Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-12-29
MEXICO's LOST MINES
ANCIENT BEDS OF TREASURE THAT
CANNOT NOW BE LOCATED.
Tho Romance Which Movcrs Abound
the Famous Hidden Mine OF. Taiopa.
supcratftfon and Cunning of the
Native Ipdians

supcratftfor and Cunning of the
Native Indiana,
OF tho many mines which were work.
cd by the Spaniards and which gave
them such fabulous returns for thcif
labor scarcely one can be located TO,
Gay. Many romantic stories rs to their
whereabouts have been followed I'D,
only 10 be met with defeat.
One OF the richest of those mines was
probably TaruScn, about which Hum.
Doldt has written. 1t WAS worked long
before the Spaniarls arrived in Mex.
leo. and the gold and silver were made
into ornaments by the aborigincs.
family In Guaymas has n necklace OF
Lying fish purchased from n Pins
chief. who said that the metal was dug
from Tarasca. Later the mine was nc.
quired by the crown Of Spain and wat
worked. with the exception OF Il period
during the Apache war, til the French
intervention, when the shafts were said
10 have been concealed by the admin.
istrator. Don Juan Moreno. who was
Forced TO seek safety i'll flight. After
The restoration Of peace the location of
u.
file mine now known as Ubarbo is sup.
posed TO be the same. When rediscov.
cred years ago Cburbo was found 10
nave 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 mt Guaymus
The fame OF Tarasca IS eclipscd by
the romance which lovers around the
lost mine Of T'aIopa. A Mexican Or
CREST wealth who was much interested
in the subject made Il trip 10 Madrid
to search for data OH the subject. Uo
found absolutely nothing to prove that
such Il mine had ever been worked by
fhc crown of Spain and there Is moth
Ing i'll Mexican archives to establish
the fncts. Quite as trustworthy rs the
written documents are the traditions
among the Pima Indians. They main
tain that Tniopa exists and few
claim 10 know its whereabouts. Small
quantities OF very rich ore are occa-
sionally sold at the mountain mining
camps. but all attempts to follow the
Indians to the spot where il is found
or TO bride them to reveal it have been
unavailing. 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
i'll one OF the valley pueblos and was
cured hS a Mexican lady so we'll
known and universally respected that
her statement is taken without cues
tion. 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 10 lead her
10 the mine were fruitlcss, for tho
great spirit would strike him dead for
the o!icnsc., The following summer the
sonora went 10 the m66htGine and iiv'
cd among the Indians for three mouths
doctoring the sick and giving presents
oG ribbons and:gay calico to- the won,-
chi She bccamei convinced that the
'sHot whence tlAe rich. ore came was
Taiopa. FINALLY the old chief admitted
tlTt- the mime was worked when lie
was a, boy and gave permission TO two
women or the tribe TO lead the sonora
within 4 few yards OF the mine So that
SHE miSht discover is for herself and
save him from the penalty OF sudden
death for revealing it. Tho three WON:
Gu travelled mostly at night, passing
through deep canyons and over lofty
mountains.
Tile fourth night some hours after
dark the Indian women led her into a
deep canyon and paused before a large
rsstra was seen md across the canyon
large ore dump. The woman gath
cred bits or orc from the dump, but
was hurried away by the squawS, who
said they would be killed il they de-
laycd beyond the time mentioned by
their chief. They. Travelled I'LL the
moon went down, rested few hours
anu went Oil before daylight. complete
" be filing the Mexican woman as TO
tho rontc they had taken. They ar
rived at the pueblo at nightfall, hay.
ing taken four days to reach the mine
and but one 10 return. the Obvious con.
clusion being that she had been led IN
circle. Despairing of gaining more,
the woman returned TO her home, but
she hopes 1T some future time to con-
tinue the search.
Two other mines which are supposed
to have been the property of the crown
during the Spanish occupation and OF
which there are muDy romantic tales
are the Eeina Mercedes and the Casa
Blanca. Both have been probably re-
discovered and worked under other
names. The Reina Mercedes is sup.
posed 10 be one of the rich Conchena