The Lost Gold Ledge

 The Lost Gold Ledge

When the great gold strikes in Goldfield, Tonopah and Rawhide began to draw thousands of people to the Nevadadesert, they also drew a prospector named Tim Cody. Setting up a base camp at Stewart Springs about 15 miles from Goldyke, Cody quickly began to prospect the area. 

Before long, he was running low on supplies and decided to make a trip to Goldyke on an overcast winter’s morning. On foot, he began to make the long journey when a storm began to brew. In the blustery storm, he was soon lost and found shelter in an abandoned mine shaft. 

Spending the night in the mine, he arose to find the storm gone and the skies clear blue.  He began to climb a nearby ridge to get his bearings before continuing his journey to Goldyke. Along the way he found a rich gold vein in a quartz outcropping. Picking up some samples, Cody continued his climb to the top.

At the summit, he could clearly see Paradise Peak and Rawhide Peak to the northwest.  Making his way back down to continue his trip to Goldyke, he was soon lost again, but after some difficulty he finally made his way to the settlement. After re-supplying, he returned to his base camp and tried several times to relocate the gold laden quartz vein.

However his continued searches proved fruitless and finally he moved on.  However, three men showed up in 1949 with a map that Cody had supposedly drawn for them. The three scoured the area looking for the lost ledge, but they too, were unable to find the rich vein of gold.

Today, the legend continues. The lost ledge is said to be somewhere in the hills south of Gabbs. Perhaps, you will be the lucky prospector to find it again.

Joining the thousands of "49ers” rushing intoCalifornia were brothers, Charles and Joshua Breyfogle. Hailing from Lockhart, New York, the pair headed west with a train of saddle and draft horses and two wagons in the spring of 1849. They soon teamed up with other pioneers inColumbus, Ohio and continued their long journey to the California goldfields. After many trials and tribulations through theIndian ridden plains, steep mountains, and harsh desert, they finally reached Sacramento on August, 14, 1849. About a month later the Breyfogles began searching for their fortunes in the promising areas of Butte Creek and the Chico River. Having no success, they had moved on to the YubaRiver, some 12 miles above the California gold rush tent city of Marysville, in January, 1850.

Many believe the lost Breyfogle Mine is in Nye County, Nevada.

