b'THE OLD STORYTELLERThe Wonders of Siphon DrawBy Hank Sheffer, The Old StorytellerT here is nothing I like betterNow about 2 miles east of my 50-50 Ranch is the fence than telling stories aboutline to the Tonto Nation Forest Wilderness area. From things that have happenedthat fence line up to Siphon Draw is not a very far jaunt. to me personally. I generally tryBear in mind my sojourn took place some 35 years ago to forego those things that havebefore many of the hiking trails had names or numbers, gone south along the way andmileage and direction signs.rely heavily on the positive, fun stuff.I had heard so many stories about Siphon Draw. I recall one such incident when I experienced aSupposedly there was a heart etched on a stone up wonderful adventure that took place exceeding anythere somewhere, much like the one on the legendary dreams I could have anticipated. But I get ahead ofPeralta Stone Maps. These slabs of stone feature myselfit is important to first lay some groundwork sobeautifully carved symbols of trails, a Horse, a Dagger, that what I\'m about to share with you will make sense. and a Priest. four-legged critters that inhabited the area as I am always heeled. The two-legged variety was of no concern to me, I am convinced there is an abundance of undiscoveredAlso in question (for me) was the infamous Peralta/Rutheitherfor the same reason. The day was comfortable information where the development of our westernMap or Gonzales Map (as it is also known). It is broughtweather-wise. I felt confident there would be no culture is concerned. That said, it means we areup every time the names of Jacob Waltz, Adolf Ruth orproblems with rain or the blazing hot sun. I jumped into obligated to take into account the many legends andthe Peraltas are mentioned. This map has been analyzedmy truck and off I went.lore of lost treasures and mysterious goings-on asad nauseam for years. My impression upon seeing it for they play an integral part in that western upbringing.the very first was that it looked like a sketch of SiphonI was well acquainted with Bob and Joy Bishop, the The Superstition Mountain region here in ArizonaDraw. I know, I knowit really may not be Siphonowners of the MeanwhileRanch. They allowed me to just happens to be one such place. Unfortunately, bitsDrawbut it is not my desire to get into any spittingpark my truck at their place. Just over the fence from of information, real and imagined have manifestedmatches over what the map depicts. I\'m simply sayingtheir property was the "trail," such that it was, that themselves with every telling. Much of the mysterythat was my impression when I first saw it. led directly into Siphon Draw. I knew this area by the and intrigue has been caused by confusion andMeanwhile very well as I had been there many times misunderstanding down through the yearsbut moreAlso, be it known, I am a natural-born skeptic when itbefore. I informed the Bishops of my intentions so realistically, the cause has been conspicuously omittedcomes to these kinds of cluesI am one of those "gottasomeone would know when to expect me back.information. For whatever reason, it is no wonder thatsee it to believe it" kind of people. Someone, whoever fact and fiction have become so terribly entangled. that is, has said there are numerous interesting thingsHeading eastward up that trail I encountered a number relating to the Dutchman\'s lost gold up there in Siphonof cottontails and jackrabbits. They are always fun to I want to be very clear that I am not a Dutchman hunter.Draw. That remained to be seen, but I was, sure enough,watch playing in the desert. I was watching them and not I do not spend my time searching for gold, silver orgoing to allow for the benefit of the doubt. And I waspaying attention when I was startled by a (thankfully) any of the other treasures people seem obsessed withstill going to have a hard look for myself. very noisy Mojave rattler in the middle of the trail. He findingand I certainly do not waste my time makingwas not all that long, but big around the middle, green, little rocks out of big rocks looking for the preciousIt was cool and a little cloudy that early spring afternoon.and all-in-all, a most unpleasant fellow. He made it very metals. It is the stories and rich history that intrigue meThe plan had originally included a long-time friendclear that I was approaching what he considered to be his more than anything else. going with me up the hill, but last-minute scheduleground. Mojaves are notoriously aggressive and so I was changes kept him from coming alongI decided to gonot about to push the matter to shove. I gave him a wide anyway. Under normal circumstances, I would neverbirth and we parted company.plan a trek into the Superstitions during afternoon hours no matter what the season, nor would I venture outAs the ground began to slope steeply upward I found on my own. Nevertheless, I wasnt worried about thewalking in the wash becoming more and more difficult to traverse. The rocks were getting more plentiful not to mention larger. That made them even more difficult to get around or over. I did not want to blindly encounter another distempered rattler. I decided to get up on the north bank of the wash and continue along that less arduous path.There are a lot of landmarks I have heard about from various sources that I wanted to scout. There were what some folks called "caves." Actually, they were openings that had been caused eons before by tectonic movement resulting in deformations of the earth\'s crust. Furthermore, by no stretch of the imagination could they be described as mines of any sort. They were, however, conducive for use as shelter from the outside elements. I am convinced they The infamous Peralta/Ruth Maphad been used in just that manner or Gonzales Map many times.continued on page 118 February 2020'