The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-07-12
oOLO-OIooING PRIESTS.
Mines Worked by the Padres Before the
Days Of tho Forfy-bIbers.

Wofktu tno
Days Of the Foriy-DiDers.
The discovery OF the old gold mines
near the San Bernardino mission re-
calls the traditions the Indians tell OF
the priests and friars who brought
civilization 10 California and who
reared the cross In It's fertile valleys
and on smiling hillsides ere the Stars
and Stripes had been borne across the
mountains. Nearly every mission has
its legend OF hidden gold and mines
concealed by the hand OF time.
For years the people about San Ber-
nardino searched with never-fail-
ing hope for the treasure that ira
dition told of, and last week the toilers
were rewarded, and rich veins Of gold
quartz were found. Twenty miles east
OF the town trail was discovered up
the canyon. Every evidence was there
OF "A Mexican road, up which the padres
and the poems had gone TO work tho
mines, and down which they had come
loaded with the gold that had embel-
lished the altars and enriched the gem
cral church or made wealthy the God
fearing priest II seems strange that
the trail escaped the notice OF the
scarchcrs so long. Thrce-quarters Of
n mile from its origin canyon
branches Oft at right angles, and few
hundred yards further on the first OF
the old mines is in view. A tunnel
twenty feet into the mountain proves
that the padres did not spend all their
time at prayers. The moss and great
trees growing In the excavations show
the time that has elapsed since the
original pOssessOrs worked the claims.
A few blows OF the pick, displacing the
moss and fungi, have revealed rich
vein Of gold quartz that will make tho
second owners wealthy.
Some time ago the tunnel OF tho
mine that had been worked by tho
padres OF the San Luis Obispo mission
was discovered. The vein extended
through the Sugar Loaf peak, In tho
Santa Lucia range. A great oak barred
the mouth OF the tunnel, but did not
deter the eager hunters from making
their way inside They were rewarded
by finding rich ore, containing silver
In paying quantities. When the secu-
larization OF the State began the priests
returned TO Spain, carrying with them
gold worth fabulous sum.
A Mexican woman, who is In the
household OF rich Spanish family OF
San Luis Oblspo, tells the story OF a
young padre who staggered under the
weight OF the bullion he was carrying
away. lie called her in one day and
had her make lining for his coat. In
IL were quilted nuggets OF the precious
metal. At different times during the
work OF quilting the ambitious padre
tried oi the coat TO try whether he
could bear the weight Then he stag
gerod forth and walked bravcly on
board the ship that was TO bear him to
his home
The traditions that were told OF tho
gold about the missions OF Santa Bar
bara, San Juan Capistrano, San Ga
briel, San Diego and San Francisco
have kept many men busy for years,
and Captain Kidd's chests have not
been sought for with more eagorness
than are those mines and hidden treas
urcs. Every one knows the story OF
the mino OF tho mission OF San Fran
cisco. IL Is located between the House
Of Correction and the ocean; exact
spot unknown.
There was good reasons for tho
efforts the priests made TO conceal
OF the Church OF Rome, with no re-
gard for the laws OF mcum ct tuum.
the dcsperadocs who had been driven
from civilization 10y the strong had OF
the law sought To take from the mis-
sions what the inmates had gathered
by toll and sacrifice. The mission OF
San Gabriel, in Los Angeles County,
was the scene Of many bloody foray.
II was In the midst OF country where
might was right and whore the strong
did no work that would make the same
returns as those that might be taken
from the rich. Time and again was
San Gabriel's pillagcd by the despera-
docs. But one night the rutllans were
slaughtered in ambush, and peace
reigned until another band arose.
II is quito likely the mines OF tho
missions will all be discovered, and
with them the treasure trove OF San
Gabriel, besides which may be found
the bones OF the poems. guarding n
trust, the secret of which they were
not considered worthy OF sharing. -
San Francisco Chronicle.
49, -------~
HE WAS STRAIGHT.