Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-06
GOLD, SILVER
STILL BURIED
BENEATH SAND.
BY II. G. STILwELL. Jr.
Herald staff Writer

ntfdtu Stdtf NfittT
And now comes the real story OF
the lost city, Of Pao Island
from the lips OF a man who lived
there.
The city was. at least during part
Of its history, Santa Cruz" the
home OF John v. Singer and his
wife, Johanna Shaw Singer, who
were ship wrecked off Padre Island
in l847.
This information comes from
Alexander Singer, son Of John Sing
er and Johanna Shaw Singer, and
who lives at Palacios. Texas.
II Is related TO his niece. Mrs.
Fred Peters, a granddaughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. John Singer.
Mrs. Peters first communicated
with II. M. SHELTON, Sr.. county
auditor, who turned the communi-
cations over TO the chamber Of
commerce. The local chamber has
been in communication with Mrs.
Peters since that time.
New Light Shed
New light shed on this mysterious
settlement on Padre Island, the re-
rains of which were found a short
time ago by Charles Hardin OF
Brownsville, indicates that the set
Element in addition TO being Santa
Cruz. and the Singer estate. was
in all probability Los Tres Cor
rales" ranch. and an outpost OF the
Union army during the Civil War.
1t also was probably used for
other purposes III the past. IN the
opinion OF Harbert Davenport,
Brownsville historian, who pointed
out that the various settlements
described by different persons Of
fering a solution 10 the mystery OF
the lost city" were on Padre Is
land at different times, and prob
ably we're all in the same buildings.
Another new angle TO the set
Element Is revealed-one which may
prove Of interest 10 treasure hunt
ers.
That is that az least $40. 900 IN
gold and silver vas buried at the
lost city, by the Singers when they
were forced to leave suddenly-and
this money Is in al probability still
there, al the Singers upon return
ing in later years were never able
to find ii.
Alexander Singer is authority for
this statement, and remembers the
incident clearly. He > 81 years old.
but his memory Is very clear on all
the events that took place on Pa
DIRE Island while he lived there. He
remembers vivisly the wreck OF the
ship on VIII n he, a boy OF sew
en-, was travelling with his parents
and brothers in i847.
Shipwrecked
LIZ ship was wrecked off the
coast OF Padre Island. The Singer
family lived for two weeks in a
tent pitched on the beach where
they landed, where the Alice Sad
ell, the vessel in which they were
travelling, went to pieces.
Singer, who, by the way, was a
brother Of the inventor OF the sew
ak 4AAeAAAAAlNs AAAGAA lltObCA QJ t4AG
island and built a house, where the
family lived until 1851-four years.
In 1851 Mrs. Singer, who had
considerable money In her own
name. according to her son, bought
the old Santa Cruz ranch. where
the family made their home for
the next ten years.
In 1885 John Singer bought all
Padre Island from Juan Soils Bali,
Padre Parras, and Dolores sos
Bali, nephewS and nieceS of the
original grantee. r. ther Nicolas
Bali, who vas given Padre Island
in 1927 by the King Of Spain on
the condition that he settle 1t and
establish missionaries there.
Father Bali. according TO Har-
bert Davenport. local historian.
founded the settlement Of Santa
Cruz In 1927, and Ii is this set
Element which Is the lost city, and
which has. from time to time, been
used BY various groups Of persons.
and under various names.
II Is the theory Of Mr.. Davenport.
borne out by records and the word
OF those who remember, that this
spot on Padre Island was at vari-
Gus Times the lost city Of SAM
Grub. the Singer Estate. an out
post OF the Union army during the
Civil War. Los Tres Corralesr
ranch OF the King and Kennedy es-
tate. and the Holland ranch.
The most significant feature Of
the entire "lost city" matter Is
that II Is unquestionably the old
city Of Santa Cruz. the exact site
Of which has been a matter OF
mystery for fifty years. and for
which historians hars been hunt
ing.
At the quito. ak OF the Civil War
the Singers got into trouble with
the Confederates because OF their
~sympathies with the Unions cause.
AS a result in 1861 IN. were or
dered off the island, and left hur-
riedly one night. on short notice
They buried their money, which
was too bulky TO carry. About
$50 900 In gold and silver was buried
at the spot. Alexander Singer says.
The Singers moved 10 Flour
Bluff. near Corpus Christi. where
they lived until 1864. when they
started 20 M~atagorda. and were