Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-12
TREASURE TR0VE.
An Immense Amount OF Wealth Said TO be
Hicdtn NsnFCIesr Creek Canyon, Col.
Tnenyer (l,oi a Naus

An Immense Amount OF Wealth Said 10 he
Hicd,n NsaECIesr Creek Canyon, Col.
lDenser Coll News
II isn't often that one runs across
story Of olden times. and especially Of
times in the wild, Wild West, that has
the semblance Of truth, but a story told
by a Mexican who was recently in the
city has fsvoring Of probability about
it. OF course it is legend handed
down TO him by his ancestors, and, of
course, the story has been told before,
but it will bear repeating because the
Nasquez canyon alluded to is now
known as Clear Creek canyon:
In the years l679-l6S0 the Indians
of New Mexico, goaded to fury by the
Spapiards, rose against them all and
made a general massacre Of all the
Spanish settlers in that whole terrific
II, FL Paso alone escaping destruc-
ton. Among those whom by previous
good and Just treatment of the natives
had won their confidence was a Castil-
ian family Of the name Of Villagra,
whose ancestors 100 years before had
settled in New Mexico in the valley of
the Upper Adjourn. The family con-
sisted of the father, Don Benito, six
sons, named Juan, Jesus, Ramon, San
chez, Sando,al, and Rico three daugh-
tiers, Dolores, Chuchita, and Carolina,
with seven Biscay retainers from the
old Spanish estate Of the Yillagras.
Settled on the Abiquin above TERRA
Amailla, the Villsgras had obtained
grant of fifty Csballeries de TERRA.
Here they farmed, had vast herds of
goats and sheep exceeding 100000,
over 1000 good horses and mules, and
$4,000 head Of cattle. So time passed
away in those days previous to the
massacre. The villsgras, father and
sons, controlled with their retainers
over 1000 poems. who were employed
On herders, laborers, and mechanics
Everything was made on the estate--sl
the cloth, leather, blankets, pottery,
tools, powder, cutlery, even firearms an(
saddlery. Iron and copper were ther
smelted in rude way, and gave then
Jail that was needed for their crude
n but useful ware. But another fact was
not SO well known. How was it that
yearly from twenty to thirty mule.
loads Of silver and gold were forward
ed from Abiquin by devious mountain
trails to Old Mexico, thence to Mazat-
Ian, returning in four months time
with loads Of the rich goods Of the
East Indies and China, with Spanish
manufactures from Manillas
Then was the mystery. Time at
last has divulged the secret, but not
that Of the source Of the mineral wealth
Of the Yillsgras. #.
As before remarked, the Pueblo In
dams Of the Valleys Of Abiquin, San
Juan, etc., etc., had been well treated
and always well received by the wealthy
ranchero and his family. When sick
they had medical treatment, when
hungry they were fed, and their
rights protected at all times. APP
preciating all this, the Pueblos, I'M
able to do anything for their generous
neighbor, had impaired to him alone
their secret, secret heretofore reli-
siously and constantly kept from the
know ledge OF the grasping Spaniard,
whose a,arice had ground down0ld Mex
leo for over one and one half centu-
ries. Far of from the villsgrs hscien-
Do, in the recesses Of the awful gran |