Reynolds Gang treasure Options

[Lady_Rebecca]

Can any one give me hard facts that the Reynolds Gang treasure has NOT been found??? Anyone???
Lady Rebecca

[gerryestes]

There's lots of talk lately around where I live (Bailey, CO) about the Reynolds gang and I know of a couple of people who have been out looking this year. Most of the talk is that the gang stashed some stuff either near the head of Deer Creek or up west of Slaughterhouse trail north of Platte Canyon High School. Historical talk mentions that they may have been closer to Hall Valley or near Grant, but the locals believe they may have been closer to Deer Creek which is about 5 miles from Schafer's Crossing. About a month ago, some hikers discovered the remains of a historic campsite about 6 miles N of the Platte Canyon High School with old bottles thrown around and a couple of prospect digs. From what I hear, they will be going back to check the site again as soon as the snow melts.

According to MtnGuy.com (http://mtnguy.com/owlhoots/reynolds.htm)

"In July 1864, Jim Reynolds and eight Confederate raiders launched the only invasion of the Colorado Territory during the Civil War. Their hope was to rob the gold mines of the area to help finance the Confederate cause.
On July 24 the gang pulled into the Adolph Guirand ranch between Fairplay and Hartsel. Guirand was rewarded for the hospitality by being relieved of his horses, cash, and the molestation of his wife!

Reynolds and his comrades took off for Dan McLaughlin's stage station, about eight miles out of Fairplay. The town of Como stands on the spot where the old stage station stood. After arriving the gang looted the station. They took cash, a gold watch, and gun. They stole horses too. Total haul was about $3,000. Before leaving, the spokes were chopped out of the stage coach wheels and the coach was destroyed.

From McLaughlin's place, the rebels headed over Kenosha pass toward Denver. On the way the guerrillas came to Michigan House, another stage stop, where they stole more horses. The gang was unaware of Mr. Berry warning everyone who would listen of the escapades. Berry then followed the gang as far as Omaha House near the present day Conifer. Berry tried to raise a posse, but couldn't get anyone to join. His story of the Reynolds Gang just wasn't believed! The gang spent another night at Omaha House before heading back toward Shaffers Crossing.


A posse was finally organized. Late that Saturday the posse spotted a camp fire through the trees. The rebels heard noises in the dark and grabbed their guns. They were ordered to stop, and when they didn't shots were fired. The next morning when the posse returned to the camp site, they found one body. The rebel was identified as Owen Singlterry. A member of the posse was Dr. Cooper. He cut off Singlterry's head and took it back to Fairplay where it was preserved in alcohol. This grizzly reminder remained in Fairplay for a number of years.

After the attack the gang split up. As more South Park residents learned about the rebels a bigger posse, about seventy five members, headed out to find the guerrillas. Four days later four members of the gang were captured and taken to Denver for a military trial. Another of the robbers, Tom Holliman, was caught as he made his way to Canon City. Jim Reynolds and two others escaped to New Mexico.

The five captured outlaws were being taken to Fort Lyon. While en route three of the gang members were killed, the other two escaped.

The outlaws loot was estimated between $5,000 and $100,000. The Reynolds Gang was credited with almost every robbery in Colorado at the time!

The story doesn't end here! In 1871 John Reynolds, Jim's brother, returned to Colorado to recover the loot. He was caught stealing horses and hung. He left a crude map of the area and told the jailer how to find the money, "You go up there a little ways (along Geneva Creek) and find where one of our horses mired in the swamp. On up at the head of the gulch we turned to the right and followed the mountain around a little farther, and just above the head of Deer Creek we found and old prospect hole at about timberline. There was $40,000 in greenbacks, wrapped in a silk oilcloth, and three cans of gold dust. We filled the mouth of the hole up with stones and ten steps below we stuck and old butcher knife in a tree about four feet from the ground, broke the handle off and left it pointing to the mouth of the hole."