Chapter 5
Gold Pains
Everyone living West of the Mississippi either had direct knowledge of the "Lost Dutchman's gold" or had heard stories. Over the last century, hundreds of prospectors, thrill seekers, and just plain everyday people had ideas of finding that gold and becoming filthy rich. Many of those people died before ever getting very far, mostly from the lack of experience of the unforgiving heat of the mountains, they died from exposure. The area had many more threats than simply the heat. Even more thirsty for the gold died from falls, snake bites, and starvation, from arriving ill prepared and becoming lost. Still others died from gunshot wounds aimed from “prospectors” competing for the gold first to claim it all for themselves. Undoubtedly, the most dangerous, most conniving
