The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-02-18
Pioneer Say. Mexican Trader
Hid Wealth After Indians
Killed 81 Companions
LONG SEARCH FOR CASH FAILED
Flve>Day Battle Near Dodge City
Ended When Whites Ran Out Of
Powder-The Massacre Took Place
Four Miles Yves. Of Dodge City.


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 a
half century ago, according to a story
which has just been printed.
ground a few miles west Of Dodge
City, in the western part of this
State, today lie 21,OO0 Mexican silver
dollars, placed under the sod more
than a half century ago, according
to a story which has just been
printed.
The buried treasure was put in the
ground by the sole survivor of a
band of eighty-two Mexicans mas
sacred within four miles Of Dodge
City in 1853. The Mexican died later
and the money has never been
found.
The story Of the treasure is told
In a 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 al wild as the, plains of
Africa, only %traverseu 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 f%reighting trains.
In the summer of that year a
freighting train consisting Of eighty
two men, with 1907 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 M. 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 were on watch observed
objects not far from the camp, the
dogs commenced making a fuss and
presently the watchmen became sus-
picious and aroused old man Mar
tinez..
"The Mexicans Immediately be-
gan digging trenches and preparing
for defense. The objects around
them seemed to grow more numer-
Jus every moment, and finally could
be seen On all sides. 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 Mexicans 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,
a few of the Mexicans being killed
in the meantime and many Indians,
During the time the Mexicans scarce.
ly slept, but what struck terror to
their hearts was the consciousness
that theif ammunition was nearly
gone. On the sixth night the In.
dians made a more desperate attack
than before.
"They seemed crazed for blood
and vengeance for the chiefs thew
had already lost. AS long as. their
ammunition lasted the Mexicans con-
ttnued their stern resistance.
Then their runs were still and
they were swallowed up by wild