The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-24
frederick w. LOckridgc Tells of
Thrilling Experience.
Secured Entrance to Rich Next
can Workings.
DOOR WAS GUARDED.
Bribed the Soldiers to Unlock
the Door.
Had No End Of TrOuble Before
He Got Out.

The Sabetha Herald is responsible
for the following thrilling story:
Frederick w. Lockridge of ST. I,ouis
who is in Sabetha visiting his motha-
tells of thrilling adventure he had ~
a Mexican silver mine which no white
man had entered other than officers IF
the mining company for twenty OF.
more years. He had heard his father
and others tell of the seclusion and
riches of the Cato mine in the won
derfully wealthy mining district ad-
tacent to Guanajuato, Mexico. Dur
ing his recent visit of a month and a.
half IN Mexico Mr.. Lockridge deter
mined to see the inside of this mine in
which no man other than an employe
had been permitted for SO many
years.
The Cato mine is one of the richest
and oldest silver mines in the world
and is one for which the vicinity of
Guanajuato has been famous for CEN
turtles. 1t had been worked continu-
ously for four hundred years by the
Aztecs. 1t passed directly from the
hands of the Aztecs into an English
syndicate about thirty years ago. The
English policy was to permit no one
in the mine or in the vicinity of the
mine other than actual employees.
The ambition of sightseers had long
since been quelled by rebuffs. physical
and mental, when attempts had been
made to violate this privacy. Many
tales had been spread by the natives
of its wondrous wealth and marvellous
workings.
When Mr.. Lock-idge reached
Guanajuato he asked no questions of
authorities, but instituted a search at
once for guide to direct him to this
mountain of wealth. Many refused.
but finally a greaser was found who
was tempted by the financial Induce
ment held out by the venturesome
tourist.
When the guide and Mr.. Lockridge
were approaching the foot of the
mountain they were stopped by po-
liceman who asked their destination
and business. The guide explained,
and Mr. Lockridge seized an opening
in the ensuing conversation to enlist
the interest of the policeman by sim
liar tactics used in securing the guide.
The policeman offered his escort.
They climbed the mountain by a
path unfrequented. Not far up they
found an immense wooden door about
eighteen feet high and six or more
feet wide, opening directly into the
mountainside- In front of this door
stood a Mexican guide with a big car
bine in his hand. Considerable par
leying with the guide on the part of
the policeman. resulted in his drawing
forth a. wooden key about foot long,
unlocking the door, sliding the bolts
back and throwing it open for the
tourist to enter He handed him a
torch and Mr.. Lockridge entered
alone, both his guide and the police
man remaining outside with the mine
guard.
Mr.. Lockridge entered a gallery,
inky black except for the tiny ray
made by his 12-inch torcn- Beneath
his feet was a stairway of stone steps
leading down into the bowels of the
earth. He descended these stairs
about fifty feet, when he came upon a
landing where the stairs branched off
in another direction. After getting
about half way down this flight of
stairs, without a sign of life in this
gloomy tomb, his blood was fairly
frozen by hearing the immense door
behind him slam, the key turned in
the lock and the bolts shot
After a few moents of terrified inc
decision he resolved it would be better
not to go back at once, as the Mexicans,
VINO respect Americans generally for
their fearlessness, despise one who
shows the white feather and his return
at once would probably have awaited
MIN nothing. Anyway he was there and
ne would see what he could for while.
He continued down the fight of stairs,
and again there was landing and a
turn. This went on and on as he went
down At each landing was a drift
where the ancients had apparently
searched for the precious mineral A
dozen of those flights were passed and
to his horror Mr.. Lockridge noticed for
the first time that the steps were cover
ed with dust as If they had not been
used for years. The steps were hewn
from solid granite; their edges were
rounded by the travel of many feet, |
many were indented deeply toward the |
back by feet descending But these |
steps had not been used for years.
Overhead hung the crude. silent pow |
erless apparatus used for centuries by |
the Aztecs to mine their silver Not even |
a friendly bat or mouse disturbed the |
CHASTITY quiet of the place.
Mr.. Lockridge looked at his watch; |
1t was one o'clock. For three-quarters Of |
an hour he had been steadily descend |
Ing these flights of steps, first in one |