The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1906-02-07
MEXICO'S LOST MINES
ANCIENT BEDS OF TREASURE THAT
CANNOT NOW BE LOCATED.

NaO
Native Indians.
OF the many mines which were work
ell by the Spaniards and which gave
them such fabulous returns for their
labor scarcely one can be located to-
LAY. Many romantic stories rs 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 Spaniards arrived in Mex
leo, II the gold and silver were made
into ornaments by the aborlgines. a
family in Guaymas has II necklace of
flying fish purchased from Il 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 n period
during the Apache war, till 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 az looked for In vain, though
the min now known as UDarbo is sup
posed to be the same. When rediscov-
cred years ago Ubarh was found to
have been extensively orked 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 Tnrasca found in the archives OF
the American consulate at Guaymas.
Thn fnmn nf Hnrnsp0 tc nnlinca1 hu
the romance which hovers around the
lost mine of Taiopa. A Mexican of
great wealth who was much interested
in the subject made n trip to Madrid
to search for data on the subject. He
found absolutely nothing to prove that
such Il 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 he Pima Indians. They main
tain that Taiopu exists and Il few
claim to know it's whereabouts. Small
quantities Of very rich ore are occa-
sionally sold at the mountain mining
camps, bu all attempts to follow the
Indians to the spot where it 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
in one of the valley pueblos INC was
cured by Il Mexican lady so well
known and universally respected that
her statement is taken without Qucs-
ton. The old Indian returned to his
tribe II from time to time sent his
bcncfactrcss rich bits of ore which
assaycd thousands of dollars to the
ton.
All her efforts to get him to lead her
to the mine were Ruthless, for the
great spirit would strike him dead for
the offense. The following summer the
sonora went toEtllc mountains and liv-
ed among the Indians for three months,
doctoring the sick and giving presents
of ribbons and gay calico to the wom-
ell. 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 Il boy and gave permission to two
women of the tribe to lead the sonora
within II few yards of the mine so that
she might discover it for herself and
save him from the penalty of sudden
death for revealing it. Tie three wom-
ell travelled mostly at night, passing
through deep canyons and over lofty
mountains.
The fourth night some hours after
dark the indian women led her into Il
deep canyon and paused before u large
rock. In the dim moonlight an old ar
rastra was seen and across the canyon
IL large ore dump. The oma gath
cred bits of ore from the dump, but
was hurried away by the squaws, who
said they would be killed if they de-
laycd beyond the time mentioned by
their chief. They travelled till the
moon went down, rested Il few hours
II went OH before daylight, complete
ly battling the Mexican as to
the route they had taken. They ar
rived at the pueblo at nightfall, hav-
ing taken our days to reach the mine
and but one to return, the obvious CON
clusion being that she had been led in
a circle. Dcspairing of gaining more,
the woman returned to her home, but
she hopes at some future time to con
tinue the search.
Two other mines which are supposed
to have been the property of the crown
during he Spanish occupation and OF
which there are many romantic tales
are the Reina Mercedes and the Casa
Blanca. Both have been probably re-
discovered and worked under other
names. The Reina Mercedes is sup
posed to- be one of the rich Conchena
group and the Casa Blanca the Casitas
mine. Near the latter is an ancient
mine, now worked by Il Mexican com
pany, which has open cuts on the sur
face for more than II mile and several
miles of underground workings. Near
this mine, where Once n large church
stood, which has long since fallen into
ruins, two copper bells have been
found. They bear the name Of Guada-
lupc de TalOpa, thus leading many to
the belief that the Tajos mine is the
long lost Taiopa.-New York Herald.
Never Original.
nRlopk IL a hriUbf folYot. Inf ho