National Republican., 1883-07-05
OTHER MEMS MILLIONS.

The SunIen Treasure in Spanish Ships
Money stolen from weils-Fai go Many
Years Ago.
The abundance of capital at our savings
banks for the first time in California, is in
creas ng small speculation, writes San Fran
cisco correspondent. Aud the like plethora at
all money ceuters is indicated by the revival
in stocks, So long dormant, of tho old Bonanza
mines of Nevada, generally considered worked
out. The owners have never abandoned the
work Of deeper exploration. They are now,
at 5000 feet DEPTH finding such improved ore
as to induce renewed expenditure on q great
scale; and old experts who have studied the
developments feel assured that regular bodies,
very rich in silver ore, similar to those on the
upper level, will soon be reached. In this
expectation all scientific biologists concur,
because the veins have shown no signs of
giving out--only the orc has diffused its
metal instead of concentrating it-tbus COM
pelling the miner to mine and mill too much
barren ore for the small amount of silver
contained. The veins now show moro silver
percentage, increasing as they go deeper
aud speculation advances stock valuations
Should the second run equal the first, the
product expected will approach $100000,000
Of coin.
Another extraordinary venture Is put upon
q booming money market, and money is
eagerly invested to the extent of $S00,000.
The prize of war will exceed 25,000,000 of
Spanish silver dollars, beside millions in pre-
cious stones and other imperishable property
contained in nine ships sunk in Vigo bay in
A. ID. 1902. In the war between England and
Holland on one side and France and Spain on
the other, Spain sent ships and collected from
her many colonies the revenues which for
years were allowed to accumulate. The Eng
lish feet gave chase, and when the treasure
nlf 70 ~, atlfG thnxy
to escape capture, put into Vigo bay, on the
Atlantic, just north Of the northern boundary
between Spain and Portugal, where they were
scuttled and sunk in deep water beyond
known means of recovery at that period
Some men Of means, finding the way clear,
got Col. John H. Gowen, a reliable engineer,
to go to Vgo bay we'll prepared with appa-
ratus to reach the sunken ships to mako sure
they were still there. The colonel found
them all within q radius of half mile, evil
IDENTIFY undisturbed but numbered with ma
rine debris, which can be removed and en-.
trance obtained to the treasure boxes. To
modern engineering IL is entirely practical,
and official records authenticate the history.
1t is, therefore, considered a sure thing, and
the stock is reported all taken.
Another speculation in hidden treasure is
on the tapis. Over twenty years three men
robbed Wells & Fargo's treasure boxes in the
gold regions of California, when loaded with
the gathered millions of gold from the Scat
tered mines. The express company, as usual,
promptly repaid all losses, and became the
owners. Such was their vigilance that the
robbers by night travel wheeled the treasure
| boxes and the $4,000 in gold to wild recess
in the state Of Nevada, adjoining, whence
they never dared to risk the removal. One
after another lost his life in other robberies.
The last one died lately, and, before expiring,
revealed the hiding place to an officer who
had done him kindness. The landmarks
are conspicuous and easily traced. The Off
Ger has Just arranged with Wells, Fargo &
Co., and is looking for legal counsel and cor
| porate aid in realization. t