The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-19
AFTER THE oLosT MINE"
Chase County Boys in Old Mexico
Nearing Their Goal.

Cottonwood Falls, Jan. 19-Word has
been received from J. NJ. Hamme, E. P.
Brown and Q. NJ. Gregory, prominent
citizens of this place, who left last fall
for the heart of Old Mexico in search
of a hidden mine.
A letter written by DR.. Hamme to
DR.. G. L. Conway of this place and
dated December %, at Huosopa, has
been received. It says in part:
Well, here we are at last-at the
place we have lOnged for, and we have
had a time getting here. OF the rough
countries have ever seen, this is GER
tainly the toughest. I am sitting out
side the tent on a soap box, my back
toasting in the sun, and freezing on the
other side. ia
The boys are out in the mountains
prospecting, and I, with Santiago Con
Zalez and four "mOsOs," are keeping
house, so to speak.
We shall probably find a permanent
camping place today and then be ready
for work.
They told us it would be quite warm
here, but, bless you, we nearly freeze
by morning. The sleeping bags are all
right; in the early part of the night
they are as hot as a pig fight, but by
morning you want a Round Oak.
The mountains are snoW-capped and
the winds blow mighty chilly. But
this is certainly a beautiful country.
A Mexican just came into camp and
handed US a lump of pure gold as big
as an egg. The strange thing about it
was, however, he wanted it back, and
stranger still, we gave it back.
Santiago Gonzalez told US quite a
romantic story: While he and three 9TH
er companions were hunting in the
mountains a little to the north of here.
q tremendous snow storm came on and
they became lost. They wandered about
for several days, nearly perishing with
cold and hunger, for they could find no
game whatever. In this condition they
stopped one night in mountain gorge,
or a deep ravine, or some kind of shell
ter from the storm and snow. In the
morning while looking about them, they
found what proved to be an extremely
rich vein, or deposit, of almost pure
gold.
Overjoyed and delighted in spite of
their desperate condition, they filled a
small buckskin hunting sack with the
gold and again started on their way,
locating the place as best they could.
They became more bewildered and
were literally starving to death
They Mexican like, threw away their
guns and ammunition and one of their
number actually begged the others to
kill him and eat him to save them
selves, for he said he knew he could not
survive much longer anyway, but the
proposition was rejected.
Gonzalez wore a buckskin hunting
coat and they tried to eat the sleeve of
that but they could not swallow the
the bag of gold, but at last one of them
threw it down, saying: What is the
use of carrying this gold when we are
sure to die?" Santiago picked it up and
mt a part of it's contents in a pocket of
his hunting coat. When at last they
reached camp and food, they were in
such a condition that two of their num-
Der died.
Santiago has always wanted to go
back and look for the gorge where they
found the gold, but says he Will never
go unless accompanied by good sized
party with plenty of provisions. The
sample of ore they succeeded in bring
ing in assayed almost pure gold. Con
zaIez is highly educated; is a surveyor,
been able to find out in many days as
ISOLATION, is perfectly truthful
Gonzalez is going to try to conduct
US to the spot as soon as we get rested.