Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1905-12-29
MEXICO'S LOST MINES
ANCIENT BEDS OF TREASURE THAT
CANNOT NOW BE LOCATED.
The Romance Which HOvers Around
the Famous Hidden Mine of TaiOpa.
Native Indians.


ed by the Spaniards and which gave
them such fabulous returns for their
labor scarcely one can be located to-
day. Many romantic stories as TO their
whereabouts have been followed up,
only TO be met with defeat.
One Of the richest OF those mines was
probably Tarasca, about which Hum
boldt has written. 1t was worked long
before the Spanlards arrived In Mex
leo. and the gold and silver were made
into ornaments by the aborigines. n
family in Guaymas has necklace Of
flying fish purchased from Pima
chief, who said that the metal was dug
from Tarasca. Later the mine was ac-
quired by the crown of Spain and was
worked, with the exception of period
during the Apache war, TIL the French
Intervention. when the shafts were said
to have been concealed by the admin
istrator, Don Juan Moreno, who was
forced to seek safety in flight. After
the restoration Of peace the location Of
Tarasca was looked for In vain, though
the mine now known as Ubarbo IS sup
posed to be the same. When rediscov-
cred years ago Ubarbo was found to
have been extensively worked and the
shafts concealed under earth and
brush. Rich pillars Of ore were found
In the drifts, and the mine corresponds
in many respects with the descriptions
OF Tarasca found in the archives Of
the American consulate at Guaymas.
The fame of Tarasca Is ecllpsed by
the romance which hovers around the
lost mine Of Taiopa. A Mexican or
great wealth who was much interested
in the subject made trip to Madrid
TO search for data on the subject. He
found absolutely nothing to prove that
such a mine had ever been worked by
the crown of Spain. and there IS moth
ing In Mexican archives TO establish
the facts. Quite as trustworthy as the
written documents are the traditions
among the Pima Indians. They main
tain that Talopa exists and q few
claim to l,')w its whereabouts. Small
0uantit. f very rich ore are occa-
sionally at the mountain mining
camps, b.. all attempts to follow the
Indians to the spot where 1t IS found
or to bribe them to reveal it have been
unavaillng. Their wants are few, and
they believe that should they reveal
the secret they would drop dead. About
six years ago an old Pima chief fell i'll
In one Of the valley pueblos and was
cured by Mexican lady so well
known and universally respected that
her statement Is taken without ques-
ton. The old Indian returned TO his
tribe and from time TO time sent his
benefactresS rich bits Of ore which
assayed thousands Of dollars to the
ton.
All her efforts to get him to lead her
TO the mine were fruitless, for the
great spirit would strike him dead for
the offense. The following summer the
sonora went TO the mountains and Nv
ed among the Indians for three months,
doctoring the sick and giving presents
of ribbons and gay calico TO the wom'
en- She became convinced that the
SPOT whence the rich ore came was
Taiopa. Finally the old chief admitted
that the mine was worked when he
was a boy and gave permission 10 TWO
women Of The tribe TO lead the sonora
within few yards OF the mine SO tiia'
She might discover it for herself ano
save him from the penalty Of sudden
death for revealing it. The three wOm
en- travelled mostly at night. passing
through deep canyons and over loit!
mountains.
The fourth night some hours altei
| dark tie Indian women led her INTO &
deep canyon and paused before large
rock. In the dim moonlight an Old ar
rastra was seen and across the canyoi
a large ore dump. The woman gain
| cred bits Of ore from the dump. Du
was hurried away by the squaWs, WIZ
said they would be killed If they dc
layed beyond the time mentioned by
| their chief. They Travelled TIL th'
| moon went down. rested II few hour
| and went OH before daylight. complete
| ly battling the Mexican woman as L
the route they had taken. They ar
| rived at the pueblo at nightfaH. nav
| ing taken four days to reach the min
and but one to return, the obvious col
clusion being that size had been !ci /;
circle. Des?air.ng Of gaining more
he woman returned to her home. bu
she hopes at some future time to con
tinue the search.
Two other mines which are suppose
TO have been the property Of the crow
during the Spanish occupation ana o
!, which there are many romantic tale
are the Rena Mercedes and the Cas-
Blanca. Both have been probably re
discovered and worked under othe
=. names. The Reina Mercedes Is SUP
| posed to be one of the rich Conchen
group and the Casa Blanca the Casita
mine. Near the latter Is an ancien
mine. now worked by Mexican CON
pany, which has open cuts on the sui
face for more than mile and severa
miles of underground workings. Nea
this mine, where once a large churc
ste d. which has long since fallen Int
ruins. two copper bells have bee
found. They bear the name Of Guadi
lupe de Talopa. thus leading many
the belief that the Tajos mine is th
: long lost Taiopa-New York Herald.