The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-01
IN A CAVERNOUS mine.
A Story of Undiscovered Wealth
That Taxes Ones Credulity
Very Much.
CHASTITY Skeletons in Underground
Places, Miners to Whom
Death Game Suddenly.
The Entrance Known Only to One Mex
lean Prospector and the Secret
Died With Him.

HousTos, Tex. Aug. 3O.-It was the for
tune of the writer, a few days ago, while on
on q train running between Ell PasO and San
Antonio, to meet Col. D. RIA we'll known
and respected citizen of the former place.
When short distance from the little town
of Warwick, the colonel. pointing to the
cloudlike forms of the Sierra Santiago
Mountains, exclaimed do you see those
peaks? Well, it was there that had, about
thirty years ago. an adventure that equals
anything that HagRard ever wrote" Pressed
to tell the story, he said: II have had such
hard work convincing those to whom have
already related it, that I was not, to say
the least of it, the victim Of a delusion, l
rather dread the task. but assuring you that
every word is the solemn truth, will put
your faith in me to the test
at WAS in 1S6O--late in October, if re-
member rightly-that l was paid visit in
my Office by mai who gave his na1ns as
Miguel Romero. This man, seemingly a
Mexican with good deal of Indian in him,
with cautious and mysterious air, having
won my promise of secrecy, informed me
that he had discovered in the Sierra Santa
90 mountains silver mine. 1t had been
worked to some extent by the Aztecs but
enough of the ore remained to make both OF
us millionaires hundred times over. re-
fused to believe in his story. when, from
his pocket he drew lump of ore, which
even my inexperienced eyes told me was
rich in silver.
discovery was to secure my help in working
the mine, for he knew that capital was
needed to begin operations. ! then told
him that if things were as he stated them l
would have no difficulty whatever in form
ing stock company to work it on shares,
but that before l made n move about 1t
should have to view the mine for myself.
10 this he readily agreed, only STIMULATING
that | should allow myself to be bind
order that l might not act unfairly to-
ward him, and on my demurrlng to this
condition, quietly pocketed his specimen
and turned TO leave the room.
"Not wishing to lose a possible good
thing, called him back. agreeing to the
blindfolding, but, on my side, claiming the
right to take a friend with me. He was
quite willing. and the next mornings sun
found the Mexican, myself and AL old
friend who had soldiered with me in the
Mexican war, named Will X. whom ! had
chosen to accompany me, on me ROAD 70
the mountains. we feacneO tnelu aDout
noon, and, entering gorge to-. tol,
striking off into a sort OF
cleft, right through the side of one of the
knobs, were halted by our guide, who an
nounced that we were here to dlsmount and
tie our horses, after which. if we would
kindly allow our eyes to be bound, he would
lead us into the mine.
AFTER blind folding us, Romero took uE
by the hands, and, with verbal directions
also, conducted us along very narrow ra-
vine, as l could tell from our echoinG
voices, then up steep incline for some
minutes, after which we descended. Al
down on our all-fours. This we did, and
crawled into hole about three feet across.
/ should judge. X. leading, going next and
Romero bringing up the rear. We were in
a small, low passage, which, dipping some
times suddenly, often necessitated our
ducking our heaus and wriggling along Hat
to the earth. But a few minutes of this
sufficed to bring US into a larger cavity, az
could tell by the air and sound, and here
we we're told by Romero that we might re-
move our bandages.
Clearing them away, we found ourselves
in q cavern some fifty by seventy-ave feet
in size, with low ceiling, which barely al.
lowed Of one standing erect. 1t was light.
ed by rude lantern, which Romero must
have brought with him, and which showed
us piles of earth, pick-axes of a strange
and awkward make, buckets OF unfamiliar
shape, and rs many an ten human figures
lying about. So lifelike were the men who
were scattered around, that but for tn
they the ricor of the limbs | coul'
have sworn they still lived. 'Aztecs
Romero told me, seeing me bending owe
one, but that they were not l was con
place, the facial angle and the feature
told me that they were of Caucasia
origin, and in the second, the buckets an
pickaxes were of iron, metal ur
known to the Aztecs. l had n
way of knowing of what comple1io
dress resembled that of the anciel
Egyptians, except for the head dress, whic
consists of a sort of skull cap. Their att
tudes seemed to indicate that they ha
been suddenly surprised by some fat
catastrophe, which only gave them time
realize the hopelessness OF their situatlo
The tools, the piles of earth and the mel
together with the floor and sides OF the ca
ern. were all covered with thin dust-co
ored film, as hard az stone, though slight
translucent. What its nature was cannt
tell.
1.-The air of the cavern was suffocatinRl
hot, indeed SO hot that We were bathed
SNAASA~eS
real discomfort. l do not exaggerate whe
/ say that the temperature was about l:
degrees Fahrenheit. Romers was very in
patient for us to finish our inspection {
this chamber, from which lead CALLER
about six feet in width, SO We did not liz
ger, thinking to examine it at our leisur
but pushed on down the gallery. The he'
grew greater, and the Mexican began
grow worried. 1T was not so when l can
last week. he said to me. l put out n
hand and touched the walls of the passag
They were SO warm that l could not su
tain the contact. but could see that Il
indications of rich vein of silver we
present.
After following this gallery for nearly
hundred feet, our progress was abrupt
checked by a huge rock, which had e,
IDENTIFY been sucked in or driven in by sol
tremendous force, and which complete
closed the passage, and as tightly as
cork in bottle. This, Romero inform