The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
CALIFORNIA BURIED TREASURE
BANDITS BOOTY HIDDEN IN
CAHUENGA PASS.
Story Of a Hertier Who Saw Three Men
Conceal Gold and Jewels-Niisfortune
or Death Has Been the Lot Of All Who
Have Held or Searched for the Prize.

Have Held or Searched for the Prize.
local attorney departed for San Fran
cisco yesterday, says the Los Angeles Times,
to further the search for the alleged buried
fortune in the foothills. If his arrange
ments come to a successful issue, every
foot Of the Cahuenga pass will have thor
ough inspection by treasure seekers.
Away back in 1855 Alonzo Otero was a
herder on a dairy ranch in the neighbor-
hood of Livermore Pass, near San Fran
cisco. One day while Otero was pasturing
his herd in one Of the cahons and was him
self lazily reclining under the shade OF a
thick growing clump Of low trees. he saw
party Of three men ride up and stop at
several points and carefully gaze around.
apparently trying to ascertain II they were
observed by any one.
The herdsman had no relish for meet
ing these three rough looking strangers
alone and as they were dismounting he
concealed himself still more securely in
the thick growth and watched their pro-
ceedings.
Evidently satisfied that they we're I'M
observed, the men proceeded to a small
grove, and removing some packages from
their saddles, dug hole in the earth and
buried the bundles. Then they made
several marks on nearby trees, and re-
turning built fire on the newly upturned
earth, cooked their dinners. ate and re,
mounted their horses and soon disappeared
from the canon.
Otero remained concealed for several
hours, but finally he ventured over to the
recent camp and made a careful inspection.
He drove his herd home early, and that
night returned and upearthed the packages
he had eeen hurled
Report has it that the man found in the
cache one package Of American gold coin
and two others containing watches and
fine jewelry, among them some good-slzed
diamonds. Otero scarcely knew whether
to announce his great find or not; but he
finally buried it again in another section OF
the canon.
Within a few days the people all about
San Francisco were talking over the daring
robbery which had taken place in one OF
the jewery stores Of that city Masked
and armed men had seized about 900
worth of jewelry and about 80 900 in gold
coin. A large reward was offered for their
capture ,u;u,.,,od ~ TIA
position in which he found himself that he
decided the best thing he could do was to
leave the country, 10 he announced TO MS
employer that he had decided to return
to his old home in Mexico. He was great
favorite with his employer. and the latter
insisted that he remain at least several
months longer. This Otero consented to
do. and by the time he departed for the
South the Incident OF the big robbery had
become an old story.
When Otero departed from the dairy
ranch his mule carried in it's pack the treas
ure from the cahon, and eventually the
herder arrived at, Los Angeles, While
camped in the Cahuenga Pass the man
again, and he did So placing 1t under
fresno tree. Zone package tewelry thirty
feet due east; one package thirty feet due
west; the money fifteen feet north Of the
ton given by those who think they hold
the key to the secret treasure, and which
description they claim to have had direct
from the man who buried it,
After Otero's arrival In Los Angeles
Martinez. whose home was on what
Is now Washington street. About the
first thing Otero did in this city was to
attend lively Spanish fandango, where he
overexerted himself, and the next day
| iii at the house Of his friend Martinez. until
Nav 1887, and in gratitude to his friend
he told him of the buried treasure in the
| Cahuenga Pass and agreed that as soon
pass and divide the stuff equally between
them.
| thing to do with the money, AZ he shared
| the belief OF many that such fortune was
under the baleful influence of the EVIL
eve" and that death would rest its hand
upon the holder of the riches; but desire
| for gold finally overcame his scruples.
The very day following Otero was taken
with a relapse and he died before a priest
| could reach him to hear his confession
and give him the last rites Of the church.
| All that Otero could say to Martinez in
his exhausted condition in describing
| the place where the treasure was buried
| was: Near where the road crosses the
arroyo on the north side of the pass, under
| a fresno tree" and giving the distances as
After the burial Of Otero. Martinez again
had qualms about the influence Of the evil
eye" on such riches, but he finally plueked
lad Of IA years he made search. just
before that fire had swept through the
pass, and Martinez found his search fruit
less. He determined to continue it, how
ever, but within week he, too was corpse
having died suddenly from heart disease.
Joe Correa was In possession OF the secret
but. like the dead man, he was in fear OF the
death-dealing "evil eye" and let thu. treasure
alone. AS he grew to manhood, however,
he made several ineheGtual attempts NO r.
confidence in the herder's story never
faltered and finally he planned to secure
lease on all the land in the pass, procure
the largest subsoil plough obtainable and
| turn over every pOSSlDle piI W ihhu' ~
! which method he believed he would turn up
the missing gold Like many Of his neighbors,
Correa was not overburdened with worldly
goods, and when he was seriously hurt in
a runaway he had to be taken to the hos
pital, and there he died. By this time the
story OF the buried treasure had become
the property Of many Spanish and Basque
families.
And now comes a strange part Of this
story. About two years ago. Basque
sheep herder, named Jean Baptiste Largo
suddenly gave up his work, came to the city
and after making many purchases at the
stores, he visited one Of the banks and
secured drafts on France. He then de.
parted for his native land, saying he had
money enough As he was leaving he told
intimate friends that he had found money
in the Cahuenga Pass through the digging
of his shepherd dog.
just what has started the search for the
remainder OF the fortune at the present time
does not appear. but the fact remains that
members Of the Basque and French colonies
are certain that a proper and systematic
search will turn to light the remaining
two packages, said to contain $4,000 worth
| of Jewels and gold.
Laurent Etchepare. who was the pro-
prietor OF the Six Mile House, was active
In planning for search just before his