Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-03
SEEKING HIDDEN
SPANISH SILVER
Lure Of Phantom Treasure Leads
to Extensive Excavations in
the Ozark Mountains.

rainbow was ever so eagerly pursued as
is the hunt for tho lost Spanish silver
mine in Arkansas to-day. Thousands of
dollars arc being squandered In this hunt'
ana II is not the drcamers, tho iiltterate
or the soldier of fortune who leads the
vain search for the millions but bankers.
wealthy planters and even United states
soma tors are interested
Mysterious charts IN the possession NJ
Moxicans form the foundation for the lure
of the phantom silver, md so much has
been discovered that even tho most skcp
teal. after looking upon the excavations
at Redding. in the Ozark mountains. !
twenty miles from q railroad. is forced
to confess there will proboh bly, be disco-
sures Of treasure before tho work is
completed.
In addition to this. Hot Springs claims
the lost Louisiana mine as one Of its at
fractions Father McGni local Catho- |
He priest being the owner Of the proper
~ upon which the alleged mine is sup |
posed to be located four miles from the
Valley Of Napors
No Egyptian tomb. opened after cen
turtles. has Given forth more in the way
Of prehistoric relics nor n more complcte
set of hieroglyphics than the excavations
at Rc1ding have disclosed Translation of
these mysterious signs, which cover the
surface of a sandstone bluff 2Nn yards
In length ana 100 feet high, is impossible.
tn" Smithsonian institution having made
a Tatn attempt at finding n solution when
requested TO go into the matter by Sena-
! tor James =. Clarke
For fifteen wears excavations have been
under way at tho Redding hillside Mil.
| hons OF cubic yards of dirt have been
removed. hut the entrance to the vault
winch is supposed TO contain the buried
treasure has not vet been reached
MILLIONS IN GOLD.
According 10 tradition. the "Catholic
| treasure mysterious millions in gold
and jewels. lies somewhere under this
red sandstone bluff. The Mexican gov
/ eminent at one time offered a reward
| or F2o"H"0 for the recovery of the
| treasure. II is supposed the party
which buried the gold, silver and pearls
was murdered by Indians and the To-
| cation OF the vault died with them. a
few charts being all that remained
These charts became part of the rec
| ords of the Mexican government. Priest
| Dent biaz himself being their custo-
dian. They later came into possession
J
Mexicans who ut times stood high in
government favor. It is Gonzales and
Warner who have led the search in tho
| vicinity of Reddirg
There has been a mystery about the
red sandstone bluff for many Years
! The property Is now in possession of l.
G. Hill a prosperous planter who him
| self has spent $1,000 in the search for
the treasure. Fort Smith iohbers and
bankers have also supplied large
amount of money to carry on the lnves-
| tigation.
Years ago n Mexican appeared IN
the vicinity of Mulberry and displayed
a chart upon which were hierogly-
phics Of curious design He spoke
broken English. hut was able TO make
II known he was looking for a red
sandstone blur beside pool Of water
There IL only one such bluff In Arkan-
sas. and il was soon located Here the
Mexican said the hidden treasure
would he found. and ever since the
quest has been on. but many believe
the willy Mexicans have already re-
moved the treasure,
When all Arkansas was government
property a Catholic priest, knowing Of
the buried treasure, though unable to
rrve the exact location, purchased all
the land between the Arkansas and
White rivers, even into what Is now
Missouri and oklahoma The govern
mont disputed his right Of possess on
and the matter went to court he
priest being the victim OF non-su,t
becausc he could not describe tho
nron.r.y nv ,ne,es and hounds This
, much is n notto, Of Government rec-
o~l ca,l,o,,o rrtae,s nc Arkansas "a
dav ara mora interested I'm the work.
than onv c,hor cIaos and ,hev will
readuv s,,hscrlh. IN n fund to look for
,ro loo, ,ro,s,,ra
.,.oor1,,o 10 ,ho chow, srnn,ied nv tho
,Io,.,,,, ,,b.r tio i,luff was locnts1 ire
entire focc vnuId no covered with m.
bi.roglv,.bi,s sbo,,u upon fine ,,,vsteri-
ou. u3r,.r;,.c,t Tho red sandstone huff
showed ONLY a few feet above the ground.
rcntl- slono covered with oak trees
some over three foot In diameter led 10
tho hanks of Mulberry creek This tim
4 tcr, evidently 100 or more years of age
has been removed, and though the mark
lnes 1re clearly shoUn uron ,ho barred
face Of the Murr. the tunnel leading &c
, the vault has not been located.
According to the chart, at certain
depth. the skeletons OF two people. a mar
!, ard \ woman would be found. The Mex
lean in command OF the exCaVat1 eX-
plaiugd tllf those raOplp were killed hN