I believe we need to bulldoze the Alamo and find that treasure. A work crew needed to first remove three feet of flagstone and roadbed to reach the top of the filled-in well. But to many native Texans, his theory doesnt hold up. The treasure was intended to finance the Texas revolution for independence from Mexico. Later, looking for ways to draw settlers to his colony, Austin marked the suspected location of the old Spanish silver mine on his 1829 map of Texas. I dont think so! The cherubic smile on that face soon soured into a surly adolescence, capped by his expulsion from Eisenhower High School in Rialto after bloodying the shop teachers nose. The site for a legendary battle between General Custer and Cheyenne and Apacho Native forces may have laid way to gold bars being buried along the shores. That may be changing given a recent
It was
Stephen Austin included it on his maps of Texas. The largest was believed to be the site of the well and in the exact location where Maria predicted the treasure would be found. In 1868, four treasure hunters from San Marcos, Texas, searched for a lost mine on the San Saba River, near todays Menard. In the old days, the Templars used to hide their secret treasures in the best fortified temple/temples and if possible near a fort to protect it because it had historical artifacts. From my research, he was close from finding these, but instead concentrated on the bottom of the well fools errand that follows the footsteps of Brutons Vault. During the afternoon, the larger part of the Indians withdrew to a pond about one and a half miles distant but left several riflemen in place to keep their prey pinned down. But there is an estimated $200 million in a variety of gold, silver coins, jewels and emeralds still up for grabs if youre looking for vacation down to the Keys that might pay itself. Artwork by Gary Zaboly What was it that Miranda had found? Legend has it that in the shadow of the Alamo's old mission, a treasure remains buried, a secret which dates back to 1836, the year of the famous battle. But the notion of rich silver mines near the San Saba River had taken hold in the publics mind. Along with a team of archaeologists and researchers, Frank excavated the street in front of the Alamo. nearby to fend off the Comanche. But I ended up admiring him tremendously. (LogOut/ After a hurricane destroyed the complex in 1724, it was relocated to its current and final location. Near the end of the Civil War, Perry returned to Texas, but after twenty or so years it had changed so much that he could no longer find his former mine. Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore Are you sure you want to delete this address? This is a politically groundbreaking event here in San Antonio, said Tom Guderjan, director of archeology at St. Marys University, which is conducting the excavation. But, no, weve not been hunting for treasure.. Victorio Peak Treasure Southern New Mexico. San Saba and Los Almagres are sometimes connected, and sometimes confused or combined. So in 1757 the Spaniards set up a mission and presidio near where Menard, Texas sits today. Exam copy availability, 2023 Texas A&M University Press | Orders: 800-826-8911 | John H. Lindsey Building, Lewis St. | College Station, Texas 77843-4354. He pulled out what he could and hid it in several places because gold ownership, aside from jewelry, was illegal then. The well was in the plaza, which was surrounded by 12-foot-tall stone walls. Miranda did not get to enjoy nor develop his find, since he was transferred elsewhere before he could return to the San Saba. Happy hunting. And I dont think you would be polluting your water well, because you dont know how long your siege is going to be., A 15 x 15 foot area was excavated above the well. The San Saba Treasure In 1836, a group of rugged frontiersmen led by Colonel Jim Bowie traveled across southern Texas to the Alamo while carrying a fortune known as the San Saba Treasure. The defenders valiantly put down one advance after another, but in the end, 189 men could not hold off 6,000 Mexican soldiers. So bandits could have stolen the silver and hid it anywhere. The Apache asked for a mission to be set up. In an intimate setting designed to relax and rejuvenate your senses, every moment at Amara Sanctuary is a unique memory. Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa (SG Clean Certified) in Singapore - Agoda It was within these walls that the Texans held out for a full thirteen days. from around Menard, but it seems that whatever has been found, no one found it worthwhile enough to sink a proper mine. But optimism soon turned to disappointment: they found no sign of the treasure. The region where thesealmagresexisted was located approximately seventy-five miles northwest of San Antonio. (Lexington, KY: J. Clark & Son, 1836; facsimile, Austin, TX: Texas State Historical Press, 1990), 76. Upgrade To Pro. Even the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, whose jurisdictional boundaries end just a few feet shy of the dig site, did not put up the fight that was expected. Professional fortune hunter and historical researcher Frank Buschbacher, along with a team of archaeologists and researchers, excavated the street in front of the Alamo. The Spaniards abandoned the fort in the late 1700s, years after the mission was destroyed. And for them, the search will continue. But the archeologists are still in the 2- to 3-foot range, sifting through the dirt by hand. silver bars. Then 37 years after Jim Bowie had a go at it my ancestor went looking with three other men. Like most websites, we use cookies to improve our service and make your user experience better. It was only about 1990 when the digging finally stopped for good. I saw some of the pictures that they had developed from some of the glass negatives. It is also a fascinating story for the cast of unique characters who were drawn to the search. . Project Director Thomas Guderjanhe of the Archaeology Department at St. Mary's University agreed to oversee the project in case anything that turned up had any historical value. The problem was the systems were empty, which lead to speculation that the Aztecs likely moved their treasure again. there has been interest in reopening the site. Gold and silver flowing from Mexico and Peru filled convoys of galleons, and carried this treasure to Spain. Frank first heard about the mysterious treasure at the Alamo during a trip to Mexico. We offer discounted cruises with luxury providers including Royal Caribbean . Kitco Account, Here's what gold price did during 2011 debt ceiling crisis, and what to expect now. Extra bed upon request. To many tunnels! Mirandas party, which numbered sixteen soldiers and six civilians, left San Antonio de Bxar on February 17, and returned on March 10. Her face appears blurry and unsmiling, but she reminds him why he is here. Apparently, a captain of Custers was making his way up river to meet the general, but before reaching the battle, he heard of Custers defeat. Its under a dwelling of some kind somewhere there and Gold is not the only thing thats with it. It took Frank three and a half years to acquire the necessary permits and financing to excavate the site. There were several reasons for these rumors: The Spaniards were known to have taken a lot of silver out of the new world and it was concluded that if the Spaniards moved into an area, it must have been to mine. And the truth is, it wouldnt have happened if Frank hadnt pushed.. ], Cephas K. Ham, Jesse Wallace, Seor Gonzales, and a mulatto named Charles. The need to transport the injured and dead on the ship forced him to ditch the goods and bury them along the shores of the river. Not one of the defenders survived to tell the tale, but the legend of the treasure lived on. destroyed the mission and murdered several Spaniards, including two priests. Whenever he begins to lose faith, he looks at the photo of Maria tacked to his office wall. It is now a museum in the Alamo Plaza District of downtown San Antonio, Texas. Shortly after the Spaniards abandoned the mission, rumors of silver mines in the area circulated in San Antonio. Treasure is not about rolling around in wealth, but going out to look for it, said Buschbacher, who would be required, at any rate, to hand over his booty to San Antonio officials. Search by keyword, author, title, and more.. Maybe underneith a house or well thats been filled in. The one to the east is known as the Llano Uplift. Many of the stories have common themes, including first finding the mine, leaving the area for some time, then returning and being unable to locate the mine or mines again, sounding like the main points of a recurring dream. After the Battle of the Alamo, accounts spread quickly all across Texas and the United States, leading to some of the myths, legends, and tall tales that we know today. For all the talk of treasure, it is really the hunt for tranquillity that has driven this ex-Hells Angel and former marijuana farmer who lost his youth 25 years ago in the jungles of Vietnam. It was one
Spanish monarchs came to rely on what seemed like an endless supply of ingots, coins, and jewelry cast from ore mined from rich deposits that dotted the land. He first heard about the mysterious treasure there during a trip to Mexico, where was introduced to Maria Gomez, a respected museum curator who also had a reputation as a psychic. A work crew needed to first remove three feet of flagstone and roadbed to reach the top of the filled-in well. There is nothing about Buschbachers past that could have predicted his current fixation, other than the childhood photo he still carries of an 8-year-old boy in a Davy Crockett T-shirt. That may be changing given a recent Treasure hunters dig for gold and silver supposedly buried under the Alamo. Alamo Treasure | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom His biggest break came in 1992 when Buschbacher finally persuaded the Houston-based Earth Measurement Corp. to survey the plaza with a smorgasbord of high-tech instrumentation, including ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic sensors. It was just a valiant battle that was lost. Having been in combat myself, I always felt there had to have been another incentive for those guys not to skedaddle, said Buschbacher, whose own efforts have been financed largely by his girlfriend, Shelley Nordyke. Surely the a mine was there, but no matter who was nominally in charge, be it Spain, Mexico,
Rezin and James later claimed to have witnessed twenty-one Indians killed outright in the battle, and later found forty-eight bloody spots on the ground. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. On the hallowed grounds of the Alamo, a shrine so sacred that men still must doff their hats before setting foot in the limestone chapel, Frank Buschbacher is digging for gold. The Spanish referred to the suspected deposits asalmagre, a reddish colored earth also known as red ochre. The Van Horn mines were smaller and not as productive as the Shafter mines. I dont think I would have taken my own life, but I probably would have forced someone to kill me.. There scuff odd bottles and practices to adhere throughout test, Europe Non-Phthalate PlasticizersMarket Research study on Future Challenges, Growth Statistics and Forecast to 2027, Molecular TestsMarket Assessment & Opportunity Forecast till 2026, Torque Converter Market Analysis Future, Current and Future Plans by Forecast 2023. MYSTERIOUS! In a mystical twist that has made the excavation even more unlikely, Buschbacher credits his success to the psychic guidance of an elderly Mexican prophet, who not only steered him to the exact spot where he is digging but also helped exorcise many of his own demons from the past. On February 1, 1995, a 15x15 foot area was excavated above the well. The descendants of famed battle heroes have volunteered to help scoop it from the ground. Frank first heard about the mysterious treasure at the Alamo during a trip to Mexico. The story goes, following Aztec leader Montezumas death, his followers hid his vast treasure from Cortez and incoming Spaniard forces. In recent years, with silver going up again,
He moved to the Mendocino area and toiled in his fathers electrical contracting business. San Saba Treasure - An Overview - Texas Lost Mines Buschbacher theorized that Bowie had carried his treasure with him into the Alamo and hid it in a well located near the southeast corner of the Long Barrack. It doesnt make them any less of heroes; they just might have been guarding what could be construed as the First Bank of Texas. . The following is intended to be a high level look at the mystery. Cruises - Trip.com Singapore About mid-day the Tahuacanos changed tactics, and set fire to the prairie next to the grove, hoping the smoke would drive the party from their cover. If Buschbacher finds his bonanza, which he thinks was stashed down a well during the fateful 1836 siege, he will have rewritten a crucial chapter of Texas history and challenged one of the most jealously guarded icons of American folklore. --, "Many colorful and unique characters who searched for the fabulous riches are found in subsequent chapters, which included James Bowie (of the Alamo fame) who formed an expedition in search of the mine, a fake treasure map industry, murder trials, lost fortunes, a rattlesnake dancer (a 'Comanche' princess), and numerous others." hes deceased now and the house has been razed. He beat the sickness and waited until his later years to hide the chest in the Rockies. Fast-forward to 1914, a prospector named Freddy Crystal found some etchings on a cliff, had them deciphered by a Montezuma descendant and discovered a tunnel and cave system that was heavily booby trapped. 240 pp. Whereas before small numbers of Spanish troops could fight back large numbers of natives who were only
You know, as time marches on, dust and dirt accumulate and cover very gradually, so that could be part of what theyre picking up out there.. Theres debate as to whether the captain went back to get them or not. File size error: The file exceeds allowed the limit (244 MB) and can not be uploaded. Subscribe for new episodes announcements, latest news, featured cases, and more! 978-1-57441-735-7 Cloth
About the San Saba River Alamo Treasure - Unsolved Mysteries Is there a treasure at the Alamo? She later drew him a map placing the treasure at the bottom of an old well. PLEASE NOTE: We are migrating to a new inventory & fulfillment system. It's believed that men led by Colonel James Bowie led a group of rugged frontiersmen across southern Texas to there. (Kitco News) -In case you missed the first half of this series, or youre still not wildly rich from a monumental discovery, there are still some substantial treasures that remain undiscovered in the world. In 1793, it was secularized and then abandoned. The party erected a flag on a long pole over their camp to show their foe that they still were ready to fight. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It is amazing how the entire property is carved up. The bulk of the treasure, she said, closing her eyes and waving her outstretched palms, still remained. The plans called for excavating a 15 x 15 foot area directly above the well. In the twentieth century a number of interesting characters had a go at it: an electrician turned treasure hunter named William Longworth, a train engineer turned prominent San Antonio
(24 hours) Post was successfully added to your timeline! The largest, which Frank believed to be the site of the well, was in the exact location where Maria Gomez predicted the treasure would be found. In addition to the two Bowie brothers, the party consisted of Robert Armstrong, Thomas McCaslin, Daniel Buchanan, James Corriell, Mateo Dias [Matthew Doyle? For Llano county in general, it seems to suffer from the curse of the Llano: a little bit of everything, but not much of any one thing. Energy does not lie. The remains of a tunnel coming from the east side of the chapel going east towards hackberry street is an escape route built by the Indians (of course) for the clergy who would use it to escape overwhelming un friendly indian attacks. As time marches on, dust and dirt accumulate and cover very gradually so that it could be part of what they're picking up out there." It closed during WWII. As a native of San Antonio I think most of us would like to see it left alone. sedimentary areas, even into the usually barren limestone, and left behind minerals. It was 1966. Transaction Status, Reset
For project director Thomas Guderjan, anything that turns up during the excavation will have historical value: Whether its treasure, as in gold and silver and that sort of thing, or whether it is materials that were thrown into the well during the battle, materials that were thrown into the well during the clean-up after the battle, it doesnt make any difference to us what were looking at in a historical perspective. I dont know if I believe in the treasure, but I do believe in the underground chambers near the Alamo. Lost Bowie Mine. Thank you for your patience. Those hopes were dashed on March 16, 1758, when two thousand Comanches sacked and burned Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba, demonstrating that the region was still too dangerous for mining activity. coincidence? Request a review copy, Professors:
1868 Samuel Flemming (one of my ancestors) went with three other men, Wiley Stroud, Greenberry Ezell, and Col. Dixon, to the San Saba River, near where Menard, Texas sits today. His cousin, Mary Austin Holley, also mentioned the mine in her 1836 book,Texas, writing, tradition says, that a silver mine on the San Saba [River] was successfully wrought many years ago, but the prosecution of it was arrested by the Indians, who cut off the workmen.[i]Talk of the abandoned silver mine also had caught the attention of Rezin P. Bowie and his younger brother, James. circumstances a stones throw from where my relative had dug 75 years earlier. And I don't think you would be polluting your water well because you don't know how long your siege is going to be." The owners seemed to have the art of finding investors down to a science. But to many native Texans, his theory doesnt hold up. armed with bow and arrow, the muskets and horses leveled the playing field. The reason its remained there is that everybody died.. an Account, Activate
The legends of the Lost Silver Mines of the Hill Country date back to the mid 1700s, alternately referred to as the San Saba Silver Mine, the Llano Silver Mine, the Los Almagres Mine and the Spanish Silver Mine. As recounted by Dobie, in
When your life is on the line, like it was in the Battle with Juno Santiana, I dont think youre thinking about silver or gold bullion. Ten years later, it became a fortress housing a Spanish Army unit, the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras. One of the finds that most excited Guderjan was some ammunition used in canons, called grapeshot: We think its from the actual battle. time or another, and even rare earth minerals are to be found. Location: San Antonio, Texas Did he ever find the silver? For the last month, his team of excavators has delicately sifted through a gaping hole carved out of the plaza floor, an unprecedented treasure hunt somewhat akin to burrowing for riches underneath the Vatican. One well known gold and sliver mine was the Heath mine. Last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing. The site of one of Americas most famous battles may hold more than a rich, albeit bloody, history. Legend has it that in the shadow of the Alamos old mission, a treasure remains buried, a secret which dates back to 1836, the year of the famous battle. He even provided a pull out map of the area surrounding the treasure in his book Too Far to Walk. The largest, which Frank believed to be the site of the well, was in the exact location where Maria Gomez predicted the treasure would be found. We have detected some adult content on the image you uploaded, therefore we have declined your upload process. . Alamo Treasure. Already archeologists are ecstatic about an array of Native American artifacts, including remnants of an 18th-Century barbecue pit, unearthed in the first days of the dig. Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa - HalalTrip operated by Alamo Trust, Inc., a Texas non-profit You cant help but get turned on. Whether you're looking for a relaxing cruise vacation or an entertainment-packed adventure, Trip.com provides professional support to ensure you make the most of your journey. Frank believes that this treasure is located beneath the road in front of the chapel. The Lost Treasure Of The Alamo San Antonio, Texas. So, the San Saba legends are attached to Jim Bowie, and are sometimes referred to as the
Spotting a large body of Indians waiting to attack them in the open after they left the grove, the party quickly retreated and took up a defensive position within the trees. And I dont think you would be polluting your water well, because you dont know how long your siege is going to be., Despite the controversy, Frank was determined to prove his point. Theres so much controversy over this topic, does anyone still believe its real or not? The technical data, however, gave Buschbacher the selling point he needed. He was so close. I do feel that it is in the ground and not hid behind rocks. Legend has it there's a vast gold and silver treasure buried somewhere on site, known as the San Saba treasure. Both Rezin and James left accounts of their trip to find the San Saba silver, and their subsequent epic fight with Indians near the site of the old mission. It then became Apache, and then Comanche, territory and was hazardous to visit. There are many San Saba legends. The San Saba Treasure legend essentially covers lost mine / buried treasure stories in the Texas Hill Country somewhere between San Antonio and San Angelo. Whatever you need, we're here to help. Ing. The morning light revealed to the besieged party that their attackers had left during the night. Excavations at the Alamo have been conducted before, but only when engineering problems already necessitated breaking ground--and always under the watchful eye of the sites politically powerful custodians, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Are the shores of the Bighorn River lined in gold? That night, I had my first full night of sleep in 17 years, said Buschbacher, who continued returning to Colima until Maria Ahumadas death in 1991. Egg-Shaped Basin. He obtained permission to survey the area with ground-penetrating radar, yielding some intriguing results. But new people to the area thought that the mission was, obviously,
The San Saba Treasure Legend - Silver In Texas The legend continues with the story of an anglo by the name of Harp Perry who is said to have mined silver in the same general area as far back as the 1830s. Even gold and silver sometimes. By Alex Ltourneau of Kitco News aletourneau@kitco.com
The fighting finally ended about dusk, with both sides contemplating their next move. Though a presidio was established, it was not adjacent to the mine. However, the losses to their own party kept them and their companions in their fortified camp for more than a week. found a ferocious battle with some native Americans instead, which made him famous. In 1831 Jim Bowie, of Alamo fame, went looking for it, and found an epic battle with a band of natives instead. A treasure was buried in the wall. This treasure was to be used for the war and had to be secure within the compound. I think you're thinking about your life. Seor Gonzales and Charles were put to work building breastworks out of saddles, packs, and any loose branches they could find. There are traces of silver in sandstone about ten miles to the east of Menard. The location is set, but you try going to Texas and desecrating the Alamo. When I started out, the idea of digging a hole in front of the Alamo was like moms underwear or something; it was sacrilegious to even talk about it, said Buschbacher, 46, a freewheeling, beer-bellied adventurer from California. See our updatedPrivacy Policyto find out more about cookies and how we use your data. In 1995, a historical researcher named Frank Buschbacher convinced the producers of TVsUnsolved Mysteriesthat James Bowie had found the lost silver mine and reaped its wealth. For project director Thomas Guderjan, anything that turns up during the excavation will have historical value:Whether its a treasure, as in gold and silver and that sort of thing, or whether it is materials that were thrown into the well during the battle, materials that were thrown into the well during the clean-up after the battle, it doesnt make any difference to us what were looking at in a historical perspective. Pub Date: 01/03/2019 Available [click to enlarge] BUY NOW Cloth $19.95 Media: Request a review copy Professors: Exam copy availability Related Subjects Folklore Texana In 1868, four treasure hunters from San Marcos, Texas, searched for a lost mine on the San Saba River, near today's Menard. Yellen says Washington might respond to unintended consequences for China due to tech export curbs, South Korean lawmakers berate IAEA chief over Japanese plans to release treated Fukushima wastewater, Mexican Mafia member who ran county jail rackets is killed in prison, Huntington Beach lifeguard, a former water polo standout, suffers spinal injury on duty, Plaschke: Reeling Angels need to swallow hard and trade Shohei Ohtani, How Bidenomics looks now isnt what matters. The Indians warned the group that 124 Tahuacanos were trailing them with the intent of catching and killing their small party. The first, and only, time a mission was completely destroyed. But, no. When Santa Annas men took it, they wouldve scoured the Alamo. On the west side of the state there was the Shafter mine district and the Van Horn area. Yet some remain convinced that it still exists somewhere deep beneath the Alamo. The mission was there, but there had to be packtrains of silver going hither and yon, right? He returned from Vietnam in one piece, but the memories continued to haunt him, filling his nights with flashbacks that left his sheets soaked with sweat. Top economist Steve Hanke breaks down the basics you need to know, Unintended consequences of U.S. dollar 'weaponization': here's how gold and Bitcoin utilize the moment, Inflation fears have Wall Street eyeing Fed rate hike shocker in March, but gold price is not buying in.