss the possibility of Spanish mines in Idaho pre - 1800's, as that is certainly possible.

Cheers,
T

 

[Falurian]

Thanks for all your comments! I've walked the area twice since my post.
If you employ Google Earth you can skim the ridgeline using the ground view. Kind of feels like nape of the earth flying in a small helicopter.
Only one saddle that you can see the valley from and that's the one just before you exit into SE Boise proper. It's just above and almost adjacent to Diversion dam.
BTW: A copy of the journal is available in the reference section of the Boise Public library. You can reproduce it on their copy machine.
If it were that first saddle it's still a large area to cover. I've only found modern lead bullets and some iron ore fragments (not meteorites by the way) in the saddle.

Oh, and there is that other stage robbery story in the same area. Haven't found reference to it; just heard it over the years. Payroll for Boise Basin I think was robbed as the stage crossed the river near what is now the high bridge. Robbers escaped into the foothills... all eventually killed but none of the money (gold coin?) recovered...
Anyone have anything on that one?

Is this still of active interest?