The record-union., 1896-04-12
MISSED THE TREASURE.
United States Troopers and the Mis-
SiOnS.
How Near a Sacramento County Post
master Came to Finding For
tune in Arizona

Many Of the old Spanish Missions at
the time of the occupation of the Mexi-
can territory by the United States, had
amassed great riches in coin and ingots
Of both silver and gold. In a number
of instances the padres and their
f1ocks had flown at the first approach
of danger, taking with them nothing
except what they had on their backs,
and thanking all the Saints in the cal
endar that they had effected an escape
from the hated Yankees, even with that.
The Mission of Tobac, in Southern
Arizona, was one of those left without a
guardian, and the cupidity of the SOL
diers of occupation, who went into cam
tonment near the place, was excited by
tales told of immense treasure buried or
hidden somewhere in or about the old
structure. Before a week had passed
every inch of the pounded earth floors
had been dug to depth Of several feet,
and every crevice and Granny had been
ransacked by the troops, but all with
out effect. No treasure was found, and
some Of the troopers became doubters.
AT the close of the war a change of
location was made among the troops,
and another company was ordered to
the Tobac Mission cantonment inher-
iting, as a matter of course, the fabu-
lous stories told by their departing COM
rades.
Among the soldiers newly arrived
were two named, respectively, Patter-
son and Jones. They were chums-
IL fv1 20 e1Aa =
same blanket and chewing tobacco from
the same plug. They, as well as the
others, were mildly interested by the
stories told of the treasure, and before
many days paid a visit of inspection to
the old mission.
At the threshold Of the structure were
two long, thick and heavy granite
slabs which answered the purpose of
steps, upon which they stood a moment
before entering, and whence they had
a good view of the havoc that had been
committed by the soldiers who had fold
ed their tents and marched away
Though they examined everything
closely they saw nothing to point to sue
cess, and after having satisfied their
curiosity, started for camp. But when
crossing the granite steps before the
door, Patterson stumbled over one of
them. He looked at his toe, and then
at the slab, and pretty soon an idea
struck him, and he said
Il say, Jones! If was going to hunt
for treasure around here, I'd tear out
those steps. They're the only things
which haven't been upset around here,
and If there is any money concealed
around this old DOLBY it's likely to be
under them"
Jones scratched his head a moment,
and did some tall thinking for few mo-
ments before he replied:
I'll tell you what We'll do, Pat You
get Skinner to go on guard for you to-
morrow, and We'll get tools and come
back here and roll the rocks over and
see what's under them just for luck"
To this Patterson agreed and Skin
ner, being in a good humor, consenting
to go on guard, they went to bed that
night after having made preparations
for their mornings venture, and may
have had visions of gold and silver ga
lore which would be theirs for simply
turning over stone.
But a soldiers life is at best uncertain.
and while the men were still in their
first sleep boots and saddles" blared
out, and Jones and Patterson were de-
tailed among several others to act as
scouting party to hunt out a nest of
Apaches who, then as now, were bent on
making mischief, and were never sat
1sfled unless they were creating trouble.
All thoughts Of treasure vanished.
For six weeks they made long, hard
rides over desolate country, and made
many dry camp, but they found no
Apaches. Many troopers since that day
have enjoyed the same experience
But when they were ordered back to
the cantonment the thoughts Of those
two granite steps recurred to them, and
they once more determined to visit the
old Tobac Mission and see what luck
had in store for them.
But in the meantime a treaty of peace
had been signed, and, while the United
States kept the conquered territory
(else, why should there have been a
war?) it had agreed to protect private
property and the property Of the church
and, seeing that the war cloud had
passed away, the Padre of Tobac Mis-
sion, with a few members of his old
flock, who rode an equal number of
bCrroS, had come back, and, under the
protection Of squad Of troopers from
the cantonment, went direct to the mis-
sion.
The scouting party, among which were
Patterson and Jones, came into camp
just after noon on a hot day. and as
they rode in on one side the Padre and his
string of burros entered at the other,
returning from the mission. The bur-
ros were loaded heavily, and the guard
were still staring with popping eyes and
gaping mouths.
The Padre had found his treasure safe
enough, and it was now on the backs
Of the burros, which were making tracks
for the Mexican line. There were several
hundred pounds of silver and quite a
quantity Of gold.
And" said Mr.. Patterson, who re-
lated the story to a "Record-Union'
reporter, and who is now Postmaster in
one Of Sacramento County's offices, "all
that treasure came from beneath those
granite steps that Jones and 1 had in
tended to dig up. AS a matter of fact,
never did like an Indian, and as for
Apaches-I hate them all!'