The Lamar register., 1897-10-09


they ever have known OF their being
buried there by the sergeant. even had
they known the money tumbied out.
From this old man May got such an
accurate account that. by putting It
with the one given him by Pennoyer.
he was able to locate a spot whose de-
seription Tailed in every respect with
the story given by the veteran as the
place where the coin lay.
He learned that the troops had left
Vera Cruz for a march north and on
reaching the banks of the Guadalupe
river the Infantry had crossed over an
ancient stone bridge while the calvary
and wagons went down one side TO
cross by ford. On the left hand Of
the bridge on the south bank was a
fort and on the right hand on the other
bank was another fort. while at a short
distance stood a hill. Pennoyer had
said the wagons holding the money had
crossed the bridge and in this lay his
error. The truth was that the horses
had been taken down about a quarter
of a mile from the bridge and crossed
where the water was shallow. The
Mexican pointed out the ford where the
wagon trail crossed and even the spot
where one wagon had broken down and
lost a wheel.
On looking about May saw at once
that 1t was the very spot described by
Pennoyer.
There was no doubt in Mays mind
that he had found the treasure at last;
But one thing stopped him-he was
watched. For days there had been
men dogging his footsteps. persons who
had evidently heard of the object OF
his search. and It would not be safe
to dig. With men coEnizant Of every
movement it would have been lmpos-
sible 20 do anything or get the money
out OF the country, so he slipped away.
coming back here to make better prep
arations for bringing home the treas
ure.
Or reaching home May found his per-
sonal business In tAnsle. his lands
wound up in legal tsngles In his old
place in California and HIS ships which
had set out for trade In the Gulf OF
Mexico wrecked Then came legal
complications with the government and
the hard times OF the last two years, so
that the captain has been detained from
returning 20 the place to get the gold.
But he has met men who verified the
statements OF the veteran. men who
fought in the Mexican war and had
heard OF the loss OF the money. The
captain now expects 10 go to Mexico
within a few weeks and Is confident of
coming back with the sl50.O00 in gold
The captain will take with him an
cutfit consisting OF diamond drill.
with which he will prospect all about
the vicinity OF the spot. He believes
that II will be but the work OF a few
days to strike the boxes. which were OF
wood. but strapped with iron bands.
Just what claim will be made on the
money by the Mexican government he
does not know, but there Is no custom
duty on coin OF any realm being car
ried Into a foreign country. Neither
does he undertake to say what claims
the United States would present
against the gold. The money was sent
to Gen. Taylor to pay OF the troops.
and It's amount Is mentioned in the pa
pers of the war department of that
date, the captain asserts. The fact that
its loss was not reported is accounted
for by the captain by stating that the
superior officer simply did not report
II. as It was not lost in fight, but dur
ing a storm, and the loss was not
known till after the troops had reached
Jalapa-