Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-02-25

The Arizona Citizen Of the 23rd has
the following interesting items: MIR.
Dave Burrow brought in couple OF
Spanish silver dollars on Friday, taken
from mine that Col. White and him
self are working, about seven miles
southwest of Tucson. The coins bear
date respectively 1921 and 1906, and
when first found they were couoded
with age and exposure. They are now
in the possession of Mr.. s. II. Drach-
man, who will be nappy to exhibit them
to any one.
From the best information attainable,
Mr.. Burrow having at once returned to
continue his Investigations, the follow
ing are the circumstances attending the
discovery. The mine, or rather pros
pect being worked by Mr.. Brrrow. gave
some evidence of previous workings after
the top earth had been removed. The
boulders were of different character
from the surrounding country rock and
were evidently placed in position with the
intention to wall up the aperture. The
curiosity of the workers was very great
| ly excited upon realizing that such care
| had been exercised TO obliterate all
traces of the former work, and they re-
doubled their exertions to penetrate
| further into the hill. At last they
opened veritable tunnel, narrow and
| low, dark and descending into the hill
For time their courage failt d them, as
the task Of penetrating the mysterious
depths upon hands and knees, or in
stopping posture, was fraught with pos
sible danger. Not the least draft OF air
came forth, and only damp and musty
odor of decay was perceptible. They
had no candles, and finally torches were
improvised with bacon grease, strips Of
clothing and empty cans. The light
sputtered and fickered as they entered,
and the air grew more oppressive as
they descended, although the opening
grew larger. The lights grew DINNER
and it was becoming painfully evident
that the air was foul and unfit to
breathe. They had grown quite gddy
and almost ielirious when they dis
covered some scattered silver coins
Just ahead, and beyond them several
ollas, one or two of which were broken,
allowing the coins they had probably
contained to roll to the ground. This
was in an enlarged part of the cave or
tunnel and the men had only enough
time to take in the dimly lighted sur
roundings with single glance when the
lights ceased to burn because of the bad
air, and, nearly suffocated themselves,
they made faint grasp at the treasure
and su cceeded in getting only two Of the
coins. How they again reached the
open air they can hardly explain them
selves. Their heads seemed to be
swollen to twice the natural size; there
was roaring sound as of great waters
falling laundering in their ears; every.
thing was dark before them; their
breasts heayed SIS though nauseated
or poisoned, and it was only the in
stinctive effort at self-preservation that
sometimes exerts itself even when the
senses are palsied and the blood is riot
ing in frenzy through the distented
veins, that brought them out from the
depths into the bright sunshine and
fresh air. For hours they lay sick and
part OF the time unconscious, until the
cooling shades Of nightiall restored them
sufficiently to permit them to reach their
crude beds, but the next morning they
were again in health, with only spas
modic symptom of weakness to remind
them Of their narrow escape from terri
BILE death.
What the result.of their further inves-
LEGATIONS will be, no one can even sur
mise at this time. They have prepared
to force fresh air into the tunnel and are
provided with lights and ropes and will
thoroughly explore the wonderful treas
ure house before the public is made
aware Of ITS extent and contents.