The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-06
A SEARCH FOR TREASURE.
Tho Hidden Wealth That Is Held by
Placid Pool in Texas

Tho Hidden Wealth That Is Held by O
Placid Pool in Texas.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex. March 5.-In the
early part OF the present century whom San
Antonio was the homo OF many wealthy
Spaninrds and the commercial center Of all
northern Mexico, mule train started for
this city from the City OF Mexico. There
were thirty mules, each loaded with s, 0Ot
silver dollars. and a considerable nmountoi
gold coin. the total amount of the wealth
boing about 100000.
The caravan was in charge of Cantair
Palaoio Flores. prominent and ttus,.d
employe of the government. In additio n
to the drivers of the mule :rain there vere
about fifty we'll armed and ca uippsd oua,d.
The old and well-worn national hiohwav
through San Luis Potosi and Monterey
was taken. and the dangerous m O untain de-.
files south Of SaltlIo wore passed with out
any attack on the train being n, ade. The
lilo Grands was crossed q few miles above
Laredo. and the train made its way rapidlv
towards San Antonio.
In those days the national highway
passed through what is now Dimmit ooun-
ty, Texas, following tho bank of Pena
creek for several miles. On the bank Of
that stream was favorite camping place.
which is now called Brand Rock Wate.
hole: This hole is located at a sharp ban
IN the stream and is OF unfathomable
depth, although II evidently has q natural
oootom, as the water IN it does not pass into
any interior cavity.
Wnen TINS camping place was reached
captain Flores decided to remain there a
Few days resting the mules preparatory 70
making the 100 miles still remaining be.
sween there and San Antonio. He consid-
cred that all the dangerous portion of the
country had been passed through. and only
left ten men on guard over night, Even
this number seemed unnecessary. al there
were no signs Of any attack, and no pickets
were posted on the following day.
IL was about noon on that day when n
band OF brigands suddenly rushed upon the
unprotected camp out OF a dense liye-oak (
thlckes. Captain Flores and his men were
taking their MONDAY siesta when the attack
was made, but they dtdn not submit without
a desperate struggle. The bags of gold an d
silver were piled in heap near the deem
water hole, and when Captain Flores found
that the brigands were about to get posses
sion OF the wealth he ordered the drivers to
throw it all In the placid pool. The com :
mand was obeyed and the brieands mas
sacred every member Of the mnle train
party with the exception of driver named
AleJondro Lajero, who succeeded 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 existence here.
His story was discredited until the parties
to whom the money had been consigned
made an investigation and found the bones
OF the victims and evidences that the
bandits had made efforts to recover the
wealth from the pool.
ATTEMPTS were then made to explore the
hole. but without success. Heavy weights
have been sunk to depth of several thou
sand feet, but the bottom of the hole has
never heen reached. A few months ago
James L.. Morgan an eastern capitals. and
the owner OF an extensive ranch in south
west Texas, was passing through Dimmit
county when he was told the story of the
hidden wealth in the Brant Rock water
hole. he visited the mysterious spot and
became go deeply interested in the remark
able tale that he decided TO make eupreme
effort to explore the depth of the hole in
search of the $30O.000 and recover the
wealth if possible. He is now in the East
'uperirtending the construction of devices
and machinery TO be used in the proposed
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