Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-04-22
A BURIED BOX OF GOLD,
Tho Treasure that was toe Securely Hid.
don On the Banks Of the Arroyo.

| 0on % the BANKS Of tho Arr0yos
Tiburcio Tapia was Spanish don, VIII
had arisen to considerable afiuence il
those times, and, besides being the pro
prietor of the Cucamongo ranch, con
Quoted a small store somewhere abov,
the Catholic church, in what is nov
called Sonora, Gal. The golden ounces
as they accumulated in the hands OF tn
old don, were all carefully husbanded
Don Tiburcio deposited his golden coir
in the bank OF mother earth, where HI
knew that his sight drafts would always
be honored. 1t was his custom to take
his son, Ramon, with him, and hide II
under ground in some secluded spot
Thus it happened that when Castro was
securing the State with his maraudine
band, and threatening an attack upon
Los Angeles, Don Tiburcio was over.
come with solicitude concerning his
wealth in money and goods, and taking
his son with him one dark night, he went
up the banks OF the Arroyo Seco, and
there the two dug hole in the sand, and
within it they concealed the treasure.
They were two wooden boxes, iron
bound, and filed with Spanish doub-
looms, each piece weighing nm ounce and
valued at $16-$50, 900 in his two IRON
bound boxes, which he placed in the
sand and covered carefully over. And
Don Tiburcio marked the spot, so that
he might come again in time Of safety
and reclaim his deposits. Near by he
planted little cross in sucll way that
it would be concealed from a strangers
view, but be easily recognizable by his
son or himself. One arm of the cross
pointed to the buried treasure. Then
the two led their horses several times
across the spot to obliterate the marks of
their work, and departed.
Don Turbicio next busted himself in
securing the goods of his store. These
he carefully packed in boxes preparatory
to sending them away, but first he re-
sorted to a stratagem worthy of the
shrewd old Spanish stock. He said to
his son: Ramon, I will place guam
tity of lead in the bottom OF these boxes,
and when they are filled with goods, go
you and call in some of the neighboring
rancheros to assist us in loading them
upon the carts. They will perceive the
great weight of the boxes, and will say
chat Don Tiburcio has sent away all OF
his money by OK teams"
So the goods were dispatched to Don
Cucamongo ranch under
charge of his son Ramon, and the in
habitants of the town whispered it
about that the don had sent away all of
his gold.
Now, while the steady going OK teams
are slowly toiling up the valley of San
Jose, bearing their frejghtage of goods
10 place of security, Don Tiburcio
rests himself at home, in the full belief
hat he has outwitted the rascal Castro
md his band. But alas, what an uncer-
;ain thing is human life Ramon has |
oeen gone hardly three days with the |
,eams when Don Tiburcio is stricken |
With paralysis and laid at the door of
leath. A messenger is dispatched in
haste for the absent son. As soon as the
distance can be overcome by the feetest
lorse, Ramon returns, but only in time
o witness the dying breath of his faith
n. There were few to mourn the death
# Don Tiburcio, and when comparative
afety is again assured to the town, Ra-
non repairs to the bank of the Arroyo
LEGO to unearth his fathers gold. The
ross is there with its arm pointing to
he hidden treasure, but when the sand
J turned up there are no iron bound
oxes. The gold has been taken away.
When Ramon dug up the cross he found
eneath it three ounces which had drop
ed unnoticed into the hole on that
ventful night; but this was all he re-
overed. Then the truth flashed upon
le son. His father had removed the
oxes to secrete more money in them or
, take out some for his use. As it was
ever his custom to secrete his treasures
le second time in one place, he had
uried them elsewhere. But where ?
he recret had died on Don Tiburcio's
ps. The inhabitants Of the town
,arched up and down the stream, plow-
lg many O furrow in its banks in hopes
discover the secreted fortune. But
leir efforts were bootless, and to this
" the iron bound money boxes of Don
iburcio, with 100000 in Spanish
oubloons, lie securely hidden some
here on the banks Of the Arroyo Seco.