San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-03-23
MOUNTAINS OF GOLD.
OLD MINES RICH IN MINERALS AND
DEAD MEMS BONES.

DEHO WEN = DONCOs
Mr.. Russelrs Discoveries In the Stronghold
of a Race of Strange Indians-Remarka-
BILE Stories Told by an American Resld-
ing In Mexico.
Fabulous deposits of gold are known
to exist in the Sierra dc Nayarat in the
territory of Topic, near tho west coast Of
Mexico. d. B. Russell, a well known
American residing in this place, and who
is an extensive manufacturer and dealer
in machinery and apparatus for mining,
has returned from a trip into the mystUri-
Gus Businesses which, with their inhabit-
ants, have long batlled the attempts Of
the prOspeCtOrs TO unravCl their golden
mystery Of the centuries. Mr.. Russell,
who is an old resident here and whose
word is never disputed, is perhaps the only
man who has been allowed to view the
riches and live to repeat the story. Others
have penetrated part of the way into the
EldOradO, but have always met death at
the hands of the Alacian Indians, who
hold the stronghold and jealousy guard
its secret.
The gold belt lies in the Sierra dc Ma
yarat, rugged and almost inaccessible
range of mountains some 30 miles north
of the road to San Bias and several days
journey from this city. There is also an
other range known as the Alica, running
nearly parallel with the Nayarat, which
is inhabited and guarded by brave and
warlike race of Indians, the Alacians
They are supposed TO be direct descendants
of the AZteCs Securing a military escort
from the governor of Topic, Mr.. Russell
set out on his perilous journey and in due
time reached the entrance to the canyon,
in and about which are all the settlements
of this mysterious people.
Near the close of the second day the eX-
plOrers passed over the last range of noun
tains shutting in the AlaCians and had
their first glimpse of the entrance to the
valley. 1t is narrow pass between two
cliffs, which rise almost perpendicularly
to height of nearly 5000 feet, and is
natural wonder. The view into the valley
proper is shut off by a mountain wall run
ming at right angles to the pass. From
the top of the mountain the captain of the
escort sent an interpreter to notify the
chief of the first village beyond Of the
coming of Mr.. Russell and his party,
MIllC IlltN lOllO"Cu SluJlblSIg. IL was
after dark when they neared the entrance
to the village and were met by a chief and
a crowd of natives in their gala dress,
who, accompanied by band of music,
came to extend seemingly hearty well
come. All the natives except the chief
wore complete suits Of birds feathers,
which covered them from head to foot.
At daybreak they started for the main
city, a place of 5000 or 1000 persons, a
long days travel away. The intervening
country was found to be under a high
state of cultivation, corn, vegetables, fruits
and other products being raised in abun-
dance on terraces 2, 900 feet or more up the
mountain sides, which, in places, have a
slope of 40 degrees. Even the highest of
these terraces seemed to be well irrigated.
The houses along the route were roomy
and comfortable adobe structures, and the
people were well supplied with cattle,
cows especially, and large numbers Of
tame deer. The natives are straight fCa-
tured, with long rather than oval faces,
very quick and energetic in their move
ment and experts at handling their bows,
arrows and slings, with which they always
go armed.
Mr.. Russell scanned the surrounding
hills eagerly during the journey for evil
dence of the mineral wealth, and it was
not long before he was overwhelmed by it.
The valley is so narrow that he could scru-
tinize the mountains on both sides, and
along toward the middle of the day he be-
gan to catch gimpses of old tunnels and
the openings of abandoned mining shafts.
On nearing projecting spur he saw what
looked like mineral vein, and when he
came to it there was plainly to be seen a
fine streak of gold quartz, 3 inches wide,
running through rocks.
That night was spent at the house of
the chief of the main village, who told Mr..
Russell that his people were the descend
ants of the fathers of Mexico and had
been conquered by either Spaniards or
MeXiCans in their wars with the latter.
Some so years ago Mexican troops tried to
subjugate them, but were driven out of
the valley and far beyond. Then the gov
eminent made peace with them, so that
now they have to pay only a small tribute
to be left alone in their mountain homes.
The old chief hesitatod long before
granting Mr. Russell permission to inspect
the holes in the mountains, but finally
consented and the next morning sent him
off with a guard of 80 men. These were
greatly exercised when Mr. Russell an
nOunCed that he was going down into the
shafts, and it was only on the chiefs Or
der that they accompanied him. When
Mr.. Russell climbed up to the shafts he
saw at once that they were openings of
old mines.
The first mino Mr.. Russell entered was
dark, and he had to descend by means of
log of wood notChed for foothOlds. When
he landed at the bottom, he felt something
under his foot, and holding a candle down
was Mortified to find himself standing on
a mass of human bones, which fell apart
and ratified with every move he made. He
was so overcome that he sank down on a
rock and gazcd aRhast at the mementOs of
either some tragedy or religious observ-
anCo, but as he sat his eyes fell upon 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. Mr.. Russell visited
half dozen other rtines and in every one
found human bones, some of the shafts
being filled to the brim with them, and
in all also rich gold lodges.
Nv this tiDnp his UuiIpS had bGcOmp SO