Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-08-04
BELLS CASTS IN GOLD.

petition for q quest similar to that iol
the Golden Fleece. That it will doubt
less be as barren of practical results,
however, has a tendency to detract
from its beauty. But he exp. dition is
about to depart, none the less, in
search OF the fabled consecrated golden
bells, three in number, of the nilsson oi
Saula Ysabel, in Bsja. Lower Califor-
MIA.
The mission of Santa Yssbel was
founded in 1903 es branch of the par
ent mission of San Fernando, establish
ed about 1850 Under the fostering
care of Spanish rule the Frauc;scsn
missions had waxed strong aud grown
fat but when the Mexicans threw CA
the Spanish yoke the padres did rot
fare oaite so we'll. The native Mtxi.
crns considered that they were called
upon to avenge g series Of petty per-
secutions, the origin of which they laid
a. the gates of the missions. The
peace that had so long enyeloped the
cloisters accordingly gave place to the
strife and unrest of man, and the flint.
lock musket was more often in evi'
dence about the walls than was the
prayer. book, as the priests repelled
raid after raid of brigands and Indians.
The now famous gold placers Of the
peuiusula, then virgin field, produced
the precious metal in such quantities, so
it was reputed, that the strong boxes OF
the padres soon filed to overdowing.
The altar ornaments we're all OF fine
gold, cast in crude molds designed and
made by the MONKS. Yet the Indian
neophytes were forced to labor in the
mines. 1t was this reported wealth that
originated the first raids by brigands
and outlaws from the mainland. They
had no hesitation in looting the mis-
-ionary treasury, toraging on its larder
and orchards and driving of the hocks;
but they are said to have been posses
sed of molly fear for consecrated yes
sells. Knowing this superstition, the
fathers cast their chests Of virgin gold
intc chaiices, crucifXes, fonts and other
sacred utensils, until they had al many
az they could fnd excuses for, and still
many more than they could use, as well
AS an immense amount of bullion on
naud. Finally they decided to cast
his bullion into three bells for the mis-
sion, aud the story has it that some $50
pounds, valued at about $l50,000, was
melted into the three bells, and these
cells consecrated with great pomp and
solemnity.
When troublous times fell upon the
mission fathers, and finally by an act
Of State they were driven from their
possessions, the mission of Santa Ysabel
is said to have experienced the hardest
lnck OF all. q drought of seven years
duration dried their irrigation bitches
| their Iudian converts deserted them
and in turn became spoilers OF the
flocks and fields. The unhsppy priests
10 order to escape famine and perhaps
worse than famine, were ultimately
forced TO abandon the quiet home they
had constructed in the wilderness. They
packed all their movable possessions
upon mules and turned their faces agar
! toward the COAST, leaving behind them
the three consecrated bells of gold
| buried in secret places against their re
| urn, with few trusty COcopaa Indians
20 act as watch and guard.
The padres saw their place no more
1t Santa Ysabel-they never returned
and some have it that the IndiaDe, o.
rather their descendants, are there yet
keeping faithful watch and ward Owe
their trust, in the simple belief that thu
beloved padres OF their fathers will ys
return to claim their OVID, Further
the story goes that the walls of the mis-
sion have been leveled; that the slt'
bas been covered by the dri ing, rest
less sands of the desert, and that th'
location, in fact, of Santa Ysabel is
matter of mere speculation only.
| Organized bands of brigands are salt
to have made raids on the locality with
iu comparatively recent years, but al
ways have they been beaten of by th
TudiaDs. Now the recovery of thes
legendary bells is the object OF fv'
prospectors. They claim foundation
OF fact for their romance by declaring
that one man has seen the bells, bu
was driven away by the Indian guards