Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1894-06-29
A MINE STORY.

Ii now seems probaDle that the
long. sought Montezuma mine in
Arizona has been discovered al
last. For years stories of this
wonderful mine have been told and
several men have lost their lives on
the desert in vain search for its
riches. To discover the location
OF the mine which, shadowy trsdi-
tion says, is lead OF virgin gold
has been the dream of hundreds OF
prospectors even before the rush
across the tereltory in 40
The history of this mine has
long been known. 1T is q tradi-
tion with the Pueblo Indians that
in the past their ancestors worked
mine supposed to be in the Su-
perstitlon range of mountains
where pure gold was taken out in
chanks and many believed that
these secretive aboriginals knew.
although they could not be induced
to tell where the mine was situat-
ed. When the Spaniards first in
vaded what 10 now Arizona they
found the natives working the
fabulous rich vein, and from
them was descended the story that
the bonanza was located in a stu
pendious chasm walled in with
rock and accessible only from one
point, and that In the basin was
mighty city made mp mostly of
.convicts who had been sent here
to expiate their crimes in digging
gold for the glory of Montezuma.
The location was such that escape
was impossible, far even il one did
succeed in scaling the walls of the
natural prison, he was separated
from food and water by miles of
desert wastes. In the bottom OF
the basin was lake of limpid wa
ter fed by springs. Across the
basin ledge of wonderful richness
cropped pat. and here ths convicts
worked, some digging in the hill
side, others washing gravel with
their rude impllnents. The story
goes that the Spaniards saw mug
gets as large as hens eggs and
many pots of dust.
Among the hundreds who be-
lieved the fairy tale had ground
work OF fact was James Crook, an
old time scout and Indian fighter.
Crook put in many months looking
for the lost mine, and then con-
cluded to go to the City OF Mexico
and see If there was anything to be
found in the archives there that
would throw any light on the sub
iect. He had considerable difficult
ty in gaining access to the old
Spanish chronicles and later on in
finding anything to bear on the
subject. AT last be found some.
thing that promised clue. A
mine Sas mentioned that was SO
many days journey from Tucson,
at that time also penal colony or
preside. The old invaders had
left o record of their suffering on
the desert, miles from any object
except burning sand.
With this clue Crook returned
to Arizona and set to work to find
the lost bonanza. This was in
December. At the point described
small detached groups OF noun
tains, rising abruptly from the
desert and the fact that no water
has ever been found near them.
makes prospecting quite difficult,
Water had to be packed long dis.
tances on burros which necessi-
tated long trips. One after auoth-
er of these ghostly desert groups
was visited by Crook until at last
his efforts were crowned with sue
cess.
Last week be showed up at one
of the interior mining camps
nearly famished for want OF vater
and food and told his story. which
would challenge belief we're IL not
tor the nuggets of gold which he