Again disappointed, they moved upstream a month later to Goodhues, where they began to work on a new claim. This time their efforts paid off, as they began to find gold in the river bottom and along the banks above the river. By December, 1850, Charles Breyfogle returned to New York with some $20,000, leaving his brother Joshua to work the claim. A year later, Charles returned to California, settling in Oakland where he was elected county assessor in 1854 and treasurer in 1859.  When he couldn’t account for $6,500 in county funds, he was thrown in jail. Though he was soon exonerated and released, he evidently had had his fill of politics and decided to return to prospecting. Following the new silver strike in Nevada, he went to Virginia City where the buzz was all  about the new finds near Austin, Nevada in 1862. More stories were circulating about gold in the Big Smoky Valley and seeing opportunity, Breyfogle opened a real estate office in a hotel at the mining camp of Geneva. Unfortunately, by the time Charles arrived the Geneva veins were already dwindling and he was once again looking for opportunities. In 1863, he heard three men at the hotel discussing a crude map. Sure that they were discussing the legendary Lost Gunsight Mine of Death Valley, he decided to follow them when they left the next day. Trailing them across Nevada, he caught up with them between Tonopah and Goldfield, where he was surprised to find that the men were not looking for the lost Gunsight lode, but rather were on their way to Texas to join the Confederate army. The men were on their way to join a wagon train on the Los Angelestrail and Breyfogle decided to ride with them for a couple of days. Three days later, the men were encamped south of Ash Meadows in the Mohave Desert’sAmargosa River Valley. Laying his bedroll out apart from the others, he awoke in the middle of the night to see Indians attacking the other three men. Grabbing his bedroll and boot, he fled in the darkness. Without provisions or weapons he wandered in the desert for several days until he finally found a spring. Resting there, he found gold in a deposit of quartz and took with him several samples, vying to return if he could ever find his way out of the desert. Heading south, he eventually came upon wagon tracks which he followed to Stump Spring in thePahrump Valley, in Nevada's eastern Mohave desert. Deciding to wait at the spring for a wagon train to show up, he was instead found byIndians first. Taking him captive, they worked him as a slave for months. Finally a Mormon wagon train came upon the Indian village and freed him with a ransom. Taking him to a ranch at Manse Spring in southern Nevada he was cared for by the wife’s owner, Mrs. Yount. Grateful, he told the family about his gold discovery, showing them the samples he had held onto. After Breyfogle had fully recovered he settled in Austin, Nevada, where he would organize search parties for the next 26 years. Concentrating on the region northeast of Death Valley, the men would search in vain, never finding that lost outcropping. But Breyfogle never stopped looking, becoming so obsessed with the search that he once said, "I shall come back a rich man or leave my bones in Death Valley."  Through the years, many theorized as to where Breyfogle had found the gold, believing it to be located near Las Vegas, Salt Spring, or Daylight Pass. However, many believed that the very same rich quartz that Charles had discovered ended up becoming the Johnnie Mine, north of Pahrump, Nevada. The rich lodes of the Johnnie District were first discovered in 1891 by a man named George Montgomery who was searching for the famous Lost Breyfogle Mine. Yet others believe the mine to be in California in the Armargosa River Valley. Though the vast majority believe that Breyfogle’s find was in the Johnnie Mining District, not all researchers and hobbyists are convinced, as they continue to search for Breyfogle’s lost gold. Many researchers and hobbyists believe the Lost Breyfogle Mine to yet unfound in the Armagosa River Valley ofCalifornia, photo courtesy  University of California - Santa Barbara Department of Geography More Treasure Tales Next Page The Johnnie District is in Nye County, in southwestern Nevada. On the north end of the Pahrump Valley, most of the placer activity was conducted in the washes below the Congress Mine, but also to the northeast of Johnnie on the west slope of the Spring Mountains, and other surrounding areas. To get there, travel south from Las Vegas on Interstate 15 to the junction of State Route 16, then follow northwest past Pahrump for approximately 70 miles to reach the Johnnie District. Here, mines and placers can be seen on both sides of the highway and on the slopes of Mount Schader and Montgomery. © Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated October, 2010.

