Evening star., 1896-03-14
sTORMING HELL's GATEWAY.
Search of q Party of Americana for
Subterranenn Treasure.

From the Galveston Daily News.
Among the old Mexicans Of Hidalgo
county there has always been a legend that
there was an immense cavern near the
Iona Blanca lake, which is situated in the
northeastern part Of the county at point
known as Alto Colorado or Red Cliff.
1t is said that during the close Of the last
century a wealthy Spaniard got into some
trouble with the authorities OF Mexico and
found 1t necessary to flee the country in
order to save his life He accordingly
loaded an immense amount of gold and
gems Upon pack mules, and with one faith
ful servant started north. in the hope that
he would reach a seaport. He arrived at
the Rio Grande and crossed to the north
side without meeting any special misnap
but on arriving in the viciuity of the Iona
Blanca lake he was attacked by a roaming
Dand OF Indians, who succeeded In killing
his pack mules and mortally wounding his
faithful servant. 1t seems that the Span
lard was man of undoubtetl courage, and
was we'll supplied with arms and ammuni-
ton, and taking advantage Of the natural
defenses above referred to, was able to
hold the savages at bay until they were
tired out, or forced to retire for food. In
the cave he found several springs of fresh
water, numerous passages, and several
large rooms. one of which he decided 20
make his treasure vault, and into 1t he con-
veyed all his wealth. After depositing his
mouth or door leading to the treasure room,
making cement for the purpose with the
gypsum and yeso which he found in abund-
aEce. and marked the spot with two old
fashioned swords crossed.
He then struck out alone in an easterly
direction, and in few days reached the
Lasuna Madre and managed to cross over
to Padre Island, where he remained for
some time, until finally picked up by
Spanish vessel and taken to Spain, where
he soon afterward died
About six months ago a party of six or
seven Americans from the neighborhood of
Kennedy, in karnes county, came out to
Iona Blanca, and after locking over the
gro1nd. commenced excavations. and after
Clearing away considerable amount of
drift sand came to what was undoubtedly
the mouth Of cave in the side of a hill
The passe geway, although filled completely
with sand, the accumulations of MANY
years, was we'll defined and could be easily
followed. The work of eyplora tion is still
III progress, but is necessarily very slow A
rev days ago one Of the explorers told the
News correspondent that they were nearly
assured that they had reached the neigh
Dorhood OF the treasure vault described by
the old Spaniard. The springs of fresh
water and all the passages and rooms so
Tar explored are exactly as they were de-
scribed In the maps, and the gentlemen
who are at work the enterprise have
the most unbounded faith In final success
Ihey have spent quite a sum Of money
besides their own labor. and if they are
merely lClloWlng a wlll-o'-the-wiSp they
are to be pitied. They keep their own coun-
Gil, and outside their own little circle no
one fer certain knows what are their plans
They have excavated tunnel about 500
feet long, and that it is an old subterranean an
passage cannot be doubted, as is shown by
the stalagmte formations above and be-
low.
Apparently they are going down into the
bowels of the earth at an angle of about
60 degrees. and the further they progress
the more remarkable are the stalagmite
specimens.
If there is any buried treasure there and
these men find 1t, they have certainly earn
ed 1t, and II they spend a portion of ii to
make road across the Encinal to the
point where they are working they will
nave the thanks ami prayers Of everybody
Vhose misfortune compels them to travel
over those horrible sand hills.