Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-15
MARIA ROMAN NINE.
An Ola Woman. o ..n Of ssors'y Regard

Ing a nuuAr -
SEA- Fagcarl -1n.c.s NoH,trey LG,cr.
The excitement ovey the discovery Of
the supposed Maria Roman mine is
sdli increasing Several parties left to-day
and many others are making preparations
togo. TIE mine Is located about thirty
miles from here, rear the bend Of the
Carmel River, agd good wagon road leads
10 wittin six miles Of where the mine il
located Those who have come from there
say thsta lsrge number Of claims have
been taken up. Many people are arriving
daily.
There seems 20 be a conflict Of opiuicu
among he old re iieats here IN Mtn'ery,
many rttlsing to believe that the old mine
has been d discovered. According 10 the
story of tbe old Indisns, old Aunt
Sais." ss sac is called, would leave the
mission iu toe morning ard would oi,en
return the same day. bringing with her a
large quantity eli silver ore. the mine
shich hss been di covered Is about thirty
milss ON ihe mission, ~ rough coun-
r7. ard 70 wouli be impossible for any
ola 90 mske the trip 90 fJot IN less than
three days
Ord Aunt Maria" is still living in Car
mal. and is now tighty-fivs years Of age.
When sse1 by q Chronicle correspondent
and iuiafued OF the discovery OF the mine,
she became greatly excited, and l. vas
several minutes before she could be IL
luced Go speak, "a she seemed to he IN a
sia.e ol for Ga being informed ss 10 the
location of the mice she seemed 70 be great
y relieved, and remarked Ia Spanish:
"Thev are fooled A great many Ques-
lions rere pnt to her 10 regard 20 the mine.
but she seemed 20 De in great fear when
tHe vcri 'mine' WOald be mentioned,
aud nothing could he leaned from her
With emile en- will eel. of The good Old
mission pafres and the vas. amount OF
lands ~bich they had. Although she Is
over eigbty-6ve years Of age, she often
visits he OLD Cumel Mission, walking the
distance OF eight miles.
From Francisco Rico, an old oit'zsn OF
Monterey, the following Information IS
cleaned: Ia 1853 old Aunt Maria"
brought lsrge amount Of silver ore 90 the
store of David Spence and exchanged IL for
calico and provisions. Mr. Spence was
.strrisbed at The rich ore ana tried IN
.velv manner Co induce the old woman 10
rem I'm wbere she found The rock. but
,,B'8 YET no information. Tnat same
YEAR Mr. Spence senta large nmcunt Of the
ore which be had purchased az different
times. 20 Peru By Capt. Cooper 70 have II
-s.avei. and il was reported that it yield
Cd 50 600 a to-.
Mr. Rico, when be heard the report Of
tbs assay. went 20 Mrs. p Amsstis, one Of
t.e lesding ladies Of this place, and who
asa great friend OF The ,udians, and tried
IN gsr her to sad ont from Old Maria the
Location of the mius She took her 20 an
.,id house where she had q furnace and also
. iar,s Quantity Of rock, and showed her
hos Sire gos the silver CIT. She seemed
hi be siihDQ TO give heT al that she had
and hiring her more silver, bat would not
8ivpl,s the secret, which the old mission
rsdres had advised her to keep. IL ap-
nssrs chat whenever the Indians discover
I'd or feard Of anything important thsT
sr.t tbought was to lay IL before the mis-
sion psdres. and they WOuld act IN
der their sdvice According 70 the
s,stsment Of Old Maria Roman, when che
discovered this niue, she AZ once went 10
~ nsdres. who advised her never TO re
v.sl En- not even 20 her children. They
i,fo-ns5 her that on account al It's great
-iehness. If j. were known throughout the
,gorl6 large numbers OF white men would
a,cl The country, kill sill the padres, de-
800 ths missions sad kill and drive the
r,diaus from their lands. she accordingly
--,l- IN cath thst she would never revesl
tre location, sad sesms TO this day 70 live
IN fssr OF her life, lest tbs mine NAV be
g1nd and the prediction OF the padres
come true
She has time and sgain bsen offered
larrs amounts Of money 70 reveal the
,vh-r-sbouts OF the m ne, and always gives
me same answer: promised tie padres
n-ver Cd tell, and l d0n't want 10 bs
kr.d.n Sic VIII 70 on and describe the
grsst excitement which would fellow, and
Sow De Indians would have to rCn away
10 save their lives
n, 1864 Rico. who had never given up
hone Of discovering the mine, II ally IN
5,r.3 a s,n Of old Maria, who had often
49,. win bsr 60 tie NINE, end who Is
81 only cae Decides her who knoWs ne
ig,,tio.' 10 tel. him where II wss.
w- Bic, took ire boy 70 ore ct
IA stores In Monterey ard gave him $50
wor,b nj provisions. he appeared 10 be
d-.i,btsd with the gift, and promised to
s,,onnsny Rico 10 the mountains. NJ.
10 made the necessary prspsTations, and
II company with several eluzens ano me
Indian boy started for the mine. A few