Fort Mojave buried Treasure - 1861

Fort Mojave was established in 1858, its site selected by Whipple, with a garrison of three companies, after the peculiarly atrocious murder of a party of immigrants. It was left on the outbreak of the Rebellion in April, 1861, its garrison transferred to Los Angeles, a southern hot bed. It was regarrisoned in May. 1863, by two companies of California volunteers. The post was near the Beale Crossing, a few miles below Hardyville, the head of navigation on the Colorado, and was considered valuable as protection against possible hostility on the part of the Mojaves and Hualpais.

Concerning the abandonment of Fort Mojave at the beginning of the Civil "War. Peter R. Brady of Florence in later years told an interesting story. He said that there was a good post library which he, then a government employee, wished to preserve. So under the commissary building he dug a deep hole and there buried the books, first wrapping them in tarpaulins. Looking around for other valuables, he found a couple of barrels of whiskey and several cases of fine wines, and enlarged the hole to accommodate these. Then he covered them all deeply with earth and proceeded to set fire to the commissary building, not leaving till he saw a coating of ashes over the spot secreting the cache effectually against the hands of inquisitive Indians. Brady never returned to the spot. To the day of his death he believed that the whiskey and the books, both of them of large value, still were where he left them. Mojave was considered the hottest post in the United States and the most uncomfortable.

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,3032.msg22370.html#msg22370

While I do believe this story- it would prove somewhat more difficult to extract. The Colorado river has shifted course quite a bit since those days making the location hard to find and it's probably buried too deep to find with most detectors- if it could be found at all. The only thing metallic would be the rings that hold the barrels together. If those rusted off- you would be in trouble.

Steve

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,3032.msg22709.html#msg22709

One Hundred and Forty Eight Year Old Whiskey! Now thats what I call well aged. Wonder if it's still there??

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,3032.msg26252.html#msg26252

Hello tsp44; Tarpaulins are tarps, like those used to cover truck cargo or things left out side that need protecting. Just a large sheet made of oiled canvas. There was some civil war activity in the western USA, but not much really. The area of the old fort is north western Arizona USA along the Colorado River on the eastern bank. The area is where the river leaves the deep Grand canyon area just north of the Needles area. I have seen photos of the old fort and the foundations are still there. It is a pretty neat story and I bet the goods are still there.

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,3032.msg28408.html#msg28408

Maybe not, this is in the desert where it is very dry. In the desert areas you can still find stuff that was left behind by folks that is in pretty good shape.

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