Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-03-08
LONG LOST GOLD
MINE Is FOUND.
The Famous San Saba Property, Once
Worked by Spanish, Located,
SAYS Discoverer

KERENILLE, Tex, March 1T is
reported that in the Frio mountains,
about twenty-five miles south Of here, an
ancient Spanish mine has been discoy-
cred by w w Chambers which is sup
posed to he the long lost San Saba gold
and silver mine, described by tradition
as Of fabulous richness.
Many expeditions have gone III search
of this mine. Tradition says that mere
than 100 men were employed III 1t ana
that they were all massacrcd by Indians,
who covered the shaft and clfaced ali
evidence Of it's existence.
Shaft Piled with Skeletons.
Thc story Of Chambers discovery is
that he explored the mine III company
with several other men. They discovered
that tie shaft opened into a large cham
Der at Il depth Of only twenty feet from
the surface. In this chamber u pile
of skeletons, numbering eighty human
beings. These are supposed TO he the
remains Of the miners killed by the In
dians. In the same compartment were
found many ancient tools More than
fifty guns Of ancient make were also
found.
According to tradition there were sev-
erdi hundred thousand dollars of gold
and silver stored ut the mine ut the
time the attack was made by Indians.
Chambers and his companions did not
find this bullion.
In Il canon near the shaft the ruins of
the ancient smelling furnaces operated
In connection with the mine were found.
The ruins of the old ore cruSher were
also standing
The rediscOvcry Of this mine has pro-
duccd eNcitement throughout this part
OF the state. Mr.. Chambers has staked
several claims adjacent to the property
and other mining prospcctorS have gone
to the locality and all of the land for
several miles surrounding the mine is be-
ing prospectCd for minerals
According to the old records the Span
iards took more than S2.OOO,OOO of ore
out Of the mine during the years that
they worked it. Charles J.. Dignowitz
of Boston, Mass, made several efforts
to locate the Saba mine many years
ago 1t is said that he spent more than
$4,000 in this fortune hunting expedi-
ton, but in vain.
Death Turks on Workings.
Ii the early sos Jose Flores, Mexi-
can OF Momclova, obtained Il copy of the
musty record concerning the mine and
coming to San Antonio. outfittcd an ex-
petition TO search for it, At that time
the Gomanche Indians were raiding the
country west of san Antonio and Senor
Flores was warned that he would he
rislling the lives Of himself and his men
If he entered the region where the mine
was said to be located.
lie laughed at these warnings and,
accompanied by six men and two teams
and wagons, left for the Frio river coun-
try. The party had reached point
near he present town of Utopia when
they We're fired upon by the Indians and
all were killed The Indians took the
horses aud burned the wagons
San Saba Sam Hcnning has been
searching for the lost San Saba mine for
twenty years. lie works on Il ranch a
few months each year and makes enough
money TO support him while he wanders
over the hills and mountains the other
nine months. So far as known he has
not heard Of Chambers discovery.