Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-06-05
A WONDERFUL SILVER NINE.
And Only an Old and Reticent Indian
Woman Knows Where 1t Is.

the supposed Maria Roman mine" is
still increasing. The mine is located
about thirty miles from here, near the
bend of the Carmel river. Those who
have come from there say that large
number of claims have been taken up
Many people are arriving daily.
There seems to be conflict of opinion
among the old residents here in Mon
terey, many refusing TO believe that the
old mine had been discovered. Accord |
ing to the story of the old Indians, old
Aunt Maria" as she is called, would /
leave the mission in the morning and
would often return the same day, bring
ing with her a large quantity of silver
ore. The mine which has been discoy-
cred is about thirty miles from the mis-
sion, in rough country, and it would
be impossible for any one to make the
trip on foot in less than three days.
Old aunt Maria" is still living in Car
mel, and is now over IS years of age
When seen by Chronicle correspon-
dent and informed of the discovery
of the mine she became greatly ex-
cited and it was several minutes be-
fore she could be induced to speak, as
she seemed to be in state Of fear On
being informed as to the location of the
mine she seemed to be greatly relieved,
and remarked in Spanish: They are
fooled" A great many questions were
put to her in regard to the mine, but she
seemed to be in great fear when the
word 'mine" would be mentioned, and
nothing could be learned from her.
With a smile she will tell of the good old
mission padres and the vast amount of
lands which they had Although she is
over 50 years of age, she often visits the
old Carmel mission, walking the distance
of eight miles.
From Francisco Rico, an old citizen of
Monterey, the following information is
CLEANED: In 1853 old Aunt Maria"
brought large amount of silver ore to
the store of David Spence and exchanged
it for calico and provisions. Mr.. Spence
was astonished at the rich ore, and tried
in every manner to induce the old wo-
man to tell him where she found the
rock, but could get no information.
That same year Mr. Spence sent large
amount of the ore, which he had pur-
chased at different times, to Peru by
Capt. Cooper to have it assayed, and it
was reported that it yielded So, 900 ton.
Mr.. Rico, when he heard the report of
the assay. went to Mrs. P. Amestie, one
of the leading ladies Of this place, and
who was a great friend of the Indians,
and tried to get her to find out from old
/ Maria the location of the mine. She took
/ her to an old house where she had a fur
mace, and also large quantity of ore,
and showed her how she got the silver
out. She seemed to be willing to give
/ her all that she had and bring her more
silver, but would not divulge the secret
which the old mission padres had adj
vised her to keep. 1t appears that when
ever the Indians discovered or heard of
anything their first thought was to lay ii
before the mission padres, and they would
act under their advice.
According to the statement of old Ma.
ria Roman, when she discovered this
mine she at once went to the padres, who
advised her never to reveal it, not even tc
her children. They informed her that or
account OF its great richness, if it were
known throughout the world, large mum
bers of white men would flood the coun
try, kill all the padres, destroy the mis-
sions and kill and drive the Indians from
their lands. She accordingly took al
oath that she would never reveal the loca
tion,an seems to this day to live in fear o
her life lest the mine may be found, anC
the prediction of the padres come true.
She has time and again been Offered
| of tn
Whereabouts of the mine, and Away
gives the same answer; Il promised thu
padres never to tell, and | don't want t,
be killed" She will go on and describe tn
great excitement which would follow
and how the Indians would have to rul
away to save their lives.
In 1864 Rico, who had never given VI
hope of discovering the mine, finally in
!. duced a son of old Maria who had Otter
gone with her to the mine, and who i
the only one besides her who knows it
location, to tell him where it was.
Mr.. Rico took the boy to one of tn
stores in Monterey and gave him s.
worth of provisions. He appeared to b
delighted with the gift, and promised t
accompany Rico to the mountains. MI
Rico made the necessary preparation;
and in company with several citizen
and the Indian boy started for the mine
: A few miles from the mission the India
e began to act in queer manner, and
n planned of being sick.
h Camp was pitched and a new start t
# the mine was to be made next morning
9 All hands retired early, and i'll the mort
: ing, to the great surprise of all, the II
/ dian was missing and the search had
= be abandoned. The Indian was see
II afterward and it was the same excus,
e that he was afraid to tell on account {
k what the padres told him.
e That the mine exists there is no doub
L but it is safe to state that old Maria r,
IS man will take the secret to her gray,
e This agitation will put new life in II
II matter, and no doubt strong efforts WI
IS be made to get old Aunt Maria to divulg
IS the secret. Some years ago Mr. Ma
J. tin, living at Carmel, found large pieC
of the rock at the old mission, where Il
blacksmith shop stood, weighing abol
seven pounds. The rock is very rio
+ and is still III his possession. Mr.. Ma
A. tin has spent great deal of time pro
IN pecting, in hopes of finding the min
At but without success. He has great hope
OF and feels satisfied that it is located me-
y the mission, and will some day be foun
g Monterey (Cal) Cor. San Francis
ID Chronicle.
Dethroned Sovereigns In Munich.