Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-05
SILVER In MISSOURI.
SPANISH TRaoiTloNSA sTo TREASURE
IN THE WtiiTE-RiVER VALLEY.
A Miacr's story Of a Cave to Which He
Was Directed by an Aged
Spaniard.


DcTnocT0f SAYS: Wherever the adventurous
Spaniard set his foot on the American
continent there fingers to-day the spell OF
some legendary romance, ana no part OF
the great Southwest is more haunted with
Spanish traditions than the Wnite-hiver
Valley. Thoreare many interesting stories
and legends about mines and hidden irea-
sure that are too imaginary for serious
consideration, hat the following story. told
the t,lo6s- D,soor1a correspondent by a
man OF extensive mining experience IS
well worth reproducing.
I hid for many wears believed that the
traditions about old Spanish silver mines
In the Mhite-River Valley were founded on
fact. had found these stones from the
Mississippi river 10 the Rio Grandc, and
while they differed much in details, there
was always an agreement IA 10 the essen
tial fact that the Spaniards once obtained
silver in largo Quantities near the line OF
the present States of Missouri and Arkan-
sas Being a miner myself and wei ac-
ouaintcd with the White-kivcr country,
saw nothing improbable III these stores.
/ knew that the lead, copper, and
Zsnozmines 10 this locality did show
traces Of the precious ore and | could not
helm Welding more or less credcnce 70 the
constantly recurring traditions of tho lost
Spanish mines. | heard stores from so
many different sourcCs-from the old SET,
tiers on White river. Indian chiefs; and
even Spaniards. Several years ago was
in Mexico on BUSINESS. There / became
acquainted with one Otero, an old Spaniard
OF very prominent family. Otero was
ninetv-fve wears old when | met him,
Though as straight rs an arrow and tull
of vigor for ono of his age. | had learned
20 speak the Spanish language sum
GENTLY well 20 converse lnteuigently WIN
the old man. and found him very interest
Ii q ha hte Il
ple. and wa familiar with the whole coun-
trv cast Of the RIO Grande to the hissls-
sippi riyr-. When he found that lived on
White river he made many inquiries
about the country. ] soon discovered tnat
he had travelled through that section
himself and remembered very distinctly
the features Of the country. He knew
White river from the head 90 the mouth
like a boy knows his fathers spring
branch. He could describe the leading
tributaries of the stream and could nave
drawn a. accurate map OF SOuthW@t
Missouri and Northern Arkansas rs most
men living on the borders OF these States;
I became satisfied that the SpanId mad
not travcrsed the Whitc-Kiver Valley so
often without good cause. HIS continued
interest in the country confirmed my sus-
uciun that he was IN possession OF the
secret of the Traditional silver-mlDes. ana
| plicd him with all manner of leading
questions on the subject. At last he told
me that he was going TO make one more
visit 10 the White River country, and wa
going to take with HIM has youngest son.
4 MYSTERIOUS VISIT.
The old urau would not. however. tell me
fhe object Of this visit. but felt sure that
II had relation 20 some important secret.
found out when ne contemplated leaving
Mexico for White river, aEd ask ed the priv
4 lrlTu has A
We had become quite intimate 10y tins time
INV company was accepted. and made ar
rangelnonts 30 leave Mexico with the two
Spaniards / WAS now deeply Interested IN
the object Of the old mans mission 70 the
White-Riyer country, and resolved II pos
sihle 10 discover his secret. The day
came for our departure, and we three
started for White river on horseback.
Otero did not regard the hardships of the
long Journey any more than ms vigorous
son. lie rode as brave as "A Spanish knight
of the old school. and ] saw IN his proud
bearing the same spirit that wrested from
the ancient Aztccs the crown of the
Montszumas. As ouT Journey progressed
we became more and more familiar, and
questioned The old Spanisrd again and
noaiu about the stories of silver IN the
White-iIvcr region. At last he told
me thcre was silver IN that country, and
that the SpamHds had worked the mines
away back IN the latter part of the SIX
trenth century. Since the CessiOn of the
Territory of Louisiana 10 France the MINES
had been kept "a close secret. known only
10 "a few Spaniards aud carefully handed
down from generation to generation.
Thee in posse ssion of the secret had care
hlig drawn maps Of the locality of the
MINES and "way-bIllsN tor guides TO the
precious ore. Ofcro himself had made
several trips 20 he mines and had assisted
- Ia. on q
Az UNwEITTEN LEGEND.
Before the country became settled by
WHITE people the SpaniaTds had coined
much Of the ore at The mines 1hls mad
not been done for MANY wears. When he
last visited The mines his party had coined
more Of the ore than they were able 10
take away. Tins coin. together with
quantity Of bullion. had been buried near
white river for future use. as the parties
migut be able 10 recover II. Ihe ola
Spaniard was the only survivor of that
parry, and with INN the secret would die
miles, he should Ice able to find the
spot and make it known TO ms son.
Tins was the obiect of his pres
eut trip. lie could not live much
longer. and had but little use sfor
silver, but ms son WAS Young. and to HIM
the secret must be- disclosed. He had maps
and way-bills" of the White River cOun-
v.
be found. When we reached the white
River Valley found the old mans memory
of the country had not failed HIM. The
region Was much changed since he
last saw ii by the busy hand of civilization,
but still the Spanlard recognized the old
landmarks. He made frequent references
TO his secret maps and way-bllls,'
and kept on ms course TO the pre-
cious goal without the slightest diff
"A IVA
from the eve ol every searcher that
might hunt for hidden silver. Nothing
Int miracle of chance could ever disclose
the secret to any living man but hln. lie
knew the buried silver would be found
Just as il had been left years ago. AT last
We came TO place in the Mhlte-hiver hills
where the old Spaniard stopped and looked
around him with an eager, searching gaze
He took out his map and "way- bills and
examined them closely for several minutes
Then, surveying the surrounding country
again with his keen, flashing eye, seemed
treasured Of his sltustOn and bearings
Gnd turning to me said
wm.RE TIE TREASURE WAS HIDDEN.
"Here we must part. | cannot let you
GO with me any farther aIn now but IA few
hours ride from the end of my Journey.
Prom here no one but my son must accom-
pany me. We viii soon reach the spot
where the folu anu btAiAi'h WNlt yu'ltN
when 1 made the last visit to the silver
mines There Is more silver III tins country
than and my son will ever need. will
not tell YOU all | know abOnt the odd
Spanish mines in the White River Valley,
but | viii make known TO Won one secret.
You have been kind 10 me and ! VIII repay
you. The Spanlads found silver III more
than one place. 1t abOunds throughout
this country on both sides of the
river Here is way-biu TO cave in
the Ozark mountains, where we found sll-
yer years ago IN nch quantities. IL is an
old spanish mine and once well known 10
our people. / have been there myself and
know that the precious ore can be found.
~ yOu follow this "way-bn" correctly
you can fnd the cave. The mouth of the
cave is small and the entrance difficult,
but after going short distance you Will
find plenty Of room. When you have gone
about eighty feet IN the cave you will
come 20 stream crossing the avenue.
The silver Is beyond this stream.
We used 10 cross 1t In q skif, which
we lett fastened 10 an iron staple
Hwo1 in The rock IN the