The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
Tho Gold Mines Of the ella

ur readers are doubtless aware Fat an expedition
having for its object the exploration of the head waters
OF the ella river, is now b~ng organized by Mr. Web
Der, author OF "OId Bsxs the Guide" Mr.. Webber's
belief in the exis ace OF valuable gold mines in this
gion appears to be confirmed by the ancient history of
the cou,ry by Indian tradition, by the experience of
moiern travellers, and the opinion OF Dr. Squier the
DISTINGUISHED antiquarian This latter gentleman and
the brilliant writer rho, under the signature OF "Corinne
Montgomery" has done much instruct the present
generation. have both supplied Mr. Weber with papers
on the subject which included in his new and inter.
esting work, "The Gold Mines of the Gila" just pub
lished by Dewitt Davenport From this work We take
the following extract containing the testimony of modern
travellers in relation to the ruins of ancient cesonce
the seats of opulencestl found in the valley of the
Pecos-Nev York Era
Here are the ruins 10 which these stories, which so
filled my Imagination, have all pointed but there ia yet
more direct and curious confirmation still to be found in
the report of Lieut. Albert | should premise that the
runs o. three cities, evidently built by the Indians under
the direction of the Spanards all met with in the val
ley OF the Pecos, At very great distance apart They
Abo, Quarra and Quvira 1t is the of Quarra
which Albert is now visiting He says
al now babe adieu to my generous entertainers, and
with thousands Of extravagant compliments from the
kind people set out TO overtake the party. After
eng southeast for six miles, reached the ancient vii
lage Of Quarra Here there yet standing the walls of
time worn cahedral it is composed entirely of stone,
red sandstone; the pieces not than inches
thick. The walls are feet wide, and the outer face
presents the form OF cross, with rectangular projections
in each OF the angles The short Of the cross is 80
feet inches wde the long arm IS feet inches wide
their axes are, respectively so feet long and liz feet
long, and their intersection is 80 feet from the head Of
the croes The rectangular projections, that partly fill
the angles formed by the arms are feet square AT the
loot OF the rectangular projections that
~ feet IN The direction OF the long AXIS, and feet in the
other direction.
OF numerous houses that had been built of the
eria and the surfaces of the walls finished with tools
but these houses almost level with the EARTH while
the walls OF the ancient church rise to the height Of
feet.
"While making my measurements, assisted by one of
the men who had remained with me, Mexican came up
to me and said, In the most mysterious way Il know
something OF great moment and want speak to you
TO YOU alone no one must be near; with me to
found an old RUIN fitted up with such modern additions
as Were necessary to render it habitable Here
several women. sat some time, talking of Indifferent
matters, waiting anxously the important secret but my
friend did not like the presence Of the women and would
not tell me then; SO got ready recommence my Jour
ney while he endeavored in thousand ways to detain
me- asked him some questions about the geography OF
the country and about the famous place called Gran
Quvera' He told me that it exactly like the build.
,ngs OF Quarra, thus confirming exactly what | had
81 now sgnhed my determination 10 proceed, when
this man seemed extremely anxious about my going and
al last told me that he would meet me in cedar grove
distance my In little while reached the
grove, and him there He then told me that he had
discovered the greatest mine in the country where there
he did not 80 and get il! Oh said he you cannot have
been long in this country not know that we poor peo
pie can keep nothing; the Rcos would seize all but
with your protection would be secured in my labors
nen ne added, III give you my name; write il down
It is Jose Lucero, OF Quarra; you inquire in the vii
hSs.' through which you pass they will there tell you
and proceeded on in my journey; that if any one
wishes. he can go and seek the gold OF Quarra."
1t the impression of all intelligent explorers who
have any of the ruins mentioned that from the
geological OF them
their existence on>be accounted for upon the sup
position that they were built for mining purposes and
that since the entire determination of their Spanish ty
rants and task masters by the Indians in the first great
rising OF $780, they have kept the secret of these
concealed Tor the reasons given By Gregg and ireqasHy
these long aqueducts, bringing from great distances
to cities in the midst OF arid plains, when but short
distance southeast west would have given the CITY
builders pleasant, beautiful, and well wateed sites ~
has other reasonable that can perceive The
ignorant frontiers men and savages of Texas had never
heard the names OF Quarra Quivra, yet they clearly
pointed them out, in connexon with this very neghbor
hood of rich mines.
DR.. Wislizenus, in his report, says:
"Not far from these salinas the ruins OF an old city are
found, OF the fabulous ia Gran Quu,rd' The com
mon report in relation to this place Is that very large
and wealthy city was once here situated with very rich
sent to Spain. AT one season, when they were making
extraordinary preparations for transporting the precious
metals the Indians attacked them; whereupon the miners
buried their treasures, worth fifty millions, and left the
city together but they were all killed except two who
went to Mexico giving the particulars of the affair." and
soliciting aid to return But the distance being so great
and the Indians SO numerous, nobody would advance,
and the thing was dropped. One of the to New
Orleans, then under the dominion of Span raised 500
men. and started by way of the Sabine but was ne yer
heard of afterwards SO far the report. Within the
last few years several Americans and Frenchmen have
visited the place. and although they have not found the
treasure they certify at least the existence OF an aque
duct about 10 miles in length the still standing walls
OF several churches the sculptures of the Spanish
arms and to many spacious pits, supposed to be silver
mines. II was no doubt Spanish mining town, and il
is not unlikely that 1t destroyed in $780, in the gene
raj successful instruction of the Indians in New Next
against the Spanards. Dr. Samuel G. Morton, in a
late pamphlet suggests the probability that was ogi
naly old Indian city, into which the Spanards as in
several other instances, had intruded themselves and
subsequently abandoned it, Further investigation is
to be hoped, will clear up this point.
Here decidedly many condolences to be purely
accidental and meaningless! Prescott mentions the fact
that the quantities of gold found in possession OF the
Mexicans by Corez are by means accounted for in
the probable or even possible productyeness of any OF
the known mines OF Mexico at the present day How,
them this great wealth to be accounted fori We think
we have shown. 1t came mostly from New Mexico and
the mysterious regions of the ella and Colorado and
since this of the Spaniards by the first and the
utter battling of their search by the latter these mines
have been as sealed book. But il will longer
nue to be sealed when American enterprise shall have
passed over these buried treasures.
Kecneyed science, sharpened by late discoveries,
VIII hianoIy point out these objects by geological nd-
cations which easily detected The ndomabIe ener-
9es Of the national mind have fully and fairly taken
THIS dlIecuon and netting them No conceal
ments no subiernges of mbece superstition can pre
vent the reopenng of these mines and restoration to
me commerce and injuries of the world Of that wealth