The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-11-01
A LOST MIME.
Tragic Drama of a Mexican Gold
Nine, the Location of Which Is
Known 20 but One Nan.

1 have one in hand myself just now,
but | think it will soon be found
mine if my present plans work out, for
this is no legend am telling you, but
the story of a real, for sure, gold mine.
Boss Shepherd, the famous Washington
character, knew of this mine and upon
that fact l base my hope of some day
finding it"
Then Nh Gilpin told the following
interesting story of gold and tragedy.
Late on the nineties a negro named
Warren went to St Louis from Spring
field, Mo, where ne had lived since
1919, and succeeded in getting a Job to
work about the home of well known
county official. He was faithful and
industrious and soon gained the conf
dence of his employer Warren worked
steadily at his duties for five years
when he fell i'll Of small pox and was
given up to die. When told that he
could not recover Warren requested
that his employer be asked to come to
see him as he had a story ne could tell
to no one else and did not want to carry
it to the grave with him.
The employer came and Warren told
his story. About the year 1881 Warren
beat his way TO New Orleans and
shipped upon a steamer engaged in the
Mexican coast trade. He tired of the
life before the ship reached Tampico
and when it touched at that point he
left and for several months earned a
good living working about the docks.
Then he heard Of the great strikes Of
rich Gre around Batopilas, away over in
the mountains Of Chihuahua, and hay
ing saved up q little bunch Of money.
he set out for the gold fields and in due
time arrived at Batopilas, which place
IS closely identified with the fortunes Of
Boss Shepherd.
Here Warren was approached Ivy
two MeXicans who asked if he wanted
to work. Two days journey away they
had mine and needed another mar to
help them. They offered good wages
and other inducements and Warren
being satisfied of their reliability ac-
cepted the job and a week later found
himself at their camp in the Sierra
Madres. The MeXicans had a log hut
in 4 sequestered nook that might be
reached only by following a trail so
precarious that they called it FL Canine
Dablo (The Devils Road
a climb Of three hundred feet above
the camp brought Warren to their
mines. 1t was in gorge 50 deep and
dark that the men We're forced to use
candles at their work and it could be
reached only by means of a windlass
to which was attached bull hide rope
and bucket. The men worked in pairs
at cutting ore, one of the MeXicans
being always at the windlaSs. Down in
the gorge where the mine was located
stream tumbled along, coming from
high up in the snow fields and falling
over precipice hundred yards below
the mine, and, as this stream cut the
lode, it was certain that far below
there must have been rich placer de-
posts. But the character of the coun-
try was so rough that exploration was
almost impossible and the Mexicans
contented themselves with breaking out
the rich free gold of the vein. Warren
was astonished at the richness of the
NINE and in describing it he said that
the rock was literally 'networked" with
the vein Of gold. They worked in the
most primitive manner, but the returns
were great, and the Mexicans soon had
thousands Of dollars worth of dust con-
cealed about their shanty
After while the rainy season came
on and work down in the gorge was
dangerous as the current arose without
warning aud swept everything before
1t, and during these hours of idleness
the two MeXicans gambled for the gold
dust.
Every three weeks the negro was sent
to Batopilas for supplies and it was dur
ing this rainy season that he made
trip that proved eventful in his life.
He arrived safely at Batopilas, but was
detained there nearly two weeks by IN
precedented rains that made the trails
unsafe for travel
When at last Warren arrived at the
camp be found the hut burned and no
trace Of his employers. He hurried up
the trail ito the gorge and there found
the windlass and hosting apparatus in
tact. He called, butreceiyed no answer.
and after making a frutless search Of
the vicinity decided to descend on the
rope and explore below.
The mine and tools were undistlrbod
for all was silent save for the quarrel
ing % the waters. Warren pursued his
search down the gorge and was soon re
warded with a sight that chilled his
blood. There in a hideous huddle close
against the rocky wall lay the cadavers
of the two MeXicans, their threats cut
and the heads crushed to a pulp. With
cp1.:f L Of b,,,,,,. W.