The Lost Adams - 9

With the Apache Wars over and the empty Arizona-New Mexico borderlands were cleared of roving war parties, C.A. Shaw, a retired boat captain, managed to cajole the reluctant Adams into a new, fully-funded search for the lost canyon of gold. Adams was now 45 years old, and the search proved fruitless. Unable to recognize familiar landmarks, Adams was basically lost the whole time. Shaw had faith in Adams' story however, and two more expeditions were attempted.

Chief Nana (2nd from left, standing) with members of the Chriricahua Apache nation.

In the course of one of these trips, Adams and Shaw were staying at Fort Wingate, New Mexico -due north of the hidden valley's probable location. While they were there, who should arrive than Chief Nana himself, on the way to the San Carlos Reservation with a large party of his tribesman. Adams couldn't believe he was seeing the very man who had lead the terrible slaughter of the original expedition.

The ex-fortune hunter approached Nana provokingly, asking how long since he had last been to Sno-ta-hay Canyon. The Chief only glared at Adams, and the two men remained locked in a menacing silence, before the old Indian turned his back and stalked off. Adams was never to find the fortune that had been left behind, but years later a new link to the secret location would be revealed, in the person of John Brewer, the leader of the ill-fated supply run, only presumed to be dead all those years.