Note 2 — AN INQUIRY INTO THE SOURCES OF TREASURE LEGENDS OF TEXAS

According to authenticated history, the Spanish worked but one mine in what before 1836 was the state of Texas.2 That was Los Almagres on the San Saba River, opened about 1757. Though the history of the San Saba mission and of the San Saba presidio is clear and sufficiently full, little is known of the history of the mine. It is doubtful if it ever paid much. Certainly, captains and commanders were always urging the Spanish viceroy to equip a large presidio on the San Saba to protect the mines. A certain Captain Villareal, too, is reported to have sent an urgent plea to the viceroy for more troops to protect a mine “two days’ ride from Corpus Christi,” which, he said, had been taken by Indians.3 But such advice from the Spanish commanders must not be taken too seriously. Many of them were notorious grafters, paying their men in goods with enormous profit to themselves, and frequently carrying on their payrolls the names of men whom they had enlisted only to discharge, or whom they had not enlisted at all. Their meat was more men.4 Yet these old reports have furnished “documentary evidence” to many a treasure hunter.