Outlaw Loot in Flagstaff, Arizona
Arizona, a land of stark beauty and rugged landscapes, holds within its borders countless tales of the Old West, stories etched in the canyons, whispered by the winds, and buried beneath the sands. Among these captivating narratives is the legend of outlaw loot in Flagstaff, Arizona, a tale of stagecoach robbery, a desperate posse, and a hidden treasure that has eluded fortune seekers for over a century. This enduring mystery continues to fascinate, drawing treasure hunters and history buffs alike to the slopes surrounding Flagstaff, allured by the prospect of uncovering a fortune lost to time.
The story begins in 1881, a time when stagecoaches were the lifeblood of commerce and travel across the American West. Thirty-five miles east of Flagstaff lies Canyon Diablo, a place that marked the end of the line for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad for those journeying westward towards California. Here, passengers disembarked, eagerly awaiting the stagecoach that would carry them onward. On one particular day, as onlookers observed the routine transfer of mailbags from the train to the westbound stagecoach, something seemed amiss. Two of the bags appeared unusually heavy, hinting at a cargo far more valuable than mere correspondence.
Once the stagecoach was loaded, it lumbered northward out of Canyon Diablo, eventually turning west onto the California-Santa Fe Trail. Its destination was Flagstaff, a burgeoning settlement nestled beneath the majestic San Francisco Peaks. From there, passengers and baggage would continue their journey via another stage line to Needles, California, and onward to their final destinations. The route between Canyon Diablo and Flagstaff was challenging, demanding a strenuous climb for the team of horses as they navigated the steep slopes of the San Francisco Peaks. Eventually, they reached a relatively flat divide, a momentary respite in the arduous journey.
It was at this seemingly innocuous location that the stagecoach was ambushed. Five armed riders emerged from the surrounding terrain, their revolvers leveled at the passengers and crew. The leader of the bandits, with a swift gesture, directed two of his accomplices to the rear of the coach. Without hesitation, they hauled out the two heavy mailbags, their weight betraying their valuable contents, and dropped them to the ground. Surprisingly, the bandits made no attempt to rob the passengers of their personal belongings. Instead, they allowed the stagecoach to proceed, leaving the bewildered travelers to continue their journey to Flagstaff.
The stagecoach arrived in Flagstaff around 5:00 p.m. The town at the time was a modest collection of wooden structures, comprising just two stores and five saloons, one of which served as the local stage station. The passengers, still shaken from their encounter, recounted the details of the stagecoach robbery with a mixture of fear and excitement. The station agent, upon hearing their account, paled visibly and immediately pulled the stage master aside. The stage master, initially perplexed by the bandits’ singular interest in the mailbags, soon learned the astonishing truth: the two bags contained a shipment of gold and silver bullion, destined from an Albuquerque bank to a financial institution in San Francisco. The stagecoach leader was left speechless.
The station manager revealed a crucial detail: Wells Fargo, grappling with a surge in stagecoach robberies, had devised a cunning plan to deter future bandits. They concealed the gold and silver within two five-gallon whiskey kegs, placing one keg in each of the seemingly ordinary mailbags. It appeared, however, that the outlaws had somehow gained inside information about Wells Fargo’s strategy. This revelation added a layer of intrigue to the already captivating tale of the outlaw loot in Flagstaff, Arizona.
A posse was swiftly assembled and dispatched in pursuit of the bandits, but the outlaws had already gained a considerable head start. Wells Fargo, undoubtedly embarrassed by the failure of their deceptive plan, sought the assistance of the U.S. Army. A patrol from the 6th U.S. Cavalry, guided by two experienced Indian scouts, picked up the bandits’ trail. The twelve-man cavalry unit followed the robbers to an elevation of approximately 8,500 feet, to a location that would later be known as Veit Spring. As they approached, they spotted a log cabin, where five saddled horses were tethered to a makeshift corral.
The bandits, caught off guard, were preparing to mount their horses when the troopers launched their attack. A fierce gunfight erupted, the air filled with the deafening roar of gunfire. In the end, all five outlaws lay dead. After securing the scene, the cavalrymen gathered up the bandits’ horses and equipment. They thoroughly searched the cabin, hoping to recover the stolen loot, but their efforts proved futile. The gold and silver were nowhere to be found. News of the shootout and the missing treasure spread quickly, drawing a wave of fortune seekers to Veit Spring.
The very next day, more than a dozen men descended upon the area, eager to unearth the hidden loot. They scoured the slopes, dug through the dirt floor of the cabin, explored the surroundings of the spring, and even ventured into the nearby ice caves, their hopes fueled by the prospect of instant wealth. Despite their exhaustive efforts, the treasure remained elusive. Within a few months, the frenzy subsided, and the stagecoach robbery faded from the collective memory of most.
However, one man refused to give up on the search. George Veit, the owner of the property, became consumed by the pursuit of the stolen treasure. For nearly thirty years, he dedicated himself to the task, meticulously searching every nook and cranny of the area. He dug all over the slopes, sifted through the dirt floor of the cabin, probed around the spring, and explored the depths of the perpetual ice caves. Yet, despite his unwavering determination, he never succeeded in locating the cache. After his death, family members and other treasure hunters continued the search, but to this day, no one has ever claimed to have found the outlaw loot in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The legend of the outlaw loot in Flagstaff, Arizona, persists as a captivating enigma. The precise location of the hidden treasure remains a mystery, fueling speculation and inspiring generations of treasure hunters. Was it buried somewhere near Veit Spring, or was it concealed in a more remote location? Did George Veit come close to finding it, only to be thwarted by chance or circumstance? These questions continue to tantalize, adding to the allure of this enduring tale.
The story serves as a reminder of the turbulent times of the Old West, a period marked by both opportunity and peril. The stagecoach robbery, the desperate posse, and the relentless search for the hidden treasure are all emblematic of the era’s lawlessness, its allure of quick riches, and its enduring fascination with the unknown. Whether the treasure is ever found or remains forever lost to time, the legend of outlaw loot in Flagstaff, Arizona, will continue to captivate imaginations and inspire dreams of discovering a forgotten fortune.
The enduring appeal of this legend lies not only in the possibility of finding gold and silver but also in the thrill of the chase, the connection to a bygone era, and the opportunity to become a part of the rich tapestry of the American West. As long as the story is told, the spirit of adventure will live on, drawing treasure hunters and history enthusiasts to the slopes surrounding Flagstaff, allured by the prospect of uncovering a piece of history and perhaps, just perhaps, striking it rich.