The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-11
RICH MINI THAT
Is HAUNTED
Old Shaft in Texas Puts Pros
peCtors to Flight.
BRAVE MEN ATTEMPT 1T
And Are Driven Back by a
ThunderouS Phenomenon.
BRAVE MEN ATTEMPT IT

| Alpine, Texas, Jan. 10.-Another futile
effort has just been made to explore the
shaft and underground workings of the
so-called haunted Refuge mine, in the
Chispa mountains, sixty miles southwest
of here.
| The mine was worked by the Spaniards
| more than century ago. It was aban-
| doned and forgotten until about twenty
| years ago, when an American engineer,
| Henry Boyd, while looking up the title
| to a Mexican mining property, came
across mention OF it in the archives
oil the state of Coahuila, Mexico.
The records gave careful description
OF the location. They showed that it
vas worked for forty years prior TO 1871,
and that it produced during that time
more than 100000 of silver ore.
Accompan by a Mexican guide, he
left Saltillo for the Chispa mountains.
1t was long and fatiguing trip and the
two men experienced great hardships un-
I'll they reached the Mexican settlements
along the Rio Grande south of here, where
they made their headquarters while they
north of the river in search of the mine.
The records showed in a general way
where the mine was situated, but the
exact spot could not be found until
Mexican sheep herder one day Informed
Boyd that he could show him the ruins
OF an ancient smelter. These ruins were
situated in a deep canyon and after a
patient research Mr.. Boyd came upon the
mouth of the shaft.
a crude ladder, made of the hides of
wild animals. still hung in the shaft. and
other evidences of sudden abandonment
of the mine were seen. What occurred
when Mr.. Boyd attempted to explore the
mine is told in a letter which he wrote
to James A Meade, who resided at San
Antonio at the time, but has been en-
gagged in business here for several years.
The letter said
"A horrible and most astonishing thing
happened to me when 1 attempted to ex-
plore the mine. My mozo (servant,
Pedro, let me down TO the bottom of the
shaft a distance of about one hundred
feet. by means of a rope.
THE candle gave poor light, but / could
see that great deal of net ore still re-
manned in the workings. 1 had started to
explore ne of the drifts. when I noticed
the noise like the bursting of a thousand
cannons sounded in my ears and was
followed by a most terrific rush of air,
which came from the drift that l was
about to enter.
AZ was lifted off my feet and thrown
against the rock walls of the shaft with
such force that L was badly bruised and
almost knocked senseless The rush of
air gradually subsidized. and as it did so
there came choing out of the murky drift
one of the most piercing and plaintive
cries / have ever heard.
1T was a wall that produced indescrib-
able terror and uncomfortable terror in
1 fed to the rope and quickly tying it
around me, / yelled 10 the Mexican to
draw me up.
There was no response from above.
1 yelled and yelled, but Pedro did not
come to the rope. 1 then realized that he
had heard the mysterious demonstration
and had fed in his superstitious terror.
1T was lucky that the rope was fast
ened to a mesquite trunk on the surface
as l was able to draw myself out of the
shaft hand over hand. bracing my feet
against the walls. Just as l reached the |
surface the underground phenomenon re-
peated
My Mexican was found at the home |
of a sheep herder five miles away. The |
story that the mine is haunted has spread |
throughout the Mexican settlements here
and as / can get no one to help me, |
have Abandoned all hope of further ex-
ploring the wonderful mine at this time" |
Since then many attempts have been |
made to explore the mine. but the expert |
ence has proved more than any man is |
willing to stand a second time.
Captain Louis Seton was at the head |
of the latest expedition to the haunted |
mine. He is one of the most prominent |
stockmen in Texas and Captain Seton |
bottom. All was quiet and they had just !
started to enter the drift when the phe- |
nCmenon suddenly broke forth in all its |
fury
The three men were hurled with great |
force several feet and thrown repeatedly |
against the jagged rocks of the shaft. |
II was only with ne greatest effort that |
they could climb to the surface. Their |
bodies were covered with bruises and |
their clothing was torn.
II am not superstitous." Captain Seton /
said in describing his experience, but /
II the interior of the mine IS not an in /
ferno occupied by hellish spirits. won't /
believe that 1 see with my own eyes |
hereafter