Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-03-06
$4,000 IS BURIED
ON KANSAS PLAINS
Pioneer Says Mexican Trader
Hid Wealth After Indians
Killed 81 Companions
LONG SEARCH FOR CASH FAILED
Five.Day Battle Near Dodge City
Ended When Whites Ran OuS OF
Powder-The Massacre Took Place
Four Miles West Of Dodge City.

Topeka, Kas.-Buri.G in the ground
a few miles west of Dodge City, in
the western part of this State, today
lie $1,000 Mexican silver dollars,
placed under the sod more than
half century ago, according to story
which has just been printed.
ground a few miles west of Dodge
City in the western part of this
State, today lie 21,0O0 Mexican silver
dollars, placed under the sod more
than a half century ago, according
to story which has just been
printed
The buried treasure was put in the
ground by the sole survivor of
band of eighty-two Mexicans mas
s'cred within four miles of Dodge
City in 1853. The Mexican died later
and the money has never been
found
The story of tho treasure is told
III historical book which has just
been published by r. M. Wright, a
pioneer plainsman, member OF the
Kansas House of Representatives,
four times and once Mayor of Dodge
City.
Wright, who crossed the plains in
1859, vouches for The truth of the
story, which is told in his book as
follows:
"In the year 1853, when this coun-
try was as wilG as the plains of
Africa, only traverse at intervals
by bands of MeXicans. there were
no railroads west of St Louis, and
all the freight transmitted by the
Government was carried over this
country by large freighting trains.
In the summer of that year
freighting train consisting of eighty
two men, with 120 wagons, started
from Mexico across these plains for
Independence, Mo-, to purchase
goods.
"The whole outfit was in charge
of an old Mexican freighter named
Jesus NJ. Martinez, Who many of the
old plainsmen of thirty years ago
will remember. They travelled along
what is now known as the old Santa
Fe trail and every night corralled
their wagons and kept guards posted
to give the alarm if danger should
approach in the way OF Indians,
bandits or prairie fires.
Some time during the night the
men who We're on watch observed
objects not far fror the camp, the
dogs commenced E-aking a fuss and
presently the watchmen became sus-
picious and aroused old man Mar
tinez.
The Mexican0 Immediately be-
gan digging trenches and preparing
them seemed to grow more numer-
Gus every moment, and finally could
be seen on all ides The Mexicans
waited in suspense, having entrench-
ed themselves as we'll as possible IN
bitches and piles OF dirt.
Finally with yells and shouts. as
was always their custom, the Indians
made a dash upon the camp from
all sides The NleXicans received
them like true martyrs and being
we'll fortified hadd every advantage
their eighty-two guns poured fatal
balls into the yelling enemy at every
report
For five days the siege continued,
few of the MeXlcans being killed
in the meantime and many Indians
During the time the Mexicans scarce
lu c1 htt upI,a
their hearts was the consciousness
that thei. ammunition was nearly
gone. On the sixth night the In
dians made a more desperate attack
than before.
They seemed craZeG for blood
and vengeance for the chiefs they
had already lost, AS long as their
ammunition lasted the Mexicans con-
tinued their stern resistance.
Then their guns were still and
they were swallowed up by wild
Cleyennes, Ara9ahocs and Kiowas,
who made deadly havoc with the Lit.
tie HANDFUL OF brave Mexicans. But
one man escaped in the darkness.
and this was old Jesus NJ. Martinez
How he managed 70 secrete himself
we can hardly divine.
THE Indians pillaged the train of
all the flour and baco and took the
stock, set fire to some of the wagons
and then, Indjan-iike. immediately
loft
From the directions marked out
by old Martinez, they found the spot
where the massacre took place, about
four miles west of Dodge City, Where
pits and dirt piles are still plainly
visible For d;..s and even weeks
Young Martinez searched the ground
In the vicinity Using sharpened
wire, which he drove into the ground
wherever he supposed the treasure
might be- But he WAS not successful
and not being IF = persevering ra.
ture. abandoned the search ard re.