More Idaho Treasure Tales
Idaho, a state renowned for its rugged landscapes, shimmering rivers, and rich history, holds within its borders not only natural beauty but also captivating tales of lost fortunes and hidden riches. From stagecoach robberies gone awry to prospectors’ misfortunes, the Gem State whispers stories of buried gold, lost coins, and forgotten valuables, beckoning treasure hunters and history enthusiasts alike. This article delves into some of these intriguing More Idaho Treasure Tales, exploring the legends and locations where fortune may still lie waiting to be discovered.
Bannock County: The Bandit’s Bounty
Bannock County, nestled in the southeastern part of Idaho, is home to a legend steeped in outlaw lore. In the year 1865, a daring stagecoach robbery unfolded, resulting in the theft of a staggering 300 pounds of gold. The bandits, seeking to secure their ill-gotten gains, purportedly buried the loot approximately three-quarters of a mile north of McCammon, a location now ominously known as Robber’s Roost. However, their escape was short-lived. Pursued relentlessly by a determined posse, the robbers were cornered, and a fierce gunfight ensued. The outlaws met their demise in the shootout, taking the secret of the gold’s location with them to their graves. Despite numerous attempts to locate the buried treasure, the 300 pounds of gold have never been recovered, adding to the mystique of More Idaho Treasure Tales. The area around Robber’s Roost continues to attract treasure seekers, driven by the hope of uncovering this long-lost fortune.
Boise County: Gold in the Basin and Rye Flats’ Riches
Boise County, a region synonymous with Idaho’s gold rush history, boasts a legacy of immense mineral wealth. Over the years, an estimated 3,000,000 troy ounces of gold have been extracted from the gravels of the Boise Basin, a testament to the area’s remarkable gold deposits. Yet, according to seasoned treasure hunters, the basin still holds the promise of undiscovered riches. Prime locations for potential discoveries include the numerous watercourses that crisscross the area, as well as the gravel arroyos situated northeast of Boise, in the vicinity of Idaho City. These waterways and gravel beds, once bustling with mining activity, may still conceal pockets of gold, awaiting the discerning eye and diligent efforts of modern-day prospectors. This is another great More Idaho Treasure Tales.
Another intriguing tale from Boise County centers around Rye Flats, a location near the Nevada state line. Legend has it that a shipment of newly minted gold coins, still encased in their original wrappers, was hidden within a metal box inside an above-ground cave. The stolen coins, valued at a substantial $40,000 at the time of the theft, were allegedly abandoned by the bandits, who never returned to claim their prize. The allure of these untouched gold coins, hidden somewhere in the rugged terrain of Rye Flats, continues to fuel the dreams of treasure hunters.
Bonner County: Zak Stoneman’s Lost Cache
In the scenic expanse of Bonner County, a captivating story unfolds involving a prospector named Zak Stoneman. In 1888, after a successful prospecting venture near Priest Lake, Stoneman set out to convert his hard-earned gold into cash. However, his journey was tragically interrupted when his mules succumbed to the effects of poisonous weeds. Faced with the loss of his pack animals, Stoneman made the difficult decision to bury his valuable cargo – three burro loads of gold – in the area north of the Priest River, approximately three to four miles below Priest Lake. After burying the gold, he continued his journey. Upon his return, he was unable to locate the correct location. The legend persists that Stoneman’s cache remains buried somewhere in this area, a testament to the unpredictable nature of fate and the enduring allure of More Idaho Treasure Tales. The rugged terrain and dense forests surrounding Priest Lake make the search for this lost treasure a challenging endeavor, but the potential reward continues to inspire adventurous souls.
Cassia County: Valuables Amidst Range Wars
Cassia County, with its vast stretches of land, was once the scene of a fierce range war between cattlemen and sheepherders in the 1890s. Amidst this conflict, it is said that both cattlemen and sheepherders, fearing for their safety and possessions, cached their valuables in the vicinity of Deep Creek and Shoshone Creek. These hidden stashes, buried to protect them from the chaos and violence of the range war, may still lie undisturbed, offering a glimpse into a turbulent period of Idaho’s history.
