The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-24
MEXICO'S LOST MINES
ANCIENT BEDS OF TREASURE THAT
CANNOT NOW BE LOCATED.
The Romance which Hovers Around
the Famous Hidden Mine of Tniopn.
Superstition md Cunning of the
Native Indians.

Nntive Indians.
OF the many mines which were work
ed by the Spaniards and which gave
them such fabulous returns for their
| labor scarcely one can be located to-
day, 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, and the gold and silver were made
into ornaments by the aboriglnes. A,
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 Il 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 was looked for in vain, though
the mine now known rs 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 eclipsed by
the romance which hovers around the
lost mine of Taiopa A Mexican Of
great wealth who was much interested
in the subject made Il trip to Madrid
to search for data on the subject. He
found absolutely nothing to prove that
such mine had ever been worked by
the crown Of Spain, and there is moth
ing in Mexican archives to establish
the facts Quite MS trustworthy as the
written documents are the traditions
among the Pima Indians. They main
tain that 1aiopa exists and few
claim to 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 it is. found
or to bribe 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 and was
cured by a 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 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 boy and gave permission to two
women of the tribe to lead the sonora
within few yards of the mine 50 that
she might discover it for herself and
save him from the penalty of sudden
death for revealing it. The three wom-
en- Travelled mostly at night, pascing
through deep canyons and over lofty
mountains.
The fourth night some hours after
dark the 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 canyon
large ore dump. The woman gath
cred bits of ore from the dump, but
was hurried away by the squaws, who
;aid they would be killed if they de-
layed beyond the time mentioned by
their chief. They Travelled till the
moon went down, rested few hours
and went on before daylight, complete
ly battling the Mexican woman as to
the route they had taken. They ar
rived at the pueblo at nightfall, hav-
ing taken four days to reach the mine
and but one to 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 at 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 many romantic tales
Ire 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 Mexican CON-
pany, which has open cuts ON the sur
face for more than a mile and several
miles of underground workings Near
this mine, where once a large church
stood, which has long since fallen into
ruins, two copper bells have been