Treasure Tales and Treasure Stories About Washington from the Archives of Lost Treasure Magazine
John Welch's Lost Gold Cache
From State Treasure Tales
By Michael Paul Henson
From page 41 of the February 1995 issue of Lost Treasure magazine.
Copyright ©1995, 1998 Lost Treasure, Inc.
I quote this lead from Real West magazine for February 1971. The complete story covers three pages.
"Back in 1876, John Welch, a Willamette Valley settler, buried from 300 to 600 pounds of raw gold to keep attacking Indians from getting it. It's still there today near a place called Babcock's Ridge along the basalt cliffs. All the basic directions are given for treasure hunters to try their luck at finding $300,000 in gold!
"1. NAME of TREASURE: John Welch's lost gold cache.
"2. APPROXIMATE LOCATION: A few miles south of 'Trinidad, Grant County, Washington.
"3. HOW IT GOT THERE: While being transported from the western Canadian gold fields to the Willamette Valley in Washington State, Indians attacked the miners and while the fighting took place, Welch hid the gold -- then escaped but was never able to relocate the cache.
"4. TIME IT OCCURRED: During 1876.
"5. VALUE: $300,000.
"6. DESCRIPTION: Ray gold from the placer diggings of central British Columbia, an estimated 300 to 600 pounds.
"7. AUTHENTICITY: Excellent. This one undoubtedly happened; many official records substantiate the primary facts."
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