The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1874-05-16
A CHEST OF GOLD.
THE DuRIE.D DouBLooSs or MEXICAN BAN.
DTTTf FOUND IN A BEAUTIFUL VAL
LEY By A TEXAN BAPTIST. n.
Letter to the N. z, Sun.
morning.

Letter to the N. Y, Sun.
BELroN, Texas April 20-For sew
eral years past there has been q
strange story published in many Of
the local papers Of the State in re-
gard to buried treasure in this part
Of the country. About twenty miles
above Belton there is largo spring,
whence issues one Of the most beau =
tiful streams in the world, which for
a distance of twenty miles meanders
through rich and fertile valley,
about two miles in width, surround
ed by a range of mountains oh
which there are cedar brakes almost
impenetrabIe to man. This valley is
known far near as Noland's valley,
and is celebrated for its springs of
pure water, the fertility of the soil,
and its many peculiarly shaped
mounds.
About fifteen years ago an old
Mexican greaser named Antonia
came into this section of the country,
and hired himself as laborer to q
gentleman of the vicinity. He was
about so years Of age, and one Of
the most eccentric individuals in the
country. Every spare moment he
could get he was prowling around
through mountain and valley, appa-
rently in search ef seme thing, but
when questioned he gave evasive re-
plies. At that early day this coun-
try was bat thinly inhabited, and the
citizens were troubled very much py
horse thieves. The Mexican's con-
duct was so peculiar that the citizens
began to look on him with suspicion
thinking he was a spy for some band
of thieves, locating the whereabouts.
of the best horses, and finding gaps
through the mountains to pilot the
thieves in and out. He was frequent
iy absent day or two at a time, and
when questioned would give very
unsatisfactory answers. Suspicion
with Texian amounts to guilt, and
few neig bors arrested Antonia for
the purpose Of compelling him to d.
vulge all he knew about the thieves.
The party proceeded to administer
lynch law. he was hanged three
times, until life was nearly extinct,
but not word could be forced from
him in regard to the horse tlrieves-
When he revived sufficiently he told
them the following story lie said
that about twenty years ago he be-
longed to a band OF Mexican robbers
whose retreat was about twenty miles
from here, among the mountains on
Leon river. Ore day, while the
rest OF the band were on an expedi-
tion, he and comrade conceived the
bold design of robbing them and hid
ing the treasure until the robbers
were dispersed, when they would
return and get the gold. He
said there were four cedar box,
es, containing 100000 each, all in
Spanish doubloons. which they placed
ed on pack mules and transported to
this valley, and buried in four very
peculiar shaped mounds. His part
ner had been killed in Mexico at
fandango, and he had been confined
in a Mexican prison until this time.
de SAID he had been searching the
valley over for the mounds where
the money was concealed, bur so
many years had elapsed that he could
not find The marks be had left to des-
ignate the place. Very few Of the
party placed any confidence In his
narrative, aud after a severe casiiga-
ton he was allowed to 60 free, With
instruction TO leave the country forth
with. He has never been seen or
Ecsnfin,eS on f,~r'k res<-l