Tips for Traveling in the Desert

Desert Travel Tips Traveling in the desert, is a whole different ballgame than traveling the rest of the American West. To make sure that your desert adventure is a success, check out this list of travel tips. When To Go – In most cases, spring and fall are the best times to visit the desert. It just goes, without saying, that it’s too hot in the summer. In the Mojave desert temperatures can be very cold in the winter and consistently in excess of 100 °F in the summer and early fall. In the late winter and early spring strong winds are common in excess of 25 mph, with gusts of 75 mph or more are not uncommon.  In Death Valley, temperatures of 130°F are frequent. Sonoran Desert courtesy Desert USA Off Road Adventures – Make sure you know where you’re going as it’s easy to get lost in the desert. Before striking out on back country roads or hiking along trails, it’s a good idea to consult with park rangers. Road and trail conditions change quickly and often - they can tell what the current conditions are. Plus, someone will have a general idea of where you are. In hot weather, it is advised to stay on the main paved roads since they are patrolled periodically.Drinking Water – Carry at least one gallon per day/person of drinking water. Plastic containers work better than metal containers or water bags. While drinking water can be obtained at several places in desert parks, you cannot rely on this, as some water sources must be purified before it is suitable to drink. If you are relying on a spring that is listed on a map, when you arrive there, it might be dried up. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to follow the minimum guidelines for one gallon/person/day, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a little extra. Don’t ignore this guideline if you’re just traveling across the desert by car. Any number of things could happen and you need to have a stocked up water supply. Sun and Heat Exposure – In the desert, you just need to avoid exposure to the sun at all costs. Sunburns can be very serious, and and heat stroke or heat exhaustion can prove fatal. It is advisable to wear a hat, sunscreen and dark sunglasses. Even though it’s hot, plan on wearing light, loose long sleeve shirts and long pants. Remember to reapply sunscreen periodically to any exposed areas. Time your walking in the early morning and late afternoon when the sun is not as intense. Stay out of Mines – Dotted throughout the desert, you may stumble upon or see an old mine that is awfully tempting to explore. Don’t!! Areas near mines often conceal deep shafts where the timbers in its tunnels are rotten. One bad step and you could wind up at the bottom of one of these deep shafts. Mines and tunnels may also be filled with flammable and poisonous gases. Though authorities are doing the best that they can to fill in these abandoned mines, dozens of people are injured and killed each year by stumbling into these old mines. Thunderstorms – Quick and violent thunderstorms are not uncommon in the desert. Keep your eye on the sky – even when you can only see the storm in the distance. Flash flooding in canyons, washes and gullies are frequent. If you see lightening or a developing storm anywhere near you, stay out of these areas. Insects and Biting Flies – Though generally not dangerous, these pesky critters can be bothersome and when the flies get to biting, it stings! Carry and use a good insect repellent. Automobile Care – You cannot take too many precautions for your automobile before traveling through the desert.  Here is a list of things to think about: Car Inspection -- Before your trip, have your car thoroughly inspected by a competent mechanic. Carry spare hoses and belts in your trunk. Keep tires at normal pressure. Soft tires can generate heat and cause blowouts. If you think the tires are riding hard, stop along the road for a few minutes; you will find that tires cool quickly. Frequently check the gasoline, oil and water temperatures gauges. Service stations can be miles apart in the desert. Carry additional oil and water for your car in your trunk. Watch the temperature gauge. If your vehicle is air conditioned and the gauge indicates that the engine is close to overheating, turn off the air conditioner. If the engine overheats, pull to the side of the road but do not stop the engine. Turn on the heater and , while the car is at fast idle, slowly pour water over the radiator core to cool it. Refill the radiator to its proper level only after the engine has cooled; the motor should be kept running. Road grades can be deceptive. On warm days, shift to a lower gear that will allow the car to accelerate on grades and drive slowly to avoid overheating the engine. Vapor lock may temporarily disable your vehicle. In that event, wrap a wet cloth around the fuel pump and line to cool them (for carbureted engines only). Stay with your car. If your car breaks down, stay in the shade it provides and wait for help to arrive. Do not attempt to walk for assistance. Beware of the Hantavirus – While there is no evidence to suggest that travel should be restricted in the desert, there have been several reports of the disease in the deserts of the American West. Listed below is a list of useful precautions: Avoid coming into contact with rodents and rodent burrows or disturbing dens (such as pack rat nests). Air out, then disinfect cabins or shelters before using them. These places often shelter rodents. Do not pitch tents or place sleeping bags in areas in proximity to rodent droppings or burrows or near areas that may shelter rodents or provide food for them (e.g., garbage dumps or woodpiles). If possible, do not sleep on the bare ground. In shelters, use a cot with the sleeping surface at least 12 inches above the ground. Use tents with floors or a ground cloth if sleeping in the open air. Keep food in rodent-proof containers! Promptly bury (or--preferably--burn followed by burying, when in accordance with local requirements) all garbage and trash, or discard in covered trash containers. Use only bottled water or water that has been disinfected by filtration, boiling, chlorination, or iodination for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, and brushing teeth. And last but not least, do not play with or handle any rodents that show up at the camping or hiking site, even if they appear friendly. August, 2004 Saguraro Cactus near Oatman, Arizona, December, 2004, Kathy Weiser. Hope you get some use from these tips! please check out my websites for any tools you may need  GOLDSEEKERSTOOLS And  PROSPECTORSTOOLS