Custer County: Swim’s Lost Quartz Claim
The story of Isaac T. Swim in Custer County is a tragic one. In the late summer of 1881, Swim discovered gold-bearing quartz near the mouth of the Yankee Fork River. He quickly filed a claim in Challis, the Custer County seat, and returned to his find to take samples. However, the onset of winter forced him to abandon the site temporarily. The following June, Swim and several other miners set out to locate the quartz cropping. Upon reaching the Salmon River, they found it swollen by the spring runoff. Despite Swim’s caution, the other miners were impatient to cross. Swim agreed to cross first and then return for the others. When he failed to return, his companions searched for him and found his drowned horse downstream. Swim’s body was later recovered, and with him died the precise location of the rich quartz deposit. Though his partners searched extensively, the gold was never found, adding another layer to the tapestry of More Idaho Treasure Tales.
Idaho County: Robber’s Gulch Gold
Idaho County, known for its rugged wilderness and rich mining history, is home to Robber’s Gulch, a location about five miles southwest of White Bird, along the Salmon River. Over a century ago, outlaws held up a freight wagon carrying approximately $75,000 in miners’ gold. The robbers, seeking to evade capture, concealed the loot among the rocks before fleeing towards the treacherous Seven Devils area. However, their escape was thwarted when a posse caught up with them in the mountains. In the ensuing shootout, every last one of the outlaws was killed, leaving the whereabouts of the stolen gold a mystery. To this day, the $75,000 in gold has never been found, making Robber’s Gulch a tantalizing prospect for treasure hunters and a prominent feature in More Idaho Treasure Tales.
Kootenai County: Breen’s Deadly Secret
In Kootenai County, the story of Jack Breen serves as a cautionary tale. In November 1889, Breen discovered gold near Coeur d’Alene. Lacking the funds to develop the claim, he sought partners in Coeur d’Alene. Two men, N.R. Palmeter and Jack Osier, agreed to grubstake him, but Breen kept the exact location secret, revealing only that it was near Hayden Lake. While celebrating his discovery at a local saloon, Breen boasted about his find, attracting the attention of other patrons who plied him with drinks, hoping to learn the gold’s location. Fearing Breen would reveal the secret, they persuaded the local marshal to jail him for "his own protection." Tragically, the jail caught fire the following day, and Breen perished from smoke inhalation before he could be released. The location of Breen’s gold claim remains a mystery, adding a tragic twist to More Idaho Treasure Tales.
Lewis & Clark Trail: Lost Medals of Peace
The Lewis and Clark Trail, which traverses Idaho, holds a unique treasure potential. During their expedition in 1805 and 1806, Lewis and Clark distributed Washington Season medals to Native American chiefs as peace offerings. These medals, made in Birmingham, England, were individually engraved in solid silver. Only a few of the original 326 medals are accounted for today, making them extremely rare and valuable. Many believe that several of these medals may still be found along the Idaho portion of the expedition trail, in areas such as Lewiston, Spaulding, and Orofino. The discovery of one of these medals would be a significant historical find.
Shoshone County: Bank Robbery and Outlaw Loot
Shoshone County is the setting for two intriguing treasure tales. Around 1900, a bank robbery occurred in the Wallace-Kellogg area, with the bandits escaping with approximately $80,000. While hiding from authorities overnight, they buried their cache somewhere in the four-mile stretch between Huettner and Post Falls. However, they were captured the next morning. The authorities never recovered the stolen loot, and the bandits were presumably hanged. The $80,000 remains hidden to this day.
The second tale involves the infamous Butch Cassidy and his outlaw gang. It is alleged that Cassidy and his gang buried some of their loot north of the old stage road between Spokane Falls, Washington, and Wallace, Idaho. The cache was said to have been buried along a creek on the edge of a beaver dam. The prospect of finding loot buried by one of the Wild West’s most notorious outlaws adds a thrilling dimension to More Idaho Treasure Tales.
Twin Falls County: The Jarbidge Stage Robbery
In Twin Falls County, a lone outlaw robbed the Jarbidge-Idaho stage near the site of present-day Salmon Dam in 1888. The bandit was quickly overtaken and killed by a posse, but the gold was never found. It is believed that the outlaw buried the strongbox on the east side of Brown’s Bench, a large flat mesa about 15 miles west of Rogerson, Idaho. The allure of this lost strongbox, hidden somewhere on Brown’s Bench, continues to entice treasure hunters to the area.
These More Idaho Treasure Tales represent only a fraction of the lost fortunes and hidden treasures that may lie buried beneath the state’s rugged terrain. While the pursuit of these treasures is often challenging and requires dedication, research, and respect for the land, the potential rewards – both financial and historical – make the quest an enduring and captivating one. So, whether you are a seasoned treasure hunter or a curious history buff, Idaho’s legends of lost riches offer a compelling invitation to explore the Gem State’s hidden depths.