Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-08-22
AZTEC MINE. A Find of Twenty Years
 Ago. TWO INCHES OF PURE GOLD. Miners who said "This is Death Against Gold" Thrilling Tale of the Pioneer Days Of New Mexico-Robbing an
 Ancient kiine.

It was in the summer of 1867 l start
 ed flor the famous San Juan countr!
 via Lierra Maria and Abivui, Rio Arribc
 Co.,, N. M.
 One night 1 madefcamp near the little
 town of Chama, and to my surprise, nex
 morning discovered that I was minus
 my horse. The saddle and sRddl,
 blankets 1 had used, one for pillow
 the other for bed. I Immediately
 looked the ground over and come tt
 the conclusion that my horse had beer
 stolen. I tracked the horse quite ; distance and returned to camp tha
 night after a fruItless chase. Next dR! I concealed my saddle and blanket anC took the trail, leading in a northerl' direction, centering the great valley O San Fernando de Taos. l arrived a
 Toas on the third day, and was told b! the people there that a horse answer ing my discription was seen the day
 before entering large canyon north 0
 the place. It being late and drZzlinG rain falling, I was edvIsed to remain over to next morning, which 1 did I started out next morning and FOOT
 was on the trail. Ascending one of th, mountains halted to drink water, there being a little gathered in one of tn, hoof prints 1 had been following. IT stopping to drink l discovered particle: of gold, evidently washed down from aI exposed rock projecting two feet above the hoof-print. l did not stop feeling satisfied that I would soon have my horse. Crossing the mountain was soon at the famous Maxwell land grant, and encountering several mining camps. No one could give me inform ation of my horEe. Tn-n gave up the chase, having lost all traces. Descend ing one of the lofty peaks l was soou lnclosed in a beautiful canyon which led out to Ute creek.
 1 here met two miners preparing to esploIe an old mine, or rather a worked out mine. They asked me to :oin ttem, to which l assented. ] again asked of my horse, to which l received the usual negative. 1 remained til next morning. and started with them to explore the mine. This mine was about two miles away, arc soon we were there. Arrived al the mire, ana judging from the dUmp of country rock piled up 1t was either a very rich mine or no mine at all. No signs cf ore were on the outside dump. An open cut was at an incline of 40 de grees. We entered, and were soon in what one would suppose to be cave. Candles were lighted, and q general search followed. sne formation was porphyry and judging from the goug- Ing done 1t was apparent that great quantities of precious metal had been taken cut. Gbere were no timbeTs, and the Cnly support WaE one large pillar left in about the center of the Tcrkings. about { feet in diameter at the center, making the outlook very dangerous. ] was about to get out on account of a few pieces Of wall rock giving away from the pillar when 1 was called back by one of the miners. He had discovered q streak of solid gold, running through the center of the pillar and and about 2 inches thick. At this l retraced my steps, and there, with candle in tremb- llng hands stood two excited men point ing out the pure yellow gold. For d moment I was unable to speak. One of the miners said to me: Well, don't you see it?"
 .'Yes," said, pointing to the ceiling; land don't you see the trap set for ue?"
 "D- the trap. This is death against gold. z" Meanwhile l had fingered around the gold, N hen part of the pillar gave way, extinguishing the lights. We found cur way out eafely, and then we planned to get that pillar without our lives l declined to having anything to do with the affair unless ] could get get an outside job. This of course, was out of question, Gs there was only one sack of ore to be re moved. So l was considered out of 1t, which I was only too glad to accept. My com anions then entered with horn soon at work. Shortly they came out, and picking up an old coffee sack, used for a saddle blanket, re-entered the mlne. They were very SOOn out again. They had cut the pillar and filled Their sack. Then came grand handshaking on their success. The sack was opened. Never in my life dld l behold such sight. 4 coffee sack full of nuggets! ] was told to pick out the finest specimen for my own use, which l did. IL was piece as large as my fist and contained $50 in gold. Camp WAS made, matate procured, and grinding at once commenced, It took six days to reduce it to pulp, the whole being done by hard. Then the pulp was washed cut in a prospecting pan. The gold was mostly coarse ard very bright. Tie fine gold required amelgamating There being no quicksilver the remaining pulp was taken to Taos, and there amala- mated. The proceeds of that sack of ore netted 937 ounces of gold, amount ing to S15,000 in coin.
 l returned to Santa Ee a month later and learned that grand mining dis covery had been made at the identical spot where l had found gold in the horses print. $. K.