Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-01
TREASURE IN RED RIVER.
Battle Between Comanches AMI LoufsIanians
in 1816-Goli Eulllon Thrown
In Red River
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
PARIS, TEX. Feb. 27.-The publica-
tion in THE GAZETTE of the finding of
the old Spanish fort on Red river has
been the subject of much speculation in
regard to the carly history of this sec
ton. and has brought out many versions
of the old Mexican tradition, all of which
bear out the theory that more than
century ago the Spaniards established a
mission at the place where the old fort
has been found in conversation with Col.
Mart Ragsdale, who settled in Red River
county years ago, the correspondent of
THE GAZETTE was told of a most inter-
esting scrap of history that has never be-
fore been published.
In 1915 q party of Louisianians left
Alexandria with train OF pack mules
loaded with goods of every description,
and went to the newly discovered gold
mines OF Santa Fe, New Mexico. The
party went up what was known to the
early settlers as the old Santa Fee trail,
which went up Red river to its
source. At the mines the goods
were sold at fabulous prices
and IN the latter part of the summer of
1916 the party started back with eleven
mules loaded with gold bullion They
were coming down the northern bank OF
Red river, when in the vicinity OF Lake
West near the mouth of Bots Arc, they
were attacked by COmanches and battle
was fought in which the Louisiana were
defeated on account of the overwhelming
numbers pitted against them. Finding
that it was impossible to escape with
hot
creek AMI crossed to the
Texas side. After they crossed
they were again attacked at a point
short distance below where n small
stream known as Red branch empties
into Red river. This point is about
twenty-five miles northwest of here, in
this county. All of the party, which at
time numbered forty men, were killed
except two Louisianians. On their way
back one of the men persisted; the other
reached his uncle s near Rapides river in
LOUISIANA, where he shortly afterward
died. The Mexican made his way to
Mexico.
The yonnR man who made his way to
his uncle's home had chart OF the place
where the gold was thrown in the creek.
Col. RagSdale is now in possession of this
chart, or copy of it, but he did not ia
Yor THE GAZETTE s correspondent with a
look at it. People who had heard the
story of the hidden bullion have at va
rious times in the last seventy years
searched for it, but so far as any one |
knows, without success. But just below |
the mouth OF Red branch, where the |
battle was fought there have been found |
at various times nineteen gun barrels. |
They were all old-fashioned yagers, and |
with one exception all wers battered st |
the muZZle and broken in the center. At |
the same place large numbers of human
bones have been found. The site of the
old battlefield is on a farm that was
opened up many years before the war
by VIZ. mcEwen who, the first year
be cultivated it, plowed up eight gun
brrrels. Across the river, dear Lake
West, where the first battle was fought,
two gun barrels have been found. One
Of these old gun-barrels belonged to the
ate DR.. Coles Of this city.
About thirty-i five years ago a Mexican
gentleman came to Paris aud stated that
be was the nephew of the Mexican who
escaped from the Comanches at the fight
1t the mouth Of Red branch, and that
lis uncle gave him full description of
he place where the bullion had been
brown in the creek. At the
lime there was Mexican liv-
rg here known as Pedro. The
Gentleman employed Pedro to go with
linn as q guide. In few DAYS Pedro
'ame with the Mexican s horse and other
hings, among which was a very fine sill
yer mounted pistol. When the war came
Up Capt. Milton Webb, who is still
esident OF this city, purchased 1t from
'edTo and carried il to the army. There
G no doubt but that Pedro murdered the
Mexican, but as it was done in the Ter
itory and there were no witnesses to it,
he matter was never investigated by the
curtis.