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In the Fall of 1939, Doc wanted to enlarge the
passageway into Victorio Peak so that the
treasures
could be more easily removed. Hiring a mining engineer by the name of
S.E. Montgomery, the two went into the mountain to blast out the shaft.
The engineer suggested eight sticks of dynamite, to which Noss heatedly
disagreed, claiming the mountain was too unstable. However, the
“expert” won the argument. However, the blast was a disaster, causing
a cave-in, collapsing the fragile shafts, and effectively shutting Doc out
of his own mine.
Doc tried several times to regain entry into his
mine, but the shaft was sealed with tons of debris. All attempts failed,
leaving him an embittered and angry man, which caused problems in his
marriage. Noss soon deserted Babe and in November 1945, a divorce was
granted. Two years later, he married Violet Lena Boles, which would
further complicate ownership of the
treasure
rights for years to come.
Now, instead
of having thousands of gold bars to draw from, Noss had only a few hundred
that he had hidden in the desert. Becoming desperate for cash, Doc
along with a man named Joseph Andregg, transported gold bars, coins, jewels,
and artifacts into Arizona, selling them on the black market. For nine
years, Doc attempted illegally to sell his gold, but it was difficult
finding buyers.
In 1948, Doc met
Charles Ryan, a Texan involved in drilling operations and oil exploration in
West Texas. Noss made an agreement with Ryan to exchange some of the
gold bars for $25,000 to reopen the shaft. Meanwhile, Babe Noss had
filed a counter-claim on the entire area. Denied entry by the courts until
legalities could determine the legal owner of the mine, Doc feared Ryan
would back out of the deal. Sensing a double-cross by Ryan, Doc dug up the
gold that was to be used in the exchange and reburied it in place where Ryan
was unaware.
The next day,
March 5, 1949, Ryan arrived to the area, insisting that they discuss the
problem of what happened to the gold. However, Noss demanded to see
the money before revealing the new hiding place. Ryan hinted that if Noss did not reveal the whereabouts of the gold, Doc would not live to enjoy
it. An intense argument ensued and Noss headed toward his car. Ryan,
fearing Doc was getting a gun, fired a warning shot in Doc’s direction,
demanding that Noss back away from the vehicle. Noss refused to obey
and Ryan fired again, hitting Noss in the head, killing him instantly. Just
twelve years after discovering the
treasure,
Doc Noss died with just $2.16 in his pocket. Ryan was charged with murder,
but was later acquitted.
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