The River of Gold A Discussion on Local Folklore and Legends of Underground Rivers in the Greater Mojave Region

Transcription

1 The River of Gold A Discussion on Local Folklore and Legends of Underground Rivers in the Greater Mojave Region Water Resources Department February 7, 2012

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3 Earl P. Dorr Born in Colorado 1934 Makes sworn statement regarding underground river 1940 Affidavit published in California Mining Journal 1945 to 1950 Works in small pilot mill at Victorville dies 2000, R.E. Lewis (

4 Caverns located in SB County Explored caverns with mining engineer in 1927 Descended 2000 feet and found cavern that extended to 3,000 3,500 feet Traveled 8 or 9 miles through the caves Flowing River that rose and fell with the tides Black sand beaches rich in gold 2.5 lbs of sand assayed at $2, per yard

5 Kokoweef Peak Dorr Peak Halliday, 1959

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7 Kokoweef Peak Dorr Peak 8 Miles Halliday, 1959

8 3,000 Feet

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12 Touring Topics, August 1933

13 Los Angeles Herald Express, September 1934

14 Westways, 1935

15 Desert Magazine, March 1940 Death Valley Gold

16 California Mining Journal, November 1940, Contains Earl Dorr s Affidavit

17 Adventure is Underground, 1959 William R. Halliday Medical Doctor and Director of Western Speleological Survey Recounts Earl s story Explores Crystal Cave and Kokoweef Cave with team of 34 cavers in 1948

18 Desert Magazine, May 1961

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20 True West, January -February 1962

21 California Mining Journal, October, 1962

22 Golden West, May 1966, by Steve Wilson

23 Hi-Desert Star, October 6,

24 San Bernardino Sun, September 3,

25 Argosy, September 1967

26 True Treasure, Winter 1967

27 Desert Magazine, Dec 1967

28 Western Treasures, June 1968

29 True Treasure, August 1970 by Al Masters

30 1972 The Southern California Grotto Part of the National Speleological Society Surveyed Crystal Cave in November 1972 From their diagram the cave looks to be around 150 feet deep

31 3,000 Feet

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33 1942 National Park Service Investigation April 27, 1942 Superintendent of the National Park Service dispatched rangers, engineers, and naturalists to reconnoiter the area. April 28, 1942 Superintendent joined the recon team.

34 1942 National Park Service Findings Investigation covered the Clark Mountain and Mescal Range as far as Kokoweef Peak and numerous individuals were interviewed and all the so-called caverns investigated with but little result. Briefly, no cavern of scientific, education, or recreational value was located in the area.

35 1934 Article on 300 Mile Cave System March 1940 Death Valley Gold Story in Desert Magazine 1942 NPS Investigates Caverns 1972 Speleologists Survey the Caves 1933 Article on Mitchell Caverns Earl explores River of Gold 1934 Earl signs Affidavit November California Mining Journal Article Several versions of Earl s story published

36 The Story Continues Los Angeles Times, 1993 Wally Spencer

37 Wally s River 1994 Chicago Tribune article and Unsolved Mysteries

38 Year 2003 Wally dies Wally s River Event 2006 Las Vegas Sun article: Beverly Jacob, Wally s former business partner, is still looking for the River Office of the State Engineer of Nevada rules against applications filed by Jacob to appropriate 27,627 cfs (20,000,000 af/yr) of underground waters in Clark and Lincoln counties. The amount exceeds perennial yield for the basins and would mine the groundwater basins.

39 Press Enterprise, February 26, 1995 Miners on a Mission Retelling of Earl s story with underground river and black sand beaches rich with gold. Crystal Cave Mining Company, run by Larry Hahn, has been searching for 17 years Bill Mann of Brubaker-Mann Company I think they re mining the investors. Stephen Wheatcraft, Hydrogeologist with University of Nevada, Reno You just don t get underground rivers in the Great Basin.

40 Kokoweef Court Battle Crystal Cave Mining Company started working Kokoweef Peak around 1978 In 1984 Explorations Inc. (EIN) was incorporated to take over In 2006 EIN was reorganized into Kokoweef Inc. In 2008 Plaintiffs filed derivative complaint against Larry Hahn (President and Treasurer of EIN / Kokoweef Inc. for 25 years) Jury Trial set for November 2011 Settlement reached in December 2011

41 This is the approximate location of the underground river.

42 1933 Article on Mitchell Caverns 1934 Article on 300 Mile Cave System March 1940 Death Valley Gold Story in Desert Magazine 1942 NPS Investigates Caverns 1972 Speleologists Survey the Caves 2008 to 2011 Kokoweef Court Battle 2012 Myth of the Underground River Continues Earl explores River of Gold 1934 Earl signs Affidavit November California Mining Journal Article Several versions of Earl s story published Wally s River

43 Richard J. Heggen Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering University of New Mexico One thus might say that books about underground rivers themselves flow through our collective history appearing, disappearing and reappearing like underground rivers.

44 Questions?