The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-08-06
A Weird Tale Of q Mexican Pit
Told by One Who Escaped.


bring the metal from the bowels oi
the earth. This spirit, or as it is
called by the miners of the country,
Demon of the mines, does not at
tack the miners, but he cauess all
sorts of accidents to occur and al
ways shows himself to the miners
just before the fstality comes. He
has been seen by q few Of the min
ers who have escaped from the
mines by what are considered mira
clee, and each tell of his grotesque
appearance, all accounts being ex-
actly alike. The story is that when
this country was first settled By the
Spaniards this mine was worked by
the natives, and when it was discov-
cred how rich it was they ruthlessly
slaughtered every person they found
working in the place except one
poor little boy who was employed
carrying water to the miners. He
fed at the approach Of the Span
iards and saved his life.
This boy was a hunchbacked
dwarf. and when he found that all
his relatives and friends had been
murdered he took a horrible oath of
revenge, giving his soul to the evil
one for the power to avenge himself
upon the invaders. He was given
the power to bring destruction upon
anyone who went into the mine to
work and it is this power that has
brought so much destruction to the
many miners who have attempted
to get the rich ore from the Demons
mine. The story has its origin far
back centuries ago, but there is not
a native in this whole state who
does not have implicit faith in it.
They all refuse steadily to work in
the mine and tell of many people
who have met horrible deaths in
the pit.
The description given of the de-
mon is similar to that of huge ape
with hairy body and long, powerful
arms. It is misshapen and with
deep sunken eyes, is seen peering
around the corner Of the shaft just
before it wreaks its vengeance upon
the men who are toiling in the rocks
and dirt. An old man and his son
are living near the mouth of the
mine, who both escaped from death
in the pit, and they tell of many ac-
cidents which have happened there
within their own knowledge. Their
escape was almost miraculous and
as old Pedro Alverez tells of the
accident which came nearly ending
his life he crosses himself devoutly
and mutters an ave in thankfulness
for the protection vouchsafed to
him by the Virgin when she was
called upon.
Alvarez and his SON were work
ing close to the entrance to the shaft,
so goes the story told by the old
man, when they suddenly became
aware of a panic among the work
men who were below them. "El
FL Demonio," they shout
ed and looking back toward the
mine they saw most horrible ap-
pearing thing coming toward the
men. Just then the rocks began to |
crumble and they heard terrible |
crash behind them and darted to
The rope which hung from above.
The demon came toward them but |
they climbed and at the same time
The old man who was behind placed
The holy medal to his lips and called
on the Virgin for protection. The
instant that he did 80 he felt that
the power of the demon over him
was gone and he reached the top Of
The shaft with no injury beyond a
deep scratch on his leg which he
claims was done by the claws of the
demon. He shows a long. irregular,
Jagged scar which is proof of his
story and says it was where the
claw of the demon caught him just
IS he called on the Blessed Virgin
for aid.
This is the story which has been
told, and in addition there are many
who. will swear that they have also
,een tho ghostly band Of murdered
men who are keeping watch over
he riches hidden away in this
mine. The natives will
ell you with bated breath, how .
certain mamie was . Vermonter
named Johnson-had said that he
would find the treasure in spite Of
he devil and all his imps, and how
40 went to the place and worked
llone because he could get none of
he people in the neighborhood to
lssiet him.. He worked there one
lay and made arrangements to take
ais meals 1t q certain farm house
,ear b., but when night came heI
lid not return, and next day the1
,eople went to the place and found
10 body lying st The mouth Of the
hiatt, with strange marks about his
hroa4, - If made By the bony