The morning call., 1893-05-01
RICHES IN A HOLE.
A Big Mound of Gold and Silver at
the Bottom OF Pool.

San Antonio Dispatch to st Louis Globe ID Democrat.
In the early part of the present century,
when San Antonio was the nome of many
wealthy Spaniards and the commercial CEN
ter of all Of Northern Mexico. a mule train
started FOR this city from the City of Mexico.
There were thirty mules, each loaded with
S006 silver dollars and considerable
amount of gold coin. the total amount being
about $4,000
The caravan was in charge of Captain
Palaco Flores, prominent and trusted en-
ploye of the Government. In addition to
the drivers of the mule train there were
about fifty well-ermed and equipped guards.
The old and well-worn national highway
through San Luis Potosi and Monterey
was taken, and the dangerous mountain de-
files south of Saitilio were passed without
any attack on the train being made The
Rio Grande River was crossed a few miles
above Laredo and the train made its way
rapidly toward San Antonio.
In those days the national highway passed
through what is now Dimmit County, Tex,
following the bank of Penn Creek for sew
eral miles. On the bank of that stream
was q favOrite camping-place. which is
now called Brand Rock Water Hole This
hole is located at sharp bend in the
stream and IS OF unfathomabe depth, al
though it evidently has a natural bottom, as
the water in it does not pass into any in
terror cavity.
When this camping place was reached
Captain Flores decided to remain there q
few DAYS, resting the mules, preparatory
to making the 100 miles still remaining
between there and San Antonio He con-
sidereG that all the dangerous portion of
the country had been passed through, and
only left ten men on guard the first night.
Even this number seemed unnecessary, as
there were no signs Of any attack. and no
pckets were posted next day.
1t IVES about noon on that day when
band of brigands suddenly rushed upon the
unprotected camp out Of a dense liye-oak
thicket Captain Flores and his men were
taking their monday sesta when the at
tack was made. but they did not submit
without desperate struggle. The bags of
gold and silver were piled In a heap near
the deep water hole, and when Captain
Flores found that the brigandS were about
TO get possession Of the wealth he ordered
the drivers to throw it all into the placid
pool The command was obeyed. and the
brigands massacred every member of the
mule train party with The exception of a
driver named AlejaDdro Lsiero, who sue
ceeded in making his escape, proceeding TO
San Antonio, where he gave an account of
the terrible adventure, record of which
was made at that time, and is still in exist
ence here. His story was diseredited until
the parties to whom it had been consigned
made ar investigation, and found the bones
of the victims and evidence that the bandits
had tried to recover the wealth from the
pool.
Attempts were then made to explore the
hole, but without success. Heavy weights
have been sunk to a depth of several hun
dred feet, but the bottom OF the hole has
never been reached. A few months ago
James l.. Morgan, an Eastern capitalist and
the owner of extensive ranch 10 Southwest
Tex, was passing through Dlmmit County,
when he was told OF the hidden wealth in
the Band Rock Water Hole. He visited
the mysterious spot and became so deeply
/ interested in the remarkable tale that he
decided to make a supreme effort 20 explore
the depth of The hole in search OF the
S300,e00 and recover the wealth If possible.
He is now in the East superintending the
| construction OF devices and machinery to be
used in the work