Thomas Rhoades

Portrait of Thomas Rhoades. In 1852, Thomas Rhoades was commissioned by President Young to salvage hidden gold known to Ute Indians. Chief Walker (Wakara) reportedly agreed to reveal the location of the gold as long as it was used exclusively for the benefit of the church. The site of the mines was called "Carre Shin Ob," or "There dwells the Great Spirit," Thompson recounted. Indians had no particular interest in the gold beyond their basic needs and harbored old resentments against Spanish overlords who had mined the metal at the expense of their race.