Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-03
OF A TREASURE
MExIcAN's STORY OF A FABuLoUsl.Y
RICH CAVERN.


sion of the Find.
If Adam Fischer of San Antonio,
Tex, meets with the success that he ex-
poets in a project which he now has ON
foot he will be one of the richest men
in the world. Several months ago he
met a Mexican named Antonio Narti-
nee. This Mexican had just arrived from
Monterey, and in a burst of confidence
he related "a marvellous story of hidden
treasure to Mr.. Fischer. Martinez is at
present employed on the street commits
sioner's force.
About ten years ago." said Marti-
nez, II was a teamster in Mexico. On
this memorable trip we We're ON our
way back from Catorce, and late one
afternoon We found ourselves camped
in q deep canyon. One of the members of
our crowd Of teamsters, while exploring
the canyon for frewood, came across a
large opening in the side of the almost
perpendicular cliff. He entered the
opening and found himself in a large
cavern. He hurried back to our camp
and told us of his discovery, and as the
nights were very cool we decided to
spend the night there.
after entering the cave one Of the
members of the party proposed that we
indulge in a social game of cards. After
playing an hour on more n OF the
members of our party announced that
he was going to explore the n He
Is-Atnl m to,.ol and ota,tnI ont tn Soarrh
the large chamber. A moment later he
f~rantically called to us that II side of
the chamber was filled with gold and
silver coin.
1--WE dropped Dur cards and rushed to
where he WIS standing, and, sure enough,
his statement was true. There, piled up
in great cords to a height Of ten feet, 80
feet long and eight feet wide, was gold
and silver money Of Spanish and Mexi-
can coinage. We were almost wild with
the excitement produced by u discov-
cry, but when some II proposed that
we resume our card playing and gamble
for money we all agreed.
"We gambled till long past midnight.
and then lay down to get a few hours
sleep. We were all awake soon after
daylight and discussed the best plan of
removing the treasure. We finally agreed
that we should all share the treasure
equally, and that each man should be
allowed to carry away all he could liz
his pockets, and that Immediately after
reaching Monterey return to the cave
with conveyances to remove the money.
"This matter having been agreed upon
each man loaded his pockets. The sun
was shining brightly, and a flood of
light came into the cavern through the
opening, lighting mp the interior. After
we had filed u pockets we started to
leave the cave when suddenly the open
ing seemed to close, and the cave became
intensely dark.
Suddenly there appeared just before
us an object the b~lackness Of which
was SO very great that We could easily
distinguish its outlines. 1t had the ap
pearance of a monstrous man OF the
most hideous counterance. Uplifting
one of its long arms, this object, in O
tone of voice that echoed throughout the
cave, warned us not to attempt to leave
the cave with one single coin that We
had discovered.
"'Put all IF the money back in the
place from which you took it, said the
object. IF any of you carry away 9
piece of the money, you will leave YOU
soul behind.
"In great trembling we returned
every one of the coins to the pile from
which they had been taken, and thel
we silently left the ave and resumed
our journey. / made a note of the exac
location Of the cave and am ready t.
go back and point it ont to any n whC
will go with me, but / viii g v ente,
the place again.
Martinez gave Mr.. Fischer the name
of other members of the party. Mr.
Fischer was so much impressed witt
the story told him by the Mexican tina
he went to Monterey recently and call
ed upon the parties whose names Marti
nez had given him. They corroborate'
the story related by Martinez in ever.
particular, but one Of them could b
prevailed upon TO again enter the cave.
The most sensible theory is that tn
Mexicans actually did discover the fab
ulous amount Of money in the cave, an,
that they celebrated their good forum
by drinking q large amount Of "mescal'
and other Mexican liquor. When the
awoke on the following morning afte
breathing the foul air OF the cavern ali
with the fumes Of the liquor still O
their brain, one of the befuddled me
probably imagined that he saw th
strange apparition. He no doubt Gale
the attention Of his stupeied compan
ions TO the specter, and they were in n
condition to dispute what be said wa
before them, and they all heard th
warning which he repeated after III
snacter had said !.
At any rate, Mr.. Fischer is confider
that the cave and the money therein Al
no fictions, and he is endelvoring TO o
game an exploring expedition TO :
with him apd Martinez i'm opothe