Outlaws Steal Outlaw Loot in Arizona
Southeastern Arizona, a land etched with the sun-baked stories of pioneers, prospectors, and desperados, holds a unique allure for treasure hunters. Whispers of buried riches echo through its canyons and across its vast plains, often centered around the enigmatic Davis Mountain, a peak shrouded in mystery and absent from contemporary maps. The tale is not of a simple gold strike or a lost mine, but of outlaws steal outlaw loot in Arizona: a layered heist involving stolen fortunes, a smuggler train, and a subsequent double-cross that left a significant cache hidden somewhere near this elusive mountain.
The saga begins not in Arizona, but south of the border, in Mexico. The initial treasure wasn’t discovered; it was plundered. A daring raid targeted a bank vault in Monterey and a church in Matamoros, netting a considerable bounty. The loot, meticulously cataloged in whispered accounts, included a cigar box brimming with diamonds, glittering with captured light. Beyond the gems, there were religious artifacts of immense value: two statuary figures crafted from pure gold, one depicting the Virgin Mary, the other, Jesus Christ. These icons, symbols of faith and opulence, were now spoils of a crime. Sacks overflowed with the weight of gold and silver coins, currency ripped from the hands of commerce and the coffers of the faithful. Adding to the sheer mass of the stolen fortune were 39 bars of solid gold bullion, their rectangular forms representing concentrated wealth. Finally, several rawhide bags bulged with 90,000 Mexican dollars, completing the inventory of this ill-gotten gain.
This immense wealth, now tainted by its origins, was consolidated and placed aboard a smuggler train destined for points north. These smuggler trains were a common sight in the borderlands, moving goods, both legal and illicit, across the porous boundary between Mexico and the United States. This particular train, however, carried a secret far more valuable than textiles or liquor: the stolen treasure from Monterey and Matamoros.
As the smuggler train ventured into the treacherous landscape of southeastern Arizona, it unknowingly entered the hunting grounds of another band of outlaws. These were men who lived by their own code, operating outside the boundaries of law and order. They were drawn to the region by rumors of easy riches, and the smuggler train, laden with its illicit cargo, proved too tempting a target to resist. The ambush occurred in the notorious Skeleton Canyon, a place already steeped in legend and known for its violent history. The narrow confines and rugged terrain provided the perfect setting for a surprise attack. The outlaws, hardened by years of survival in the unforgiving West, overwhelmed the smugglers, seizing control of the treasure. This marked the second act in the drama, where outlaws steal outlaw loot in Arizona.
Having secured their prize, the outlaws faced a new challenge: how to secure and conceal their newly acquired fortune. They chose to bury the loot somewhere on or near Davis Mountain. The choice of Davis Mountain as a hiding place adds another layer of intrigue to the story. The fact that this mountain is no longer identifiable on modern maps suggests that it may have been renamed, eroded over time, or perhaps even been a local term for a feature that never officially appeared on government surveys. This uncertainty fuels the mystery and makes the search for the treasure all the more challenging.
The questions surrounding the outlaws’ subsequent actions are numerous. Why did they not return for the treasure? Did infighting erupt amongst them, leading to their demise? Were they apprehended by law enforcement? Did they meet their end at the hands of rival gangs? Or did they simply succumb to the harsh realities of the desert, becoming victims of thirst, starvation, or disease? The answers to these questions remain elusive, lost to the sands of time.
However, one tantalizing clue survived, passed down through generations in hushed tones: the deathbed confession of one of the outlaws. This dying bandit, burdened by guilt or perhaps simply seeking to unburden himself before facing his maker, provided detailed directions to the treasure’s location. These directions, though fragmented and reliant on landmarks that may no longer exist, offer a tantalizing glimpse into the mind of a man who knew the secrets of Davis Mountain. The key details of the treasure location provide a hope to the treasure hunters, and to find outlaws steal outlaw loot in Arizona.
The dying bandit’s directions begin with a general overview of the landscape. He instructed those seeking the treasure to head west across rolling plains until reaching Davis Mountain, which he described as a bald, rounded granite dome easily visible from miles away. He emphasized the mountain’s prominence, noting that New Mexico could be seen from its peak with the aid of binoculars, and that "old Sugar Loaf" stood out boldly against the horizon.
Once at Davis Mountain, the directions become more specific. The treasure seeker should continue west for approximately one to one and a half miles until encountering a canyon. This canyon is characterized by its contrasting features: wooded hills lining its eastern wall and a sheer rock precipice forming its western boundary.
The directions then focus on the creek that flows through the canyon. This creek, he said, plunges over a ledge, creating a small cataract approximately ten feet high. Further downstream, Silver Spring flows into the canyon from the west. Near this spring stands a tall juniper tree, marking the location of a grave adorned with slabs of stone. According to the dying bandit, a tin can containing five hundred dollars in gold is buried at the head of this grave.
The directions continue further up the canyon, leading to Gum Spring, situated south of Silver Springs, approximately one to one and one-third miles away. Between these two springs, amidst the scattered brush, lie the remnants of a burned-out wagon. This wagon is located on the west side of the canyon, where the canyon wall curves inward to form a shallow cove. At the deepest point of this cove stands a stone marker, three feet high, squarely shaped, and one foot thick. Carved on the east face of this marker are two crosses.
Finally, the crucial step: locating the actual burial site of the treasure. After finding the stone marker, the treasure seeker should face Davis Mountain and take twenty paces directly away from the marker. It is at this precise spot, according to the dying bandit, that the stolen treasure lies buried. The legend of outlaws steal outlaw loot in Arizona is not ended yet.
The directions, though detailed, are fraught with challenges. The reliance on landmarks that may have changed or disappeared over time, the ambiguity of distances, and the lack of a precise map all contribute to the difficulty of the search. Furthermore, the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Arizona desert poses a significant obstacle to any treasure hunter.
Despite these challenges, the lure of the stolen treasure continues to draw adventurers and fortune seekers to southeastern Arizona. The legend of Davis Mountain and the outlaws steal outlaw loot in Arizona serves as a powerful reminder of the region’s rich and often violent history, a history where fortunes were made and lost, and where the line between lawman and outlaw was often blurred. Whether the treasure will ever be found remains to be seen, but the story itself is a valuable piece of Arizona’s captivating past. The mystery remains unsolved, a siren song for those who dream of striking it rich and uncovering the secrets hidden beneath the sands of time. The story of outlaws steal outlaw loot in Arizona is a true tale of wild west.