Lost Treasures of Northern California
Northern California, a region famed for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant history, holds secrets that whisper of fortunes lost and waiting to be rediscovered. Beyond the well-trodden tourist trails and iconic landmarks lie tantalizing tales of buried gold, forgotten claims, and ill-fated ventures – remnants of the Golden State’s captivating past. These are the stories of the Lost Treasures of Northern California, beckoning adventurers and dreamers alike to embark on their own quests.
The allure of gold has always been a powerful force, drawing people from all corners of the world to California’s rugged terrain. The Gold Rush era, a period of unparalleled excitement and opportunity, left behind not only fortunes made but also fortunes lost, misplaced, or deliberately hidden. These lost caches, often shrouded in mystery and local lore, continue to fuel the imaginations of treasure hunters, historians, and anyone captivated by the possibility of uncovering a piece of the past.
Butler’s Forgotten Claim
Venture into the heart of Mother Lode country, specifically Amador County, and you’ll find yourself in a land steeped in gold rush history. This region, once teeming with prospectors driven by the promise of riches, is where James Marshall’s discovery at Sutter’s Mill ignited the frenzy. But Sutter’s Mill wasn’t the only site of promising potential; near the very spot where the Gold Rush began, another lucrative claim, known as Butler’s, was actively worked.
At the base of a deep gorge carved by the relentless flow of water from the mountains, a group of African-American miners initially staked their claim. They attempted to dam the river to gain access to the smooth channel, hoping to extract the precious metal beneath. However, the absence of a suitable holding place for the gold proved to be a significant obstacle, leading the entire group to abandon the venture. That is, except for one man named Butler.
Recognizing the untapped potential of the site, Butler took a gamble. He borrowed $600 from a local character known as Uncle Pompey and established his own claim a short distance downstream, further along the bend in the river. Butler’s instincts proved to be remarkably accurate. He started pulling a day’s wage that most men could only dream of. His gold pan filled with precious nuggets after each day of work. Rumors spread that a day’s labor with a rocker could yield as much as $50,000 in gold, an astonishing sum in those times. Word of the rich find spread rapidly, attracting the attention of others eager to share in the wealth. These individuals sought out Butler’s former partners, persuading them to sell their interests in the claim. This ultimately resulted in a tangled web of legal disputes, with lawyers and lawsuits vying for a share of the bounty.
Butler, a simple prospector, found himself overwhelmed by the escalating controversy. The stress and pressure took a toll on his health, and he soon succumbed to a fever and passed away. After his death, it was discovered that Butler had accumulated substantial wealth, with approximately $80,000 on deposit at Mokelumne Hill and a similar amount in Sacramento. However, close friends of Butler revealed that he often buried his profits near the site of his claim, a common practice among prospectors seeking to safeguard their hard-earned riches.
Today, the location of those buried caches remains a mystery, with many believing that they are still hidden somewhere in Amador County. The legend of Butler’s forgotten claim continues to inspire treasure hunters, who meticulously search the area, hoping to unearth the lost fortune of the industrious prospector. The Lost Treasures of Northern California often tell stories of men like Butler.
Gold Coins in Clear Creek
The story of the lost gold coins in Clear Creek dates back to the 1850s when a group of Mormon pioneers traversed the fertile valley of Redding, California, en route to the small settlement of Horsetown. To reach their destination, they had to cross Clear Creek, typically a tranquil stream. However, upon their arrival, they encountered a raging torrent of muddy floodwaters cascading from the nearby mountains, transforming Clear Creek into a formidable obstacle.
The pioneers were forced to halt their journey and camp on the banks of the creek, patiently awaiting the floodwaters to recede and the creek to return to its normal, easily crossable state. Impatience, however, got the better of them. Despite the lingering dangers, they decided to attempt the crossing before the waters had fully subsided. Most of the wagons successfully navigated the swollen creek, but one wagon, belonging to a Mr. Bishop, encountered disaster. Entering the water slightly downstream from the others, Bishop discovered that the creek was significantly deeper in that particular area.
