St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-06-26
ROMANCE FROM CRIPPLE CREEK
The Fate OF Mexican who betrayed
an Indian Secret.

an Indian Secret.
Notwithstanding the comparatively
recent date Of the discovery Of the mar
velous wealth of the Cripple Creek dis
trict of Colorado, there are not want
ing stories and legends pointing to an
earlier knowledge of the gold depositE
hy the Indians There is yet told by
early prospectors Of that region weird
ard tragic tale of early days which
would seem to show that the Indians
not only knew where the gold deposits
were and availed themselves of this
knowledge, but had very clear per-
ception of what would take place If the
white men learned of it.
In the olden days, so the story runs,
q Mexican was seized with dangerous
illness which would have caused his
death but for the kind and sliillful at
tendance ofsa physician among the band
Of prospectors who fell in with him.
When the Mexican regained his health
his gratitude knew no bounds. He paid
the doctor liberally from bag OF gold
he carried, and offered to guide the
party to the spot where abundance of
gold could be found if they would fol-
low his instructions. He had been
adopted and reared by the Indians, he
said, and knew the secret from them;
but great caution would be necessary.
for if the savages knew or suspected
him to be guilty Of betraying their Sc
cret he well knew what fate awaited
him.
The little party submitted themselves
to his guidance. He led them for days
by intricate and devious paths, and
finally brought them to a spot not far
from the present site of Mound City, as
the legend hasit. He pointed to a deep,
narrow ravine near by, and told the
men that on the morrow he would show
them the spot. While making camp for
the night one of the men calelessly dis
charged his gun by accident. Before
nightfall the Indians were upon them.
They instantly suspected the motive OF
the whites, and when they searched the
camp and found the Mexican they Tere
sure of it,
They instantly demanded that the
Mexican be given up to them. The
whites refused Then the savages said
| that if he was not given up they would
kill the whole party-as they were
abundantly able-but that, on the other
hand, if the Mexican were delivered up
peaceably they would return him in the
| morning unharmed. The whites held
a hasty council and decided that in the
case of d fight they would all be killed,
! but that il the man were surrendered
/ he might be returned unhurt; at least
] their own chances would be improved.
And in any case resistance was in vain.
/ The poor fellow begged and pleaded not
TO be given up, but he was turned over
to the Indians, who again pledged them
selves to return him unhurt on the NOR
row.
Next morning the party waited long
for the return of the Mexican, but in
vain. Finally they started up the ra-
vine he had pointed out to them the
previous evening, hoping to find some
trace of him. And when they had fol-
lowed the gorge for some distance they
came upon the smoldering embers of
a fire. In the midst stood the charred
stump of a green stake, and erumbling
III the ashes were the bones and burned
flesh of the poor Mexican. Not red
skin was in sight.
/ Whether the men knew that they
were watched, and that the discovery
OF the gold would mean the death Of the
whole party, or whether they really
searched and could not find it, is not
known. But it is certain that they did
not find the marvellous deposit of gold.
Cripple Creek Times.