Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-07-09
THE GOLDEN HAND.
LEGEND OF HIDDEN TREASURE IN
CENTRAL AMERICA.

| Two VenturcsoHne Men Hear the Story
Guide They seek 0ut the Place--only
Two OF the Party Return.
'Yuuro "e.Hti,S too much on tho
word of IN Indian. Old Zapetl is a not
ed liar-liko all these Spanish speaking
aborigincs.
"Ah, Jack, you do hlm injustice
He's deeper liar than you give him
credit for. It's ridiculous to believe
that the ancients had enough mechanical
knowledge to contrivc machine that
could prevent ono from getting at the
gold.
This last speech was from my old
comrndc, Tom French. We were in The
| interior Of Central America when the
| foregoing conversation took place, 1t
was tho end Of many Il long debate we
had had on the subject Of Il search for u
| treasure.
Tho legend was briefly that deep III
| the center Of crater Of Il wornOut vol
canu the ancient Indians Of that COun
try had cXcavatcd Il vault where they
had piled up countless bars of virgin
gold. There was above this planted u
bowldcr the only indication Of the hid
ing place. The peculiarly Of tho crater
was that it was four square, half II mile
each way, and from tho summit to the
floor, II distance of 900 feet. 70 reach
the floor there was II hidden path and
this was guarded by mysterious gold
on hand. Tradition, the Indians said,
made it possible to locate tho mountain
in only ono way. That was by climbing
tho peaks in tho barren region far above
us to tho southeast ward until one should
DO found from whose lofty crests there
were three other peaks forming II straight
limo. In tho central mountain was the
treasure
Few burdens could DO carried with
us in that high. raro atmosphere, and
we were soon ON our way with old Ia
petl shaking his head, M if in predic
tion of disaster Hardened rs we were
by our out Of door life. the strain was
terrible. We lost our way repeatedly
and found ourselves confronted by vast
crcyices in our pathway up tho mountain
side. Wide dctours, costing us half u
day and sometimes II day of valuable
time, were pcrfOrce made, only to find
ourselves at the top of Il prccipice that
barred our progress, Wo had with in
finite trouble climbed two lofty noun
tains, only to find ourselves nt the sum
NIT ont of range Of other mountain
towns, aS demanded by tho legend, when
] finally refused to 90 farther. it was
suicidal. Half our provisions and water
were gone, But Tom pleaded for ono
moro chance. "Do you sec that long
rnngc?' he cried It's in ono Of those.
Let y mako ono moro attempt. In mis-
tnkon pity for him ] yielded.
Az wo reached tho summit, behold !
there woro three mountain peaks in n
| row. Tom sIrang forward and after
another struggle we woro ut the top of
| the central mountain. As we approach
cd the top II could be seen that there
had been volcanic action III ages past.
Xnpetl'S eyes wcro rolling i'll every di-
roctlun, ON thr lookout for somo super
natural phenomenon. Suddenly bursting
,i''''S'' we" ''"'N' ~ '"''''" w
i""''o ourselves on WV '''S '"Fo y, !"
F"S' ''"'''' NS WIN '''''i'','' '"'i'"'''
WV lo'N'" ~ '"o V'''''I, anu 'i''lo was
nn '''',l''hS" l,,Nl"'' NV '"S' 'r''"
i"'h' ~ I'S' ~" ~ i'ii n'S wv
n'onR WI" N''Ro' scanning ~ LOW ~
foot. ohio path, ho almost screamed,
and he stumbled along ut n paco that.
I
oNha"S''" "' W" "'i"' WV '"onl S''''"'
~ maintain. aNor'''' ON ! man
aged 10 'J"o"ia'', 'n"Uh'' ! was ho"l y
~ via Nv nc b"' ON apparent y
heard h"lhllE. l'o h'd Dyes ANA o"''
only for lh" enc R'a!.
mo path alonE tho &ldo or tine rrecl'
f'oe' Wo ro"Id See' lea upward from TN"
W'de floor % tho "rrnh Tar below MS,
but TIE top Na3 concealed from eur m