THE LEGEND OF THE UNDERGROUND RIVER OF GOLD -FACT OR FANTASY $20 BILLION IN GOLD IN A 1927 ASSAY- Truth or Fiction In 1927 legendary prospector Earl Dorr set off an explosion sealing the bottom of Crystal Cave, entrance to an alleged world's largest cavern under Kokoweef Mountain in San Bernardino, CA, through which flowed an underground river lined with placer gold. Dorr retained a 10 lb sample of black sand that gave a certified assay of $2,145.47/yd at $20.67/oz. We had heard that workmen had blasted their way into a new cavern. Entering the new cavern the temperature dropped, from a constant 68 to less than 59 degrees, indicating a large, deep cavern shown to be taller than an 8-story building and miles in length. Hard to believe? Yes. From the Paiute Indians who mined the gold for trade, to the attempted takeover and slavery of the Paiute by and eventual massacre of Mexican Desperadoes, this is the story of the 250 year-old legend and the continuous exploration to the day of this writing, including 40 yrs by the author, of the elusive underground river of gold. Three Indian brothers found a cave opening on Kokoweef Mtn and entered using creosote torches. Later, with kerosene lanterns, they were able to more fully investigate the cave system and often spent several days at a time there. Exploring further they entered a deep canyon until they reached the bottom where they found a river. The slowly flowing river backed up into wide areas leaving watermarks and residues. The river was about 10-feet wide and 4-feet deep at low ebb, leaving a watercourse of black sands 350-feet wide running an indefinite length. They brought out the black sand and found it rich in gold when panned. They set up a sluice, taking out 2850 ozs in 5 weeks. One day the eldest brother struck his head on a rock, killing him. His body was never retrieved. They would not be able to enter the caverns again as it was now a burial ground and Indians were forbidden to enter. A large band of Mexican Desperadoes had previously befriended the Indians buying the gold as it was removed from the caverns. They made slaves of the Indians forcing them to continue mining. In time, reinforcements from other tribes arrived and massacred the Mexicans, freeing the Indians to leave Kokoweef Peak never to return. One Indian Elder traveled to Colorado Springs, CO, and worked as a farmhand for landowner Mark Dorr. After several years working with Mark's son, Earl, the Indian told him the story of the underground river convincing him to go there. He traveled to San Francisco, CA, to retrieve a map from the surviving Indian brothers. He switched from rail to stagecoach in Ivanpah, CA, for the last 35 miles to Nipton, the nearest town to Kokoweef Mtn. Joining Earl on the stagecoach was legendary Pearl "Bandit Queen" Hart, famous as the last known robber of a Wells Fargo Stagecoach near Globe, AZ, in 1899 and for being a woman incarcerated in the Yuma, AZ, Territorial Prison. She was pardoned with the stipulation that she return to Kansas City, KS, where her family lived, and remain there for the remainder of her 3 year sentence. During a 2-day layover in Nipton a relationship developed between Earl and Pearl and she decided to remain in Nipton. This story follows Earl Dorr's search for the Underground River of Gold and the remaining lives and relationship of Earl Dorr and Pearl Hart until their death.