The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-04-14
haunted MINE
Is Rich In Treasure, But No M n
Can Enter Tie
Shat.

maze 10 explore lEe smart anu unuer-
ground workings of the so called
Refugio mine in the C1ispa Noun
tain. 60 miles southwest of Alpine,
Texas.
The mine was worked by the
Spaniards more than century ago.
II was abandoned and forgotten UNI
ill about 20 years ago. when an
American mining engineer, Henry
Boyd while looking up the title to a
Mexican mining property, came
across a mention of it in the archives
of the state of Coahulla at Saltillo,
Mexico.
The records gave a careful des-
cription of the property and its To-
cation. They showed that it was
worked for 40 years prior to 1871,
and that it produced during that
time more than $7,OO0,OO0 of silver
ore, a large share of the revenue
derived from the mine going to the
Crown Of Spain.
Mr.. Boyd was greatly surprised
at the information contained in the
records. and proceeded to make a
copy of them with the view of locat-
ing the lost mine. Accompanied by
Mexican guide, he left Satillo for
the Chispa Mountains.
The records showed in general
way where the mine was situated,
but the exact spot could not be found
until a Mexican sheep herder inform
ed Boyd that he could show him the
ruins of an ancient smelter. These
ruins were situated in a deep canyon
and after patient search Mr.. Boyd
came up on the mouth Of the
shaft.
A crude ladder, made of the hides
of wild animals, still hung in the
shaft, and other evidences of sud
den 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 E. Meade, who resided in San
Antonio at that time. but has
been engaged in business in Alpine,
Texas, for severalyears. The letter
said:
"A horrible and most astonishing
thing happened to me. when ! at
tempted to explore the mine. My
Mozor, Pedro, let me down to the
bottom of the shaft, a distance OF
about 100 feet, by means of a rope.
The candle gave me very poor
light, but could see that a great
deal of ore still remained in the
workings. | had started to explore
one of the drifts when a noise like
the bursting of a thousand cannon
sounded in my ears, and was follow
ed by a most terrific rush of air
which came from the drift that was
about to enter.
81 was lifted off of my feet and
thrown against the rock walls of the
shaft with such force that was bad
" bruised and almost knocked SEN
seless. The rush of air gradually
subsidized, and as it did so there came
echoing out of the murky drift one
of the most piercing and plalntlve
cries have ever heard.
''It was wall that produced IN
describable and uncomfortable ter
ror in me. fled to the rope, and,
quickly tying it around my body,
yelled to the Mexican TO draw me
up.
There was no response from above,
| yelled and yelled, but Pedro did
not come to the rope. ! them re-
allied that he had heard the mys-
terious demonstration and had fled
in his susperstitions terror.
1T was lucky that the rope was
fastened to a mosquito trunk on the
surface, and was able to draw my
self out the shaft hand over hand,
bracing my feet against the walls
Just as reached the surface the
underground phenomena was re-
peated."
Mr.. Meade then took charge OF
the expedition. They spent three
months at the mine, but only one
attempt was made to explore the
4 +kot avnnyt-