Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-21

IN COl0 or oars, amounting TO SeVeral times
the value of the property.
Hoards have been made not only In the
distant past, but also in recent years, and
are hidden even today. The ignorant In
dian, profoundly distrustful of banks and
similar resources of civilization. selects a
hole In any convenient wall his strong
box, and sometimes makes his deposit with
the most reckless publicity. An old man,
the owner of some pack mules, was in the
habit of entering the patio of house in
one Of the principal towns, where he was
not known. about dusk. and going to one
particular spot. The owner, happening to
casion, and saw him take out an adobe
from the wall and put small parcel be-
hind it. The adobe was removed. and be-
hind 1t was found packet containing the
equivalent of about f40O, but partly in notes
of a bank that long ago had ceased to ex-
list. The hoard was removed to the house,
with the intention Of restoring it to the
owner upon his next visit, but that visit
seen at the spot again Whether he was
dead or whether he had indeed sought his
hoard and, finding it gone, had slipped
quietly away without making any COM
plant of the loss of the savings of so many
years will never now be known
Searching Old Houses.
Old houses when they are pulled down are
eagerly searched for tapadas, and the
searchers do not always go unrewarded.
Owing to the character of some its former
occupants, such a find was confidently an
ticipated during the demolition of house
considerably over 200 years old; and the
walls were carefully probed in many parts
by impatient treasure seekers before opera
tions were commenced. During this search
it was observed that portion of the wall
of an upper room was exceptionally thin,
and on opening being made deep re-
cess was disclosed, apparently filled with
articles ranged on shelves. Silver candle
dishes removed
still the end was not reached; vases and
small ornaments were now discovered; then
a layer of plates and dishes. This was ap-
parently tapada OF very recent formation,
as dishes of similar pattern were then Of
fered for sale in the local shops. Curtains,
tableclOths and linen now followed. This
was discovery of a hoard of a very varied
character, SO the man with the longest arm
now reached to the innermost side Of the
recess and brought out-a dish OF
hot bread. Hswas now evident to the
searchers either that the find was miracu-
lous, or that the sO-called tapada was only
the store room or larder Of the adjacent
house, and the doubt was speedily resolved
by the opening of a door in the further
side Of the recess and an astonished counte-
nance presenting itself to them.
OF all the existing legends which refer to
as yet undiscovered treasure none is more
widely spread than that of the Tres Tor
tillas. 1t may be selected as one OF the most
possible of a large class-at least we have
here well defined and unmistakable To-
cality and no actually conflicting facts. On
the remotest headwaters of the river Sc
cure a branch of the Mamore which joins
the MADEIRA, an afnuent of the Amazon, lies
a broken, mountainous country full OF great
gorges precipitous cliffs and tentiana. Here
one descends abruptly from the regions OF
eternal snow to a tropical forest, where
sugar cane and coffee flourish, and as we
leave the high and wind-swept plains and
scramble down the deep, dark gorges to the
heat and damp Of the monte, ague of the
tx,r.a l,,~lre- tn,
the rain-laden atmosphere, waiting to at
tack the stranger who has the hardwood
to penetrate these unknown valleys. Here,
IL nature suffers the existence Of disease,
she also provides the remedy-cascarilla, or
Peruvian bark-and the only intruders are
the bark workers and occasional seekers for
treasure. AS the traveller leaves the high
mountain side far off in the east can be
seen three 1at-topped hills, apparently close
together and forming an unmistakable land
mark; and il the same region is entered
by ascending the river from the eastern
side at certain points In the journey Tar
ahead in the west can be seen the same
three mountains, which always appear only
q few hundred yards apart. These are the
famous Tres Tortillas three pancakes),
and around these three mountains nave ac-
cumulated numerous traditions, with prob
ably some foundation of fact. During the
Spanish rule it is certain that great quanti-
ties of gold were mined and washed upon
this mountain range. Old workings are Ire.
stone and adobe, and deserted churches and
cathedrals are buried in the forest, and
from a hundred evidences 1t Is clear these
regions have been and may again be
source Of great wealth. 1t 10 quite possible
that in the neighborhood Of the Tres Tor
tillas is mine of great value. and accord
ing to nearly all the current stories this
mine contains a vast treasure, consisting OF
gold ready for transport, and left when the
last miners fed, never to return.
OF the various expeditions which have
during the last half century endeavored to
penetrate to this valley a survivor of only
one Of them returned, and stated that he.
with a companion, had found the mouth Of
the mine, had entered the tunnel and there
had found a great mass of gold stored for
removal. This man at least possessed
enough faith to make another effort to
reach his Ell Dorado. and Is believed to
have persisted in the attempt among the
mountains. OF the other expeditions the
result has uniformly been failure. Owing to
inadequate resources. to the great natural
difficulties Of the country or to sickness
and death up to the present Tres Tortiilas
have kept their secret, and stand like three
giant sentinefs unapproachable and defiant,
guarding q treasure which may be worth
kings ransom or may be only the fantasy
of dream.
IN PENNSYLVANIA.