According to legend, approximately $125,000 that was taken from a stagecoach in 1881 is buried on a mountain ledge that hangs over the city of Flagstaff, Arizona.
For those traveling to California, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad came to a stop in Canyon Diablo, 35 miles east of Flagstaff. Four canvas mail bags were transferred from the train to the westbound coach as the stagecoach's occupants waited. Observers noted that two of the mail bags appeared to be particularly heavy as they observed them being moved from the train to the boot of the coach.
After loading the luggage, the coach departed Canyon Diablo and turned west along the California-Santa Fe Trail. The passengers and luggage would meet the following stage at Flagstaff on their way to another railroad at Needles, California. The team of horses steadily ascended the San Francisco Peaks until they reached a flat divide, despite the enormous height difference between Canyon Diablo and Flagstaff.
Five men on horseback suddenly surrounded the carriage and pointed their six weapons at the personnel and passengers. The gang leader motioned two criminals to the coach's back, where they pulled out two hefty mail sacks and threw them to the ground.
Without robbing the stage passengers, the coach was sent on its way and reached Flagstaff at about 5:00 p.m. Flagstaff, no more than a collection of wooden shacks at the time, consisted of only two stores and five saloons, one of which served as the local stage station.
The terrified passengers disembarked, talking excitedly about the stage hold-up. Nearby, the station agent visibly paled as he listened to the account and pulled the stage master aside. Still confused as to why any outlaws would be interested in nothing but mailbags, the stage master quickly learned that the two bags taken contained a shipment of gold and silver bound from an Albuquerque Bank to a San Francisco Bank. The Stagecoach Leader could do more than stare dumbfoundedly.
The station manager indicated that Wells Fargo had tried to deceive any potential thieves by placing the gold and silver into two five-gallon whiskey kegs in each suitcase because of the recent wave of stagecoach robberies. These criminals appeared to be privy to Wells Fargo's strategy.
The outlaws were well ahead of the posse, which was quickly gathered. Undoubtedly humiliated by their poorly thought-out plan, Wells-Fargo requested assistance from the American Army. With the aid of two Indian scouts, a patrol of the 6th U.S. Cavalry was able to locate the bandit path. The twelve-man cavalry pursued the robbers to a location known as Veit Spring at an elevation of 8,500 feet. Ahead, a log cabin with five saddled horses could be seen.
As the posse approached, the bandits prepared to mount when the troopers rushed them. The outlaws opened fire, which was returned by the cavalry. In the end, all five outlaws lay dead. After the gunfight, the bandits’ horses and equipment were gathered up, and the cabin was searched, but no loot was found. Word, of course, quickly spread, and the very next day, more than a dozen men arrived at Veit Spring searching for the hidden loot. The entire area was searched and dug up, but still, nothing was found. Within a few months, the robbery was all but forgotten to most.
However, for nearly thirty years, property owner George Veit tirelessly dug across the slopes, the cabin's dirt floor, the area around the spring, and the neighboring perennial ice caves in pursuit of the stolen wealth. But he never did discover the cache. Nobody has ever claimed to have located the treasure, despite the fact that family members and other treasure hunters followed.
For more treasure stories of Flagstaff, Arizona, check out : https://arizonaoddities.com/2013/06/two-stashes-of-gold-loot-remain-a-mystery-near-flagstaff/
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