The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-11-18
of the gateway.

of the gateway.
The Indians swarmed about the
brave adventurer and his little
band, and they were forced to
hight every inch of their way
back to the Alamo. Not many
years ago several old Mexicans
could be found about San Antonio
who we'll remembered the Bowie
expedition, and they were firmly
convinced that the brave Ameri-
cano' rediscovered the lost mine
or found great treasures. 1t was
a common story that Colonel
Bowie came to Texas without
any capital, but it was stoutly
maintained that after his return
from San Saba he had money to
throw away. He shod his favor
ite warhorse with silver, and he
soon married a beautiful Spanish
lady, celebrating the event with
the lavish hospitality of mil
lionaire.
After the Texans made settle
ments in the West they continued
the search for the lost mine and
hidden wealth. Every few years
the excitement would break out
with renewed intensity. Maps,
histories and old archives in
Mexico and Spain were patiently
searched, companies were formed
and mining experts imported
from California. In some in
stances fortune tellers and clair
Voyants were consulted and not
a few costly contrivances called
diving y--soldonICUcrS, ana
Spanish needles, were carried
over mountains and ruins by men
who were ashamed to say they
pursued such methods. The
courses of rivers were changed,
steam engines were transported
across the plains to drain lakes
and drill shafts, the earth was
dug over for miles in every di-
rection, and many people impov-
erished themselves in this reck-
less search for silver. Many
curiosities, some valuable ore,
and a few bars of silver have
been found, and it looked as if
nothing could have escaped the
careful scrutiny of SO many peo-
pie, with their eyes on the earth,
and always digging, for more
than half a century. But within
the past few weeks new features
have been added to the old theo-
ries. Something of great value
has certainly been found, and as
a consequence, the present ex-
element exceeds all former ones.
Arms have flashed in the sun
light and treasure hunters are
threatening each other with in
functions and other legal pro-
ceedings. There is certainly
some basis for the present furore,
though it is difficult to obtain the
facts. Enough is known to JUS
tify the belief that a plucky
young lady has made discoveries
of no ordinary character, and
probably uncovered the long
sought silver bars in the ruins of
San Saba. Beyond question, at
least one man has blundered upon
something that he can easily ex-
change for several thousand dol
lars, provided he can maintain
his hold.
Miss Alice Ney, who has con-
Quoted operations among the
mysterious ruins, is Texas girl
who has become deeply interested
in the antiquities of her native
State Well educated, full OF
enthusiasm, and possessing ample
means, she employed a small
force of laborers and personally
superintendent the work. Her
investigation excited a little more
than the usual comments until {
short time ago, when something
happened which set the ole
treasure-hunters of the valley
wild with excitement. A laborel
who had been in Miss Ney's EN-
ploy went to Fort McKarrett ant
while under the influence of Ii
quor he offered to sell !thret
"little heather gods" as hi
called them. He said that the,
f, came into his nossessinn while h,