Without warning, one of the wagon wheels plunged into a deep hole, causing the wagon to tip precariously on its side. Bishop managed to unhitch his team of horses, and he and the animals safely reached the shore. However, the wagon, along with its contents, was swept away by the powerful current.
The incident faded from memory for several decades until 1910, when a prospector named William Dreestelhorst made a remarkable discovery in his sluice box. Among the gravel and sediment, he found a ten-dollar gold coin. The coin was stamped with the initials "SMV," dated 1841, and bore the inscription "California Gold" around its rim. This indicated that the coin was privately minted by an assayer and was of the same type that the Mormons had lost some 60 years prior.
The discovery ignited renewed interest in Clear Creek, prompting another search for the lost cache of coins. However, despite diligent efforts, the treasure remained elusive. Many believe that the lost Mormon treasure continues to lie hidden along the banks of Clear Creek, southwest of Redding, California, waiting to be uncovered. The Lost Treasures of Northern California often involve such fortuitous, or ill-fated, events.
Gold Coins at Bloody Springs
As was the case in many parts of the American West, the influx of people during California’s Gold Rush created friction between the newcomers and the indigenous populations. The Native Americans, weary of the white men encroaching upon their lands, posed a significant threat to travelers entering California from the northeast.
As the California Trail snaked southward into the Sacramento Valley along the Pit River route, wagon trains and individual travelers were frequently ambushed by the Native Americans. Bloody Springs, located at the lower end of Spring Gulch, became the site of numerous attacks, earning its ominous name. Smaller groups of travelers were often completely wiped out.
On one such occasion, an entire emigrant train was reportedly massacred by Native Americans. Only one man survived to tell the tale. He eventually made his way to Fort Crook, where he recounted the harrowing events. He claimed that the train was carrying approximately $60,000 in $20 gold coins. Before escaping, the man witnessed the Native Americans engaging in a bizarre "contest" to see who could throw the shiny gold coins across the Pit River Gorge. The contest continued until every single coin had either landed in the river or become lodged in the rock walls of the gorge.
Today, an occasional gold piece is still found at Bloody Springs in Lassen County, a testament to the tragic events that unfolded there. Bloody Springs is located a few miles southeast of Pittsville, above the banks of the Pit River. The legend of the lost gold coins at Bloody Springs serves as a grim reminder of the conflicts that characterized the Gold Rush era. The Lost Treasures of Northern California are sometimes associated with conflict and tragedy.
Poker Flat Cache
From the 1850s to the 1880s, Sierra County, California, became a magnet for prospectors seeking their fortunes in gold. As the northernmost region of California’s Mother Lode, it saw the rise of numerous mining camps, each with its own unique name, such as Poverty Hill, Queen City, Port Wine, and Poker Flat. These camps sprang up as prospectors scoured the streams and hillsides for the glittering rocks. By the late 1850s, hydraulic mining techniques were introduced, further intensifying the search for gold.
During this era of prosperity, many prospectors and mine owners amassed considerable wealth. However, they were not the only ones who profited. Storekeepers who catered to the miners’ needs also reaped the rewards of the booming economy. One such individual, named Jerome Peyron, ran a retail establishment in Poker Flat. Peyron was known to make frequent trips into the hills behind his store, where he buried his money, seeking to protect his wealth from theft or loss.
However, word of Peyron’s hidden fortune reached the ears of a Mexican gang, who converged upon his shop, demanding to know the location of his buried money. Peyron refused to divulge the information, and in a fit of rage, the gang murdered him.
Despite numerous searches, Peyron’s buried cache has never been found. It is believed to be hidden somewhere in the hills surrounding Poker Flat, awaiting discovery. The legend of Peyron’s lost treasure continues to fuel the imaginations of treasure hunters, who hope to uncover the wealth that cost the storekeeper his life. The stories of the Lost Treasures of Northern California are varied and numerous.
These tales of Lost Treasures of Northern California, are more than just stories of lost gold. They are windows into the lives of those who sought their fortunes in the Golden State, the challenges they faced, and the enduring legacy they left behind. The landscapes of Northern California hold not only breathtaking beauty but also the promise of adventure and the possibility of uncovering a piece of history, waiting to be rediscovered.