Following clues left by his late father, A.W. Preston arrived in Prescott in 1915 to search for a legendary treasure buried in Arizona’s rugged terrain. The tale, involving a historic Apache raid, has drawn treasure hunters for years.
Father Failed, Son Takes Up the Work
Heeding the request of his father, Silas D. Preston, whose death occurred a short time ago at Waco, Texas, his eldest son, A.W. Preston, has arrived in this city, and is on the interesting hunt for certain treasure, supposed to be cached in a marked county east of Gillette, in this county.
The deceased, it will be remembered, visited Prescott about two years ago, leaving later for Phoenix to outfit for the expedition, and to secure the services of a certain guide to begin his hunt for what he stated was a very large sum of money. He was in the field but a short time, however, owing to his old age and ill health, he was physically unable to travel that rough country on foot.
His version of the lost treasure was freely imparted to a few friends, and was founded on what was later substantiated by old-time residents who recalled the episode of the attack made by Indians on the mail coach from Fort McDowell to Fort Whipple, when the Apaches looted the mail sacks and left with all valuables carried therein, traveling northeast from the point of robbery.
Mr. Preston, at that time was a trooper of the sixth U.S. Cavalry, and in later years came into possession of information from a Mexican woman at Fort Lowell, near Tucson when his command was transferred from McDowell, that was closely guarded until he left the service.
He made five trips to the designated region and failed in each instance to be rewarded, although he stated there was no doubt but what the cache was still untouched.
The visitor will attempt to unravel the mystery of this hidden wealth and from the lips of his father, will be guided in his quest.
Coincident with this interesting research, it will be remembered by many in Prescott that Thomas D. Long, who passed away several years ago, made annual pilgrimages to the above locality in search of a gold cache, and the fact of his also being a trooper of the sixth calvary, forms a connecting link in this lost treasure hunt, which forms a parallel that has a decidedly fascinating coloring to stimulate the untiring will of those who believe in its reliability.
Mr. Long also failed, by he persisted, however, until ill health overtook him, as it did Mr. Preston. Official records of the military show that a robbery was committed and the large sum of money aboard the stage was to pay the soldiers at Fort Whipple..
Camp Verde and Fort Wallapai, in this county, although the exact amount was never given publicity. Indians were supposed to have committed the crime, but many old timers were of the opinion Mexicans were the perpetrators of it.
Preston’s and Long’s versions of this affair are tenable, for the reason they were cavalrymen at that time, and both were in the field to run down the outlaws, who were trailed for many miles by their moccasin tracks.
Source: Weekly journal-miner. (Prescott, Ariz.), 25 Aug. 1915.
