Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

It was the second day of the Fourth Annual Ticaboo Rally and I was getting ready for a ride into the Henry Mountains on a loop around Mount Hiller. It was easy to identify this mountain because it was covered with snow. We were bundled up for this ride because even though the day started warmer than the day before, we were headed for 7,600 feet, which was above the snow line.

Mount Hiller is the third highest of five peaks that make up the Henry Mountains. It was named after John Karl Hiller, chief expedition photographer for John Wesley Powell’s western expedition.

We followed a familiar route to the Shootamaring Uranium Mine and then took a turn down into the labyrinth of a sandstone canyon by the same name. After winding through this amazing canyon, we popped up out of it and took a turn straight for Mount Hiller. Reaching the base of the mountain, we turned right onto the trail that looped around the mountain.

This loop is more fun when the foliage is green and the weather is warmer. There is a great place on the east side of the mountain for lunch with picnic tables and shade.

Traveling the loop, we passed Ghost Ridge, which was fitting for a piece of history we were to learn about at an upcoming point on the trail. That point was at the top of Stanton Pass.

Lynn Blamires, Special to the Standard-Examiner

We learned of a legend of cursed gold shrouding this mountain. As the story goes, the Spaniards found gold some 300 years ago. The mines produced ore rich in gold for many years.

The Spanish worked the mine using local Native Americans to perform the backbreaking work of digging out the gold-laden quartz. One morning in the spring, the Spanish awoke to see the hills full of Native American warriors unhappy about being subject to foreign masters. A battle ensued. While the warriors lost many, all of the Spaniards lay dead. To finish their purposes, they closed the mines. A curse was pronounced on the mines and upon any person who would disturb them.

In 1868, Ben Bowen ran a stage station located approximately 100 miles southeast of the Henry Mountains. A ravaged and sick man named Burke stumbled into the station. He had been prospecting in the Henrys but was caught by Native Americans. Most of his possessions, including all of his prospecting equipment, were taken from him. His life was spared but he was ordered never to come back to the gold mines.

Burke had a gold nugget to prove that he had found the old Spanish mines. Bowen was convinced and proposed a partnership to go for the gold after Burke had recovered.

He did recover and they put an outfit together. Hiring a man named Blackburn to cook and tend the horses, they camped about 50 miles from the base of the Henrys. They immediately found gold.

Photo supplied

They loaded 400 pounds of quartz rich with gold deposits and headed to town through Penn-Ellen Pass. However, the outfit lost their way among the canyons and ran out of water.

Finding a pool of water, their thirst overcame their sense of caution and they ran to drink. Blackburn, knowing the danger, tried to stop them, but they drank deep and soon became violently ill.

They finally made it to town and, with time, recovered. That is when they learned of the curse. Blackburn believed all of it and quit the outfit. Bowen, still ill, was also convinced that he was suffering from the curse.

When they learned that the ore was rich in gold, Burke insisted the curse was nonsense. Bowen then overcame his fear and left with Burke for more gold.

While waiting in Rabbit Valley, Bowen was stricken with a mysterious illness and died. Four days later Burke died. Blackburn claims that the curse followed him and his family the rest of his days.

Intrigued by the story, we headed back to Ticaboo, haunted by the thoughts of cursed gold. Reminded of story I wrote about the curse of Montezuma’s gold (May 5, 2010) near Kanab, I decided to research this story for some verification. I found the story when I searched for “The Curse of Henry Mountains’ Spanish Gold.”

We finished a ride of about 72 miles in this beautiful and haunted country. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and remember, the gold may still be there.

Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.

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