Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-03-29

Mr.. Russell scanned Jnc surrounding
hills eagerly during the journey for
evidence Of the mineral wealth, and II
was not long before he was over
whemed by it. The valley is SO mar
row that he could scrutenize the
mountains on both sides, and along
towards the middle of the day he be-
gan to catch glimpses of old tunnels
and the openings Of abandoned miuing
shafts. On nearing a projecting spur
he saw what looked like a mineral
vein, and when he came to il there
was plainly to be seen, d fue streak Of
gold quartz three einches wide, running
through the rocks. He broke off o
piece and afterwards had it assayed,
finding that it ran very high 10 gold.
The night was spent at the house Of
the chief Of thc main village, who
told Mr.. Russell that his people were
the defendants Of the fathers Cf
Mexico" !" and had never been conquer
ed by either Spaniards or Mexicans in
their wars with the latter Some fifty
years ago Mexican troops tried to sub
jugate them, but were driven out of
the valley and far beyond. Then the
government made peace with them,
so that now they have to pay only a
small tribute to be left alone lu their
mountain homes.
The old chief hesitated long before
granting Mr.: Russell permission to in
spect the holes in the mountains, but
finally consented, and the next morn
lug sent him off with a guard Of thirty
men. These were greatly exercised
when Mr.. Russell announced that he
was going down into the shafts, and it
was only on the chiefs order that they
accompanied him. When Mr.. Russell
climbed up to the shafts he saw at
once that they were openings of old
mines. There was the rotton wood
work plainly visible, and dumps Of ore
oyergrown by grass and weeds. There
were also the ruins of old buildings
and a number of remains of Spanish
arrastras. The first mine Mr.. Russell
entered was dark, and he bad TO de-
scend 10y means of log Of wood
notched for footholds.
When he landed at the bottom he
felt soniething under his foot, and
holding a candle down, was horrihed
to 1nd himself standing on mass Of
humaii bones, which fell apart and
ratted with every move he made. He
was SO overcome that he sank down on
a rock and gazed aghast at the me-
mentos Of either some tragedy or re-
ligious observance, but as be sat his
eyes fell on the finest ledge of gold he
had ever seen in his life. BY this
time the horrors of the dead chamber
had worn away, and he clipped off
some specimens. He visited half a
dozen other mines, and in every one
found human bones, some OF the shafts
being illed to the brim with them
and in all also rich gold lodges.
BY this time the guides had become
50 surly that he had to desert and re-
turn to the village, where the first
move was to ascertain from the chief
the cause of the mine being filled with
bones. Talking through an ignorant
Interpreter, he found 1t difficult TO fol-
low the chiefs explanation, but be
gathered that many years ago there
had been a great revolution, in which
many thousands perished in battle, so
many that the bodies could not be
buried, and all, friend and foe, were
thrown into these shafts to prevent a
pestilence in the valley below The
only inference is that the foes were
Spaniards and that these people had
thus gained the independence they yet
maintain under Mexican rule. Doubt
less the homes o. many missing Ameri-
cans also rest in these pits.
Mr.. Russell thinks the Indians have
not the least conception Of the value
of the mines or of gold, never having
seen any other circulating medium
than the white metal. He remained
in their village six days and made one
or two more trips TO the mines, until
the chief advised him to desist. He
had seen enough, though, to satisfy
himself that this is one Of the greatest
gold belts in the world, and says that
it will not be many years before it is
opened and worked by some means or
other. 1t is evident that fierce war
will have to be pushed against the In
dian holders before they will again
allow strangers to live within their
domain. Various attempts have been
made during the past three years by
parties familiar with the facts in the
foregoing story to organize strong
Ringing Noises
In the ears, sometimes a roaring, buzz
zing sound, are caused by catarrh,