The Lost Breyfogle Mine, Nevada
The allure of untold riches hidden beneath the arid landscapes of the American West has captivated prospectors and dreamers for generations. Among the many tales of lost mines and fortunes waiting to be unearthed, the legend of the Lost Breyfogle Mine in Nevada stands as a persistent enigma, a siren song for those who dare to venture into the harsh desert in search of its elusive bounty.
The story begins amidst the fervor of the California Gold Rush, a period of unprecedented migration and ambition. In the spring of 1849, brothers Charles and Joshua Breyfogle, hailing from Lockhart, New York, joined the throngs of "49ers" heading west. They embarked on their journey with a well-equipped train consisting of saddle and draft horses, along with two wagons, carrying their hopes and dreams of striking it rich in the golden state. The Breyfogle brothers linked up with other pioneers in Columbus, Ohio, and together, they continued their arduous trek toward the promise of California’s goldfields.
The journey westward was fraught with peril. The pioneers faced numerous hardships, including navigating treacherous Indian-ridden plains, scaling steep mountains, and enduring the unforgiving conditions of the harsh desert. After months of relentless travel and unwavering determination, they finally reached Sacramento on August 14, 1849, ready to stake their claim in the land of opportunity.
Driven by the insatiable hunger for wealth, the Breyfogles wasted no time in exploring the promising areas of Butte Creek and the Chico River, hoping to find their fortunes. However, their initial efforts proved fruitless. Undeterred, they moved on to the Yuba River in January 1850, settling approximately 12 miles upstream from the bustling gold rush tent city of Marysville.
Again, disappointment struck as their prospecting efforts yielded little success. But the Breyfogles were not easily discouraged. A month later, they ventured further upstream to Goodhue’s, where they decided to try their luck once more. This time, their perseverance paid off. They began to discover gold in the river bottom and along the banks above the river, marking the beginning of their success in the California goldfields.
By December 1850, Charles Breyfogle had amassed a considerable sum of approximately $20,000 from their mining endeavors. He decided to return to New York, leaving his brother Joshua to continue working the claim. A year later, Charles returned to California, settling in Oakland, where he transitioned into the realm of politics. He was elected county assessor in 1854 and later became the county treasurer in 1859. However, his political career was marred by controversy when he was briefly jailed for an inability to account for $6,500 in county funds. Although he was soon exonerated and released, the experience left him disillusioned with politics, and he decided to return to his prospecting roots.
Following the discovery of silver in Nevada, Charles Breyfogle ventured to Virginia City, drawn by the excitement surrounding the new finds near Austin, Nevada, in 1862. He also heard stories about gold in the Big Smoky Valley. Sensing an opportunity, Breyfogle established a real estate office in a hotel at the mining camp of Geneva. Unfortunately, by the time Charles arrived, the Geneva veins were already dwindling, and he was once again in search of promising opportunities.
In 1863, fate intervened when Charles overheard three men at the hotel discussing a crude map. He was convinced that they were discussing the legendary Lost Gunsight Mine of Death Valley. Intrigued, he decided to follow them when they departed the next day. He trailed them across Nevada and eventually caught up with them between Tonopah and Goldfield. To his surprise, he discovered that the men were not searching for the Lost Gunsight lode, but were instead on their way to Texas to join the Confederate army. The men were planning to join a wagon train on the Los Angeles trail, and Breyfogle decided to accompany them for a few days.
Three days later, the men were encamped south of Ash Meadows in the Mojave Desert’s Amargosa River Valley. Charles chose to lay his bedroll apart from the others. In the middle of the night, he awoke to a terrifying scene: Indians were attacking the other three men. Without hesitation, he grabbed his bedroll and boot and fled into the darkness, seeking refuge from the chaos and violence.
Now alone and without provisions or weapons, Breyfogle wandered aimlessly in the desert for several days, battling thirst, hunger, and exhaustion. Finally, he stumbled upon a spring, a lifeline in the desolate landscape. As he rested near the spring, he made a remarkable discovery: a deposit of quartz containing gold. He collected several samples, determined to return to the spot if he could ever find his way out of the desert. He then headed south, hoping to find signs of civilization. Eventually, he came across wagon tracks, which he followed to Stump Spring in the Pahrump Valley, located in Nevada’s eastern Mojave Desert.
Deciding to wait at the spring for a wagon train to appear, Breyfogle’s hopes were dashed when he was found by Indians first. They took him captive and forced him into slavery, where he endured months of hardship and servitude. Finally, his luck changed when a Mormon wagon train came upon the Indian village and freed him with a ransom. The wagon train took him to a ranch at Manse Spring in southern Nevada, where he was cared for by the ranch owner’s wife, Mrs. Yount. Grateful for her kindness, he shared his story about the gold discovery, showing her the samples he had kept with him throughout his ordeal.
After Breyfogle had fully recovered, he settled in Austin, Nevada, where he dedicated the next 26 years of his life to organizing search parties in pursuit of the Lost Breyfogle Mine. The search concentrated on the region northeast of Death Valley, but despite their persistent efforts, the men never found the elusive outcropping. The Lost Breyfogle Mine became an obsession for Breyfogle. So he never gave up. He became so fixated on the search that he famously declared, "I shall come back a rich man or leave my bones in Death Valley." His unwavering determination and relentless pursuit of the Lost Breyfogle Mine solidified his place in the annals of Nevada’s mining history.
Over the years, numerous theories have emerged regarding the location of the Lost Breyfogle Mine. Some believed it was situated near Las Vegas, while others pointed to Salt Spring or Daylight Pass as potential sites. Another theory suggests that the rich quartz deposit discovered by Charles Breyfogle became the Johnnie Mine, located north of Pahrump, Nevada. The rich lodes of the Johnnie District were first discovered in 1891 by George Montgomery, who was himself searching for the famous Lost Breyfogle Mine. Still, others believe the mine to be in California in the Armargosa River Valley. While the prevailing belief is that Breyfogle’s find was in the Johnnie Mining District, some researchers and hobbyists remain unconvinced and continue to search for Breyfogle’s lost gold.
The Johnnie District is located in Nye County, in southwestern Nevada. On the north end of the Pahrump Valley, most of the placer activity was conducted in the washes below the Congress Mine and to the northeast of Johnnie on the west slope of the Spring Mountains and other surrounding areas. To get there, travel south from Las Vegas on Interstate 15 to the junction of State Route 16, and follow northwest past Pahrump for approximately 70 miles to reach the Johnnie District. Here, mines and placers can be seen on both sides of the highway and on the slopes of Mount Schader and Montgomery.
The tale of the Lost Breyfogle Mine continues to captivate the imagination, a testament to the enduring allure of lost treasure and the unwavering spirit of those who dare to chase their dreams in the vast and unforgiving landscapes of the American West. Whether the mine lies hidden in the Johnnie Mining District, the Amargosa River Valley, or some other secret location, the legend of the Lost Breyfogle Mine will undoubtedly continue to inspire prospectors and adventurers for generations to come.