The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-11
C@0NSTANT|N['S BONANZA.
A Wealthy New Yorker Discovers a
Fabulously Rich Mexican
Mine.
Plans Contaminated for What Is
formed the Biggest Mining
Venture in America.
The Owner Offered Three Million Dollars
for His Chauce Before An ything II Done
ON tho P~r0psrty-Ths Anaconda.

Plans for the biggest mining operation
ever attempted in North America were
made in a room at the kichelieu last even
ing. says the Chicago Herald. Thomas s..
Constantine, of New York, who controls
the trade Of mahogany wood in this coun-
try, importing it from Mexico, has received
a mining concession from President Dinz
Tfor which he has refused $1,000, 600. Mr..
Constantine and one other man are the only
persons who kno of the existence and
wealth of the mine. The value of $3,0OO,~
600 placed upon the property by the syndi-
cate that wanted it was estimated solely
from MIR. Constantine's word regarding the
property. Within six months a ship laden
with men, provisions. arms, ammunition
and implements OF mining will sail from
New York to Vera Cruz. The party will
then go to Puebla by rail, where a ten
days trip in the saddle will be begun. At
the end of this long ride camp will be
mado near them mine, which, at q conserva-
tive estimate a by Mr.. Constantine,
will yield $1,000,0O0 a week. This trip
after the fabulous treasure will be begun
as soon az Mr.. Constantine's immense bust
ness affairs will allow him the time. For
years his ships have piled between New
York and Tampico, and having accumu-
lated enough pennies to last him a thou
sand years, should he live that long, he is
now retiring from active business. The
story of his mine, it's discovery and value.
is like a fairy tale, but the source from
which it comes dispels any doubts regard
ing it's existence. and it is doubly indorsed
by the fact that it cnnot be purchased for
any money. When Mr.. Constantine re-
turned from his first visit to the mine a few
years ago, II. V. Bemis and John Suave, of
this city, were ship companions with
ths mahogany king. They saw a lit
tie box filled with yellow nuggets,
which were assayed to be worth
So, 800. II was from these persons that thu
story leaked out about the mine. Mr.. Con
stantine is reticent about his mine and
says that he never utters a word about 1t,
for it sounds too much like ARABIAN
Nights" But when told at the Wellington
last evening that something would be said
about him and his gold, he remarked that
it would be better to awe the true facts
known, and he consented to tell the story.
mot many hundred miles from Chilpun-
cingo." said Mr.. Con stsntine. Gin a lonely
and dangerous country, there is a little
settlement where the principal occupations
are kidnapping, robbing, blackmail and
murder. In looking over my lumber in
terests one summer my servants lost the
trail and we wandered about the monoton-
GUS hills. which were covered with stunted
Palms. There is nothing about this section
except goats and Mexican bandits. They
know every path, gully M nook. and
heaven help the unfortunate who falls into
their clutehes. Should you try to escape
you would find yourself on the brink of a
deep barranoa, the descent of whoss sides
can only be made by those familiar with
the trails. These hills have Witnessed fear
ful tragedies. 1t is a part of the region
called by the Spaniards of the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries The Pocket of
Gold.' The Greaaers there love to shoot
strangers, when it oan be lone with little
danger. The soldiers are cowardly, and
one merry Apache can put to rout an entire
company of Mexican soldiers. It was in
this section that we wandered about. We
were rescued by an old priest, who guided
us safely to the settlement where he was
stationed. lie knew of my lumber inter
very much. l gave him a present of nearly
all the money had with me-, and was about
to leave for the north when he asked me to
remain over a day and take a long
ride with him. l refused, and he
told me that he would show me more
gold than was possessed by n one
man for one consideration; that was that
when | took the first million dollars from
the mine | would give him a quarter of it,
SO that he could retire from the priesthood.
He had been laboring with wicked Mexi-
cans for fifty years, and was dissatisfied
"Well, l made the promise and started
out. moro for curiosity's sake than any
thing else. We rode for a number of hours
aud then took luncheon at = deserted ha-
cienda near a dry stream. We then pushed
ahead, and just as the sun was going down
crowded into the river. After following a
much obstructedt trail a few miles / saw the
gold mine. for a rich vein was visible on
the surface. Below the mine in q sort of
cave were primitive furnaces standing
where smelling had once been done. HUI
dessrtion. We camped there all
night and spent all the next fday
examining the mine. TIT vein is a m int
of richness to any one who can work it
safely. Pieces weighing from seven to ten
ounces were not uncommon, while | picked
up Jumps weighing from one to three
pounds. With systematic working there
are a hundred fortunes there. Some one
hundred miles from the mine is a settle
meNt where men, women and children are
pushing the dirt all the while. They use
sticks and the orudest implements imayin-
able, yet make from 81 to "a a day. That's
big ray for a Mexican laborar, too. Taking
such a few little nuggets AZ | could conceal
about my clothing and retaining to the
settlement, | made quick time to the CITY
of Mexico, where / got a concession to work
the mine. But that WAS only one short
step. The surrounding country swarms
with murderous, thieving greasers, Indians
and half-breeds, and to return from tho
mine with Il quantity of gold means
certain death. made arr angements with
the government of Mexico to protect
ME in working the mine, but they
were not satisfactory. | was to take ten
experienced miners and have a company of
Mexican soldiers for n guard, paying the
living expenses and the salary of the
soldiers. But | WAS afraid that the sight of
such immense wealth would incite the
soldiers, who would hasten to murder my
small party.
II won't touch the mine now until l can
organize a company of brave, trnsty mon
upon whom | can depend. There is no
hurry about the matter. | not only have
the sole right from the government tn work
the mine, but no one knows its location.
1t would not matter If they did: no Mexi-
cans would go near it because Of the trRdi-
ton that tho cave WAS haunted. At the
time of the conquest of Mexico by tho
hpaniards tho Azteca took precautions
to save their idols and precious treasures
from falling into the clutches of the
invaders. During the day aud night be-
Tore the entrance of tho Spaniards into tho
IN fttp1 tha utppaa IF A..