The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1884-10-11
4 LOST GOLD NINE,
Re .A;nIsce res OF an Aged INDIAN In
Napa Valley.
tNapa tCal.) Register

lNHPa kSal) hegtsttr4
The readers OF the Register who are
acquainted with the early history of Cal.
ifornia know that the Spanish Padres at
each OF the missions in the country, then
a dependency of Mexico, acquired vast
amount of property. Their horses, cat
tie and sheep were almost numberless,
and the amount of grain and frijoles an.
nually raised was very large. Among
the assets of the mission was gold and
silver Of no inconsiderable amount, and
more than one person has wondered
where such wealth Of the precious metals
were obtained. II the reader will pa.
tiently peruse this article, his curiosity
may be satisfied and clue gained of
wealth near home. Of which very few res.
idcnts OF this valley have ever entertained
Che faintest idea.
Juan Romero, an Indian upwards of
sixty years OF age, now living in the up.
per part of this valley, is member Of
one of the many tribes Of aboriginees that
in his boyhood days called this valley
their home. At that date many Of the
Indians were in the service of and well
cared for by the Spanish padres. Rom.
ero, then a young boy with the elder
members OF his tribe, according to his
storv which he ~ l,,- ,,,o,k, D., /. A...a
says gold mine had been found and
opened under the direction Of the priests,
in the range of hills bordering this valley
on the west, and situated, as near as he
can recollect, about eight or ten miles
north and east of the site of Napa City.
He is of the opinion that it is not far
from Soda Springs canyon, or between
that point and the tall peak to the north.
A tunnel had been run into the noun.
tain side for some distance and good ore
found in considerable quantity. The
mine was worked in q crude way, the
managers having few of the conveniences
used by the miner of the present day.
yet they profted by their observations
in old Spain, where now exist mines that
were old when the Spauiards built the
first mission in this State.
1t was about the year 1920 that the
Mexican authorities, becoming aware
that the missions in California had &C.
CURED vast amount OF property, de-
cided to tax each and all of them. No
levies had been made upon them up to
that time. Not satisfied with this slow
process OF acquiring the wealth they 20
much coveted, they afterwards con6sca.
ted the mission property by the whole
sale. This procedure, verified by history,
accounts in great part for the rapid dete.
orization Of the California missions after
lS2O.25.
While the Indians were toilins in the
gold mine in our eastern hillside news
came that the Mexicans were on their
way to the valley to make reprisals.
Romero was then five or six years OF age,
chore boy at the mine. He says that
upon receipt Of the news work was i'm.
medlately stopped, the mouth Of the
drift stopped up and every indication Of
the existence of a mine destroyed, in
order that the Mexicans should never
| find the source Of the coveted treasure.
The secret of the exact location of the
mine has been well kept. The Indian
miners, frightened away by the Mexi.
cans, left for other localities. They have
long since passed away to their happy
hunting grounds. Romero has lived in
this valley all the intervening years,
much OF his time having been spent in
the service of the whites who long ago
came into the possession Of the lands and
home of his forefathers.
In our eastern hillsides undiscovered
mineral wealth awaits the fortunate
prospector. Coal has been found in sew.
eral places, silver here and there, and
traces Of gold in the beds of brooks that
head in the mountains. What the In.
dian afiirms may yet be proven to be
fact. Then additional glory will attach
to the far-spread fame Of Napa Valley.