Looking for Treasure...In All the Right Places?

    Did you ever wonder why we suddenly stopped to spend a few days in a quirky Arrey RV park in New Mexico?

Because we were looking for something: the location of the Lost Adams Diggings. 

In 1864, both Arizona and New Mexico were still part of the Western territories. (Both did not become states until nearly 50 years later, in 1912.) They were still fresh from the war with Mexico, and some tangles with Confederate/Union sympathizers were making life a bit uneasy -- particularly if you were on the side of the South.

A teamster named Adams had his wagons burned by Indians, though he managed to salvage his horses. He met up with a group of men looking for gold...and a Mexican who'd been living with the Apache, named Gotch Ear for his deformed, knotty-looking ear. Gotch Ear promised to take the men to a location full of gold -- but they needed horses. Adams' timely arrival earned him a place in the expedition.

    Gotch Ear was true to his word. After weeks of travel, he guided them to a secret opening behind a large rock that in turn led to a tiny "zigzag" canyon. Adams described it as being so narrow that one could touch either side of the rock walls as he rode. Eventually the men reached a flatter area with a stream winding through it, and a waterfall above forming a pool. And as promised, it was rich with gold.

    The men paid Gotch Ear off: a 50-dollar gold piece, a horse, equipment...and a bandanna one of the men was wearing. The Mexican rode off -- and out of the story. (Later, it is said, an Apache warrior was spotted riding Gotch Ear's horse.) While they were celebrating, they realized that they were not alone -- Chief Nana was watching them, along with a group of Indian braves. 

    At this point in history, the Indians used gold to occasionally make jewelry, but did not particularly value it. They were a little puzzled by the white men's fuss over it, but Nana said they could stay -- IF they stayed below the waterfall.

    The men did...for a while. They panned gold from the stream, and stored the nuggets in an Indian olla, or jug, hidden under the hearth of a fireplace they built in a cabin. Days went by, and in spite of hunting game, they were running low on provisions. Adams sent John Brewer and some of the men to a fort to buy more supplies. (Gotch Ear had pointed out a 'well-traveled road,' saying it led to a fort a few days away.) 

     Meanwhile, a horse had gotten loose -- and one of the men chased it, going above the waterfall. He presented Adams with a gold nugget the size of a hen's egg. Later, others snuck up there, as well, and filled a coffeepot with nuggets. 

     But John Brewer's party still had not returned. 

PART II:  What the heck happened?

This is the book that intrigued us.