Doctor Thorne was assigned to the Fort McDowell on the Indian Reservation in the late 1800s. He was the Post’s medical officer. Soon he found himself taking care of many of the Indians. He was known as a kind man that helped the Indians adjust to the Reservation life. He soon earned the respect and trust of the Indians.
When the Doctor’s term of service was nearly up, the Indians wanted to show him gratitude for all he had done for them. They arranged to take him on a trip. However, the Indians insisted that he make the trip blindfolded.
As far as the Doctor could tell, they left the fort and traveled south. They crossed the Verde River several times and sometimes rode in circles as to confuse the blindfolded Doctor. Eventually they turned east. After a long ride, they came to a stop in the bottom of a deep canyon. The Doctor was helped from his horse and the blindfold was removed. There at his feet was a pile of gold. Very high grade ore.
The Indians told the Doctor he could have as much of the gold as he could carry. Of course, he went about packing the gold in everything that would hold the ore. When he completed the task, he was again blindfolded and put back on the horse.
This time the blindfold was not as secure. It eventually slipped enough for the Doctor to see some of his surroundings. He could see a quadrangle of rock on the cliff that he believed to be the foundation of some type of ruin. As they traveled a bit more, he could see a sharp spire of rock which he stated was Weaver’s Needle, and on the opposite end of the compass was Four Peaks.
One of the Indians noticed the loosening blindfold and immediately fixed it. The trip was more direct back to the Fort. Shortly after, the Doctor was discharged. The Doctor returned to the mountains to try to relocate the canyon where the gold had been piles. He was in hopes he would be able to locate the source of the gold ore. However, he was un-successful.
He was never able to locate the place where he could see Weaver’s Needle and on the opposite sides of the compass—Four Peaks. He was never able to locate the quadrangle of rock/ruins.
To Be Continued….
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