St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-09-07
GOi-D-DiGGiNG PRIESTS.
Mines wosked ny the Padres Before the
Days Of the For. y.biners.

| Mines Worked ny the Padres Before the
Days Of the For. y.niners.
The discovery of the old gold mines
lear the San Bernardino mission re-
calls the traditions the Indians tell ol
lie priests and friars who brought
civilization to California and who
ceared the cross in its fertile valleys
and on smiling hillsides ere the Stars
and Stripes had been borne across the
Mountains. Nearly every mission has
Is legend of hidden gold and mines
concealed by the hand of time.
For years the people about San Ber-
,ardino 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 Mexican road. up which the padres
and the poems had gone to work the
mines. and down which they had come
loaded with the gold that had embel-
lished the affairs and enriched the gem
eral church or made wealthy the God
fearing priest. 1t seems strange that
the trail escaped the notice OF the
searchers so long. Three-quarters of
a mile from its origin a canyon
branches off at right angles, and a 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 Il rich
vein OF gold quartz that will make the
second owners wealthy.
Some time ago the tunnel of the
mine that had been worked by the
padres of the san Luis Obispo mission
was discovered. The vein extended
through the Sugar Loaf peak, in the
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
i'm paying quantities. When the secu-
iarization 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 Obispo. tells the story of n
YOU ng padre who staggered under the
weight of the bullion he was carrying
away. He called her in one day and
nad her make "a lining for his coat. In
1t were quilted nuggets of the precious
metal. At different times during the
work Of quilting the ambitious padre
sricd o. the coat to try whether he
could bear the weight. Then he stag
gered forth and walked bravely on
board the ship that was 10 bear him TO
his home.
The traditions that were told OF the
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
oeen sought for with more eagerness
,han are those mines and hidden treas
dres. Every one knows the story of
cisco. 1t is located between the House
of Correction and the ocean; exact
spot unknown.
There was good reasons for the
efforts the priests made to conceal
their wealth. Needless of the curse
of the Church of Rome, with no re-
gard for the laws of meum ct tuum.
the desperadoes who had been driven
from civilization by the strong had OF
:he 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.
vas the scene of many a bloody foray.
II was in the midst of a country where
might was right and where the strong
lid no work that would make the same
-eturns as those that might be taken
from the rich. Time and again was
San Gabriel's pillaged by the despe.a-
ioes. But one night the ruftlans were
slaughtered in ambush. and peace
,cigned until another band arose.
1t is quite likely the mines of the
missions will all be discovered. and
with them the treasure trovc of San
Gabriel, besides which may be found
The bones of the poems. guarding a
trust, the secret of which they were
aot considered worthy of sharing
San Francisco Chronicle.
Reflections OF a Wise Man.