"The Quest Begins" an
original frametale by Michelle Wilson
"The Lost Cave with the Iron
Door"
"The Treasure of Devil's
Canyon"
The air was hot and still. The
canyon-slashed desert
was vast and barren but beautiful in a bleak way. The sun beat down
mercilessly on the four who trudged determinedly across the landscape.
Lizards peered unblinking as the travelers passed. Occasionally they'd
see a rattlesnake sunning itself on the warm rocks
and would take care to avoid it. There were no trails or signs to point
the way to their destination. Peaks, pinnacles and spires rose up
erratically in every direction. After hours, the sun began to set. One
of the women in the party called for everyone to stop. Her name was
Sedona Reed. She was tall and slender with dark hair, dark eyes and a
determined demeanor. In her early twenties she still felt the
immortality of youth.
"Let's camp here
for the night. We can use the shelter of
that rock overhang ahead," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"Sounds good! I
think my blisters have blisters!" said a
jovial young man with bright red hair. His name was Danny and he was
almost always cheerful.
"Are you sure you
know what you are looking for?" asked
Natasha a little testily.
"Yes, I'm sure.
I'm just not sure where it is! But, I know
we'll find it," exclaimed Sedona.
"I'll believe it
when I see it," snorted Christian. He
set down his equipment and pulled out a fire kit.
"You'll see it,"
answered Sedona confidently.
Soon it was dark
and the fire that Christian had lit cast
spooky shadows on the craggy rocks. They had finished eating and were
discussing plans for the next day. The air which had been hot now took
on a chill. The cries of an owl echoed eerily through the canyon.
Sometimes a coyote would howl mournfully in the distance.
"Okay, we have to
be getting close so everyone should be
looking for what was once an ancient volcano. The geologist I spoke
with called it a chimney mine," said Sedona, pulling out a battered
letter.
"I've heard of
those. They are shaped like cones or
funnels," stated Natasha.
"Exactly, the
problem is we don't have a map, only what
my great uncle wrote down before he died. He writes that the treasure
is rich beyond imagining. He says he saw it once with his own eyes,"
mused Sedona.
"Too bad Uncle
Albert isn't here to lead us to it then,"
said Christian sardonically. In the firelight he looked like an Indian
warrior of old.
"Perhaps I could
be of help to you," called a voice from
the darkness. "I know this land like the back of my hand and it sounds
like you could use a guide." A stranger stepped into the light. He was
dressed like a prospector you would see in a movie. He had a bushy
beard and a burro laden with bundles. I couldn't help but notice your
fire. If I could warm myself a bit I'd be grateful. I'd trade you a
tale if you'd be willing."
"Certainly
Mr...," said Danny trailing off.
"You can call me
Jeb, yes sir, Jebidah the wanderer, " he
said settling in. " Now the story I want to tell you young'uns about is
true and it takes place in Oklahoma. Perhaps you've heard of The Lost
Cave with the Iron Door?"
All four shook
their heads no.
"Well, legend has
it that somewhere in southern Oklahoma in
the Wichita Mountains is a cave or a mine with an iron door that
is secured with an unusual lock. They say that in the 1880's old Belle
Starr and her gang held up a train that were headed for the Denver
Mint. The gang had hit the jackpot, for it was full of gold. Now they
picked a cave to hide their bounty in and the door they used to cover
the opening was one of them iron rail car doors pulled right off the
train! Then they put a fancy lock on it and covered it with brush and
such. Soon they tried another robbery and everyone but Belle was
killed. Then Belle got herself murdered in 1889 and with her death the
last person who knew where the treasure be was gone. Some people claim
the treasure came from the James gang, but I don't cotton to that
thought. I believe ole Belle hid near 500,000 dollars! Some people
claim to have seen that door with their own eyes. First a rancher and
son, then in 1932 a wandering farm laborer and later a woman. None of
them could open the door without tools and when they tried to go back
they couldn't find it again! People say it's likely north of Treasure
Lake in the Wichita Mountains. Yes sir, a fortune is waiting for
someone."
"Do you know any
other stories?" asked Natasha wide-eyed.
"Well, I'll tell
you one more, but I warn it may give you
the spooks. This is in Oklahoma too. It is said that at the mouth of
Devil's Canyon is an old Mexican ghost town and that all that seek gold
in this place are met by ghosts. Not just any ghosts, but ones in
armor!
The ghosts of dead Spaniards. They protect a Spanish gold mine,
smelters, a brass cannon filled with gold and a silver casket full
of church treasures which are hidden in a separate cave. Don Diego Del
Castillo and his crew told this tale in their travels way back in 1650.
A body best beware if they travel into the Canyon Diablo for it's the
Devil's own claim."
Danny was
fascinated, Natasha had chills and even
Christian's eyes were bright with interest. Sedona was more determined
than ever to find her own cave. Her eyes were bedazzled by visions of
treasure.
"Perhaps we could
use you as a guide," she asserted
boldly...
Author's note: This story is
an original frame tale told in third
person. It encompasses the original two Oklahoma lost treasure legends.
Jeb is telling them and you may notice his speech is a little different
than the other characters. The first story is "The Lost Cave with the
Iron Door" and the second story is "The Treasure of Devils Canyon". The
second story comes from The Lost Treasures of Kiowa County. I chose
these two stories because the treasure is supposed to be located here
in our own state. No changes were made to the stories' plots. I liked
the image of the iron door up in the mountains sealing the cave full of
female
outlaw Belle Starr's treasure. Here is a link to learn more about "Belle". On a
personal note in my early twenties I dated a guy who was a relation to
Belle Starr. I liked the second story because it had a supernatural
element as an added bonus to the lost treasure!
Desert image found at: News Robot
Lizard image found at: Neartica
Snake image found at: Cal Poison
Prospector image found at:
Heritage Gallery
Biography Information:
"The
Lost Cave with the Iron Door"
posted to treasurenet.com
archives, a forum for treasure hunting.
posted by Travis on September
2nd , 1998
"The
Treasure of Devils Canyon"
Taken from "The Lost
Treasures of Kiowa County, Oklahoma-
Part one."
The Longest List of the
Longest Stuff at the Longest Domin Name at Long
Last.com
also story found at: The Lost Treasue
of Kiowa County!!"
This information compiled,
prepared and submitted to this site
by Ethel Taylor and remains the
property of the submitter NOTICE: Ethel
Taylor grants that this information and data may be used by
non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied
material, for personal and genealogical research.
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