Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-12-28
HIDDEN WEALTH.
Some CuriositieS Concealed in Mexico-For-
tunate Discoveries.
Two Repuhli,S

Some Curiosities Concealed in Mexico-For-
tunate Discoveries
| Two Republics
The eupidity of the Spsnisrds who
landed with Cortez upon the shores of
Mexico YVES first melted by the golden
trirSets which the Indians brought TO
| them in exchange for European tswdry.
Ii WAS the love of the precious metals
tast led them TO deeds of bravery far
eclipsing anything of modern years and
| sqasl'ns the exploits of the oiden knights.
The history of the torture of MonteEpms
for She purpose of sscertaininS the
point where the kingly treasure was
buried substantistes the fact of the real
object % the Spsnisrds in eonquerinc
the valley of the Anahusc.
Where was this vast treasure Of wealth.
which 1t Is claimed exceeded suythinS
then possessed by any European monarch,
buried! Some say 1t was buried beneath
the waters of Lake Texcoco, and Others
clsim on the present site of the Iturhi5e
hotel. Wherever it WAS = oeed its hiaipr
place still remains dead To the world.
Probably in no other country in the uni
verso are there more buried treasures
than in Mexico. Nearly every week cases
q
some part of the repull G. Bsnks in
Mexico are of recent origin. which fact,
with the former insecurity from revolu-
tions, probably in measure accounts for
the present finding of SO much coin aud
jewelry. The custom of slnklpg money
undsr bricks in the floors and plugging
it in holes in the walls commenced with
the occupation of the country by the
Spsniarcs. Even until TO day the custom
Is in V, que in many parts of Mexico.
The frequent revolutions With Nhich
Mexico was cursed up TO twelve Years ago
made 1t necessity for the priesIs to have
secret vaults 10 store the ornaments of
the wax images, the service of the church.
and the tlthes. That by death, sudden
departures, and other causes, the vaults
with their treasures IN time should Lave
been lost to the world is not miraculous
The latest discovery of treasure has
just been made in this city. woman
of advanced years has lived for short
time i'll room in the Old Regina convent.
on Regius street. she paid no r-ut, btr
quarts being given her by n ChsIi'a able
person whose name II not known. one
day while the old woman WAS driving a
nal in oue of the walls she noticed that
VI went Ii very easily, NOT giving the re-
quired resistance. lmpelled 10y curiosity
Ihe woman commenced To make an tx.
cavauuu in the wall, and wi h little labor
soon opeued cavity, in which she fuund
3 number of pieces Of silvt Eare, which,
1t is supposed, formed part Of the con.
vent church setvicc. The woman made
the discovery known to her beue factor,
who took Out the pieces OF plate, severely
reprimanding her for her curiosity, and
also telling her thRr they belonged TO him
and that she must keep the secret, prom
isiug thai he would give her It piece of
land where she could peacefully pass the
rest of her days. The Old lady con
timed living IN the room, however, aud
soon after made another excavation IN thr
wall, in which she discovered II sealed Ola
(eartnen jlr). She broke It. and III il dis
covered $40 or $40 iu old c0ins, a reli-
quarry i'll which was the wax bust of a monk
ON which WAS hardly IcgIble inscription,
and, moreover, souAe documents or deeds
to houses, and one telling OF a hidden
treasure with all descri ftions where it
was 10 be found. This time the Cd woman
did not TIL the charitable person of her
discovery. She went aud consulted Il
lawyer, to whom she took all the docu-
ments found, with the exception Of the
one telling OF the place where the treasure
was hidden. II Is said thaS gentleman
who learned of the discovery made by the
old woman purchased the land where :he
treasure IL supposed to he buried, and
has ali eady commenced hunting tor it.