- Joined
- Nov 9, 2018
- Messages
- 328
- Reaction score
- 736
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Kingman, AZ
- Detector(s) used
- Fisher Gold Bug Pro
- Primary Interest:
- Prospecting
- #1
Thread Owner
I know of three versions of the "Two Soldiers" tale. There may be more than three. Here, I'll only be concerned with the version given in Barry Storm's book "Thunder Gods Gold" in the chapter titled, "Soldiers' Lost Vein", but I'll also include the version given in Bark's Notes. The three versions are vastly different.
Storm's version of the tale is based on his interview of Jack Frazer, who was mining foreman at the Silver King Mine, and who was the first to see the gold ore they brought to the Silver King. According to Storm, Frazer's words led him to make the note, "a reddish vein about a foot thick, half-way up a black-topped hill." Storm then went on to find a fired rifle shell, which he claimed was evidence that the soldiers had been traveling the low pass between East Boulder and Needle Canyons, when a deer was flushed from cover.
Accepting Storm's version as it is, I used GE to take a look at the "low pass" south of Black Top Mesa. I then decided that if I had only one day and could search only one specific area, I would pick the location where the existing trail is the highest on the south slopes of Black Top Mesa, and where rocky outcrops are abundant. I've enclosed those places inside red boxes.
Take notice that I'm only accepting Storm's version to see where it could possibly lead. I'm not willing to affirm that his tale has much factual content. His discovery of the fired rifle shell is miraculous, to say the least. Do I think Storm's account really leads to "Soldiers' Lost Vein"? Possible, but not probable. If "Soldiers' Lost Vein" is/was really there, do I think it could still be there? Not a chance.
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QUOTE FROM BARK'S NOTES ON TWO SOLDIERS:
"So, they struck out toward the King, and struck a trail which they had been told was the proper one to take. They followed it for several miles to a creek crossing, where there was water. The trail after that, appeared to run nearly north and the King was nearly south, so while they felt certain that the trail would eventually land them at the King, it must be a long way around, and they were tired. They decided to make a short cut, went up this creek for a distance, CAME TO A WATERFALL, and could go no further. They came back down the creek, and finally go out on the side of the creek toward the King and up on a very rough and high mountain. There was no trail. They struck out, always trying to work toward their destination, but making very slow progress. They ran onto a trail and such a queer place for a trail. They concluded to follow it and see if it wouldn't lead them out of that God-forsaken country. They followed it but a short distance, and were in high hopes when the trail led them THROUGH a cave between the peaks. They went on a little further and came to a tunnel that had been walled up, with workings above and over."
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Storm's version of the tale is based on his interview of Jack Frazer, who was mining foreman at the Silver King Mine, and who was the first to see the gold ore they brought to the Silver King. According to Storm, Frazer's words led him to make the note, "a reddish vein about a foot thick, half-way up a black-topped hill." Storm then went on to find a fired rifle shell, which he claimed was evidence that the soldiers had been traveling the low pass between East Boulder and Needle Canyons, when a deer was flushed from cover.
Accepting Storm's version as it is, I used GE to take a look at the "low pass" south of Black Top Mesa. I then decided that if I had only one day and could search only one specific area, I would pick the location where the existing trail is the highest on the south slopes of Black Top Mesa, and where rocky outcrops are abundant. I've enclosed those places inside red boxes.
Take notice that I'm only accepting Storm's version to see where it could possibly lead. I'm not willing to affirm that his tale has much factual content. His discovery of the fired rifle shell is miraculous, to say the least. Do I think Storm's account really leads to "Soldiers' Lost Vein"? Possible, but not probable. If "Soldiers' Lost Vein" is/was really there, do I think it could still be there? Not a chance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE FROM BARK'S NOTES ON TWO SOLDIERS:
"So, they struck out toward the King, and struck a trail which they had been told was the proper one to take. They followed it for several miles to a creek crossing, where there was water. The trail after that, appeared to run nearly north and the King was nearly south, so while they felt certain that the trail would eventually land them at the King, it must be a long way around, and they were tired. They decided to make a short cut, went up this creek for a distance, CAME TO A WATERFALL, and could go no further. They came back down the creek, and finally go out on the side of the creek toward the King and up on a very rough and high mountain. There was no trail. They struck out, always trying to work toward their destination, but making very slow progress. They ran onto a trail and such a queer place for a trail. They concluded to follow it and see if it wouldn't lead them out of that God-forsaken country. They followed it but a short distance, and were in high hopes when the trail led them THROUGH a cave between the peaks. They went on a little further and came to a tunnel that had been walled up, with workings above and over."
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