Now Available on Amazon:
Searching for Arizona's Buried Treasures
This is an excerpt
from Ron Quinn's discovery of 82 pounds of gold bullion in the Southern
Arizona Tumacacori Mountains from his book "Searching for Arizona's
Buried Treasures."
"My brother Chuck and I had always been avid outdoorsmen, interested in what might lie beyond the next mountain range.
At that time, the early 1950s, we lived with our parents on Vashon Island, located between Seattle and Tacoma, Washington.
(Photo left: Ron Quinn (right),
and brother Chuck at our Clifford Well base camp soon after their
arrival in Southern Arizona in 1956.)
On weekends and summer vacations, both of
us could be found with our older friends, Don and Jean Schuette,
exploring, camping, gold panning and enjoying the beauty of the towering
Cascade Mountains of this picturesque state. The Schuette's were close
friends of the family, and these adventurous excursions continued until I
entered the Army in 1953.
While stationed in Germany, Chuck would occasionally write.
In one letter he mentioned purchasing a book on buried treasures. It was
entitled, Lost Mines and Buried Treasures Along the Old Frontier, by noted author, John D. Mitchell.
Mitchell was also a writer for Desert Magazine. Fascinated by
the tales within its pages Chuck proposed, if I was interested, that we
should seriously consider taking a trip in search of these legendary
treasures supposedly hidden by the Spanish padres that once occupied the
Southwest. This ignited my adventurous spirit and plans were made.
Upon my release from the service we both worked and saved for
almost a year. Chuck already was employed and had saved a considerable
amount.
My mustering out pay, plus savings was used to purchase a
1950 Willys 4 x 4 Jeep Wagon. Other essential equipment needed to
maintain such a lengthy adventure, were also obtained during the year. A
9 x 9 foot tent, sleeping bags, cots, stove, etc. The list seemed
endless.
Of course our parents opposed the idea of us roaming the
desolate regions of Arizona, especially Mom, as she feared for our
safety. However, we were a hearty bunch and the stories we read of
Arizona's harsh environment didn't frighten us. We were aware of the
sudden flash floods, violent thunder storms which ravish the deserts,
dancing dust devils, extreme summer heat, and the dangerous deserts that
patiently wait for us to enter their kingdom and make a mistake. We
both were well versed in the art of survival and these tales didn't
alarm us.
At that time I was 23, Chuck 26. Neither of us was married so
why not embark on such a journey? Youth is only given to us once.
Enough capital was saved to sustain a two year trip. That is, if we
didn't experience any major problems with our vehicle.
Jason searched for the Golden Fleece. Our odyssey would almost
parallel his voyage, minus flying harpies and other strange creatures.
He sought a fleece of gold, traveled to hidden lands, encountered
mysterious people, fought savage seas and returned with haunting tales
of his journey.
Chuck and I would seek Spanish gold, explore hidden places,
and climb mysterious mountains seldom visited by modern man. We'd meet
fascinating people, fight the desert elements and discover many hidden
things. We also would return with stories of our odyssey across the
wilds of Arizona.
Many diehard prospectors still search the barren wastes in
their quest for these elusive lost mines, hoping to discover the golden
wealth that may lie within. Historical evidence proves many of these
treasures are factual. But one should not be too gullible when it comes
to all these tales, as not all are true. One must know how to separate
fact from fiction. Chuck and I soon would enter this exclusive club of
"rainbow chasers," as we're often called. We realized our chances of
finding anything were quite remote. But like they say, "nothing
ventured, nothing gained."
Our final destination would be the desert community of
Arivaca in Pima County, AZ. This small village lays some thirty-odd
miles north of the Mexican border and near the heart of the mysterious
Tumacacori Mountains where the majority of these treasures are
supposedly hidden.
The next few years would become the most adventurous in our
entire lives, living and traveling the rugged land, searching for
treasures and meeting some of the most colorful characters imaginable.
We would discover secret places high among the craggy peaks and hear
tales which border on the Twilight Zone and most of all, discover a
freedom few have had the privilege to experience.
We would also find two lifelong friends and partners, Roy
Purdie and Walt Fisher, perhaps the greatest treasure of all."
