Long Tom's treasure facts for kids
Long Tom's treasure is a famous legend from American folklore. It tells a story about hidden gold in the amazing Grand Canyon in Arizona. This exciting tale is said to have happened near a Havasupai village, not far from the old Tanner Trail.
Contents
The Discovery of a Secret
The legend begins in 1910 with a man named "Long Tom" Watson. He was exploring an old cabin when he found some important papers. These papers were written by outlaws, who were people who lived outside the law.
What the Papers Revealed
The old papers described a secret hiding place for stolen gold. They said the gold was hidden deep inside the Grand Canyon. The treasure was supposedly behind a waterfall that only flowed during certain times of the year.
The Search for Gold
Long Tom Watson was very excited by this discovery. He started his search for the hidden gold in 1912. For two years, he explored the vast Grand Canyon, looking for the special waterfall and the treasure.
A Moment of Giving Up
By the spring of 1914, Watson was tired and ready to quit. He decided to head home. As he was riding along the Horse Thief Trail from Morgan Point, something amazing happened.
The Hidden Waterfall
Suddenly, Watson saw a waterfall! It was exactly where the papers had described. He quickly hiked to it and found a secret cave hidden right behind the flowing water.
Treasure Found and Lost
Long Tom Watson bravely entered the cave. Inside, he found a large amount of shiny gold nuggets! His long search had finally paid off.
An Unlucky Accident
As Watson was getting ready to leave the cave with his treasure, he slipped and fell. He broke his leg, making it impossible to carry the heavy gold. He had to leave the treasure behind.
A Difficult Journey
With a broken leg, Long Tom Watson had a very hard time. He crawled his way out of the canyon and eventually reached the nearby Buggelin Ranch. There, he got help and began to recover from his injury.
The Lost Treasure Hunt
After his leg healed, Watson tried to find the waterfall and the gold again. But no matter how hard he searched, he could never find that specific waterfall or the cave again. Long Tom Watson eventually passed away, and the treasure remains a mystery to this day. Many people still wonder if Long Tom's treasure is out there, waiting to be found in the Grand Canyon.
