Padres Lost Silver Bars

nmth

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Great to see a relative here! An 80ish-year old friend of mine has followed this story for decades. Must be exciting to see others sharing in the family history. I figure that if Melvin could not find it, then it must be somewhere else. I've explored alternate locations for years - even far away. Now I live closer to the "expected" area. I'll be up there this next week. Excited to see the area. Lately, I've been smelting highgrade ore found in known colonial Spanish areas (and others), and I can tell you that Silver is fairly easy to come by, so a big accumulation over the course of years is not a fictional concept. I'd love to hear more about the SW AZ mesa, but expect it may be in locked-up land.

Edit/Update:

1) Beautiful country up there, and a lot of the land access is open-ish, but I am most interested in the story closer to San Francisco Peaks that's the main topic (I think a second story was mentioned a while back in the thread) so don't know about the Eastern Malpais land status closer to ABQ.

2) I may be repeating other's ideas here (or not), but the story "feels" to me like the pack train was moving South through Chavez Pass and got turned around by the battle and they started fleeing North since their main route was blocked, and maybe they figured they could lose their attackers' interest eventually. Would a route down to Tubac or over to San Diego or somewhere make sense for Silver coming from CO or NM to go through Chavez Pass (pass of the Mogollones)?

3) Regarding the load they put on a mule and how much the one (*assumed* associated) bar weighed x the number of bars: the story does say that the mules were "overladen", but there's an upper limit. Unless the # of bars or # of mules is to be discounted entirely, then the computation relies on the weight of the bars. So, this almost suggests that the Bonito Park bar is *not* associated with this tale if I get the gist of the computation and "Colonial Spanish Mule GVWR" posted earlier.

4) Springfield asked "why bother to stop and cache the goods when at risk of death and exhausted?" I guess i) penalty of pain/demotion/social standing, and ii) duty/religion, in that order, makes some sense?

5) The map description says something like "Peak with Red Spot 6 leagues from burial". Soooo, did they pass this peak before the burial? Did they spot the peak in the distance, wet their fingers and declare "6 leagues", or what? Probably important. Also, the ledge is described as six feet high or something? Not much of a landmark. I've got my geography of interest (which will probably change - sigh) and ideas, but this one's tricky.

When some super hardworking guy from generations back so close to the original materials seemingly comes up empty, then "Slim just left Town" unless you can a) get lucky (which can happen to even a non-searcher) or b) find the missing angle - 'cuz in this case short of the actual map and entry, it seems like extra paper does not have much more it could reveal? To the dirt!


You guys have done some great research. There was a part posted by Igadbois "buried in fine black sand" that was only on the original map. My mother said that is true, that Melvin told her that. As for the map, the plateau on the left being sunset crater could be very true. I have a different theory. While Melvin was searching for the silver he found and claimed the McCormick mine which is a mile or two southwest of O'Leary. We still own this mine and it is our main source of income. My mother said George may very well have buried the map as he was apparently quite a stubborn character. Melvin believed the silver to be out there and wanted to continue searching, but it would take 7-8 Melvins to complete all his projects! He also spent time way down in southwest Az looking for ONE special plateau. This is also something Im very interested in. I have basically grown up around the O'Leary area, marking claim corners, riding dirtbikes, camping, etc... I wish I had asked Melvin more questions when I was 3-4! My parents will be moving to a final location next summer where we can finally look through Melvins treasures. Im 100% positive the search will continue!!! Anyone who would like to come along is more than welcome, and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask. There are still a few knowledgeable McCormicks around (myself not included)!
 

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KANACKI

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Hola amigos good to see relatives of those who search previously adding some interesting input here also,

I believe Matt was digging into the story quite a bit.

Kanacki
 

UncleMatt

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I was for a time, but got distracted by another project. You also need a permit from the Pueblo to do any serious searching in the Narrows, and I was never able to obtain one.
 

KANACKI

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I was for a time, but got distracted by another project. You also need a permit from the Pueblo to do any serious searching in the Narