Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-01-24
THE LOST TREASURE.
a TRUE STORY OF MEXICO.


la the year 500 during the adminlstra-
ton OF our seventh president, Andrew
Jackson, q Spanish gentleman who from
his boyhood had lived in Mexico, and who
during his sojourn in that country had
amassed considerable treasure, was called
back TO Spain on urgent business. AT
the period OF which we write Miguel
Cropoli was scventy.threo years OF age.
His wife died when he was sixty-nine
leaving him n boy, peto, who was twelve
years OF age. Miguel's treasure amounted
TO several million dollars. AZ first the
old gentleman was iu great porplexity as
10 what he should do with his money II
was much TO huge and bulky to transport
TO Spain, besides he could hardly spare
the time, 80 urgent was the business, AT
length a happy thought occurred To him;
ne would bury his treasure. But then
the question came "where?n Ntiglel at
tins moment remembered cave at tho
head of small spring near the Rio Blanco
river. With the aid OF several workmen
he built small door ut the entrance OF
the cave, which could be opened hy means
Of secret spring This done he bought
several mules and carts, aud after putting
hts treasure IN sacks he started for the
cave accompanied by two Mexican ser-
wants, Jose and Carlos, Arriving at the
cavern, Miguel touched the spring and
the door few open as quickly as the Won
derfu door In the Arabian Nights. With
the aid Of Carlos and J ose the treasure was
! inferred In the cave After gazing some
time on his work, with satisfaction he
hung large gilded cross on the root OF
the cave, and then selling his gun he shot
the two servants Carlo aud Jose and with
the aid OF wires placed their bodies In an
upright position, as sentinels at the door.
Together they formed ghastly spectacle;
each holding musket In their long hands,
Miguel now made his exit from the close
air in the cave TO the pure air OF nature.
Touching the spring the door closed; be
now planted small hedge OF bushes 10
front OF The entrance which completely
screened the door. But he was not yet
satisfied. Hunting around he al length
found mlssive rock on which he carved
an. c." and large bird. On the goth
day OF September 1929 Miguel Cropoli ac-
companied by his son Peto started for
! Spain where they arrived in short time
after. They remained In Madrid for about
two months, and then went 10 Palos
Spain, intending to embark for Vera Cruz.
But, alas for the vain expectancy OF NOR
tai lifel Miguel CropOll was suddenly
StilShfh WIN upOpltANf vi WliVH HV ulcu
December 81, 1929, His body was given
Christian burial by his friends In Palos.
! Ieto was yet too young to start for Vera
Cruz alone. He accordingly remained
with some friends in palos until he arrived
at the age OF twenty-nino Bearing a
chart OF the cave and surroundings giving
, him full instructions from his father, he
, embarked for Vera Cruz where he arrived
March so, 1916. He had intended 20 go
Immediately to III Monte, the
! former home OF his father, but an un-
looked for OBSTACLE now presented itself /;
, namely the war with Mexico The cause
OF this war was, as all Ynow, the quarrel
between Texas and Mexico. Texas
claimed the Rio Grande river, Mexico the
Nueces as the dividing line Tho United
States now undertook the Texan quarrel.
Gen. Taylor was sent into the disputed
, territory, and toward the close of Aprll
5 1886 built Fort Brown, on the Rio Grande,
, War was now formally declared on both
sides. Gen. Taylor who had gone 20
: Point Isabel for supplies was attacked at
J Palo Alto by the Mexicans under Gen.
Santa Anna, but after hard fought battle
the Mexlcans were defeated. The next
day another battle was fought at "ResGua
de la Palma aud the Mexicans were
IhSHih ''ANSNeNs wv N+AOlbAl AAAAt viz ave
: antage of being II personal friend of
1 Santa Anna, and was accordingly APP
. pointed member of the Mexican gcner-
! ais staff. We can no better describe
Peto's adventures In the Mexican war than
by giving Il short synopsis of the different
battles, The Mexican garrison at Matp-
/ moras was attacked by Gen. TAYLOR with
q small force, and after much fighting was
captured by the Americans. Santa Anna
was now president of the Mexican Repub.
lie and commander-in-chief OF her forces.
, With fine army consisting Of 20, 900 en-
thusiaetic MeXicans, he marched against
Gen. Tay lor at Buena Vista The Amerl-
cans numbered but 5000 men, but each
man seemed TO equal four Mexicans 80
a desperately did they fight. After pitched
! battle Of fifteen minutes the Mexicans
!. were repulsed with great loss. Santa
4 Anna after reorganlzing his army moved
:, his forces TO the heights of Cerro Gnrdo,
4 His new army consisted OF $4,000 men.
: With these he proceeded TO iortiiy the
. heights In such manner that they
!. seemed inyincihle. But, be this as II
!. may, Gen. Scott stormt q and carried most
OF his positions. La this battle 5000 Mex
leans were captured aud Pueblo, q city
containing some $4,000 inhabitants, was
y w tllt FiShOliONn
! Gen. Santa Anna now rallied TO hIs stan.
dard 10000 Mexicans, intending TO strike
decisive blow. With this immense army
he fortified all the roads leading TO the
b City OF Mexico. Meanwhile Generals
u Pillow and Twiggs, after spirited fight
lasting only eighteen minutes, captured
the camp at Contreros and the heights Of
= churubusco. Gen. Worth now stormed
9 and captured San Antonio. Generals
Shields and Pierce after three assaults,
captured the beautiful fortress Of Chapul-
tcpec and Santa Anna and his officers
q were compelled 10 fee. On the 18th day
Of September, 1916, the flag OF the United
States fioated over the City % Mexico, the
ancient and ycnerated home OF the Mon
teznmas. The war being now finished
Peto Cropoli set out for El Monte on d
Spanish pony given him by Santa Anna
, and dog which had been his companion
for five years. He continued his journey
for two days. Al ~ O'Clock on the third
day OF his journey, the earth seemed 10
give way under his hUise's feet and soon
horse and man were precipitated into d
dense cavern and buried under pile OF
earth and rocks The dog, which had
followed him In life, remained with him
In death. We must now leave these two
! ineeparablc companions faithful 70 each
other IN death, and complete our Journey
70 FL Monte.