Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-12
MURDERED In A MINE.
DEAD BODIES OF EIGHT MEXICAN TRBAS-
URB SEEKERS POUND
In The Mountains Of WyOmiDg-ROmanhc Story Of
an Old Chart-Sigus Of Most Desperate
Struggle-"MsxiCan Monte Has
Theory Of the Murders.

CHEYENNE, WYo., February 11.-A
party of Mexican prospectors who have
been in the Territory for some months
seeking a gold mine which was worked
hundreds of years ago by their ancestors
have been murdered, just as their quest
proved successful, it is believed. Jack
Keller, who came into town to-day for sup.
plies, reported that his party discovered
eight dead bodies at the mouth of the old
San Salvador mine, situated in the almost
inaccessible part of the mountain country.
Keller's band are wild horse hunters and
have been 6Oiug some prospecting. They
reached a pass near the abandoned mine
some days sgo and pushed forward more
out of curiosity than anything else. 1t was
not known that any one had tried to work
the mine in the last ten years. Evidences
OF fierce fight abounded, and in addition
to the bodies of the eight Mexicsns there
were indications that at least three of the
attacking parties had been killed and their
bodies carried Off The dead men Rad been
shot, and there were stab wounds on every
body, showing that the battle WAS hand
to-hand fight.
What caused the greatest surprise, how
ever, was the discovery that the mine had
recently been worked and Keller's party
believed that the victorious prospectors
have been taking out some rich ore.
1t was understood that the Mexicans
were on the lookout for a mine that had
bOen worked by Spsniards 200 years ago;
but outside Of that little was known of
their errand. There wers eight of them
in the party when they pessed through
Cheyenne last Fall, and their leaders, 9
name was Senor Don Miguel MARITIME
They were we'll equippei and, though very
reticent as to their errand, made a good
impression here and seemed to be of the
better clasg Of Mexic3ns. The only man
who was at all intimate with them was an
old gambler who IS know around this part
OF the country az Mexican Monte"
When Keller's story was told to-day
Monte consented to reveal what he knew
about the murdered party. They
told him, he Gays, that Martinez was
their leader, and that he had organized
the band in MOrillo, place in the eouth
OF Mexico. Under pledge of secrecy Monte
bad been Gllo owed a sight OF the parchment
chart which MARTINEZ carried in tin case
strapped around his body, and which was
the most precious article in their outfit.
This chart, Monte s9ys, is two hundled
years old and was made by Martinez's an
cestore. 1t gives the location of a valuable
gold mine which hsd been abandoned and
afterwards worked in secret. The chart
was lost for years, bat the story was an
heirloom in Martinez's family. 1t was to
the effect that after q quarrel among the
Spaniards who were working the mine,
they divided into two parties and agreed
to draw lots as to which should return to
Mexico with the bullion already secured.
Mar;inezs ancestor was the leader
Of the party that were to remain. The
Others, however, returned one night and
massscred those in possession, MARITIME
and friend alone escaping. The leader
was mortally wounded and died in the
mountains, but not before he he had drawn
4 rough chart of the mine. This was con-
lided TO his companion as legacy to his
children. The companion managed to
reach home after several months and deliv-
cred the chart. For years it had been lost,
but last spring ii was discovered hidden in
q cellar Miguel Martinez Immediately
organized the party and started for Wyom.
ing where it was believed the mine was To-
Gated. There are mines in the northern
part Of the Territory which scientists have
decided were worked by Spsniards in 1850
or thereabouts. The prospectors were di-
Iected towards these and it is believed
found the old San Salvador, which their
chart described. Having been told that
the mine had never been worked to pay
anything, they were probably unprepared
for the attack made upon them by those in
possession
1t is not known who the attacking party
are, but it is believed that they struck a
rich vein and were willing to defend their
find with their lives Keller says that the
bodies of the Mexicans were not mutilated,
that the Indians were not the at
tacking party. There were some silver
ornaments on their clothes which had not
been removed, but alongside of Msrtinez's
body was the empty tin case which had
contained the chart. Their horses were
missing and there was every indication
that the attacking party had left the scene
in baste, carrying their dead with them.
Mexican Monte" has theory that the
mine was not the one sought for after sll
snd that the Americans recognized from
the chart more valuable one, perhaps al
ready known to them, and have gone to
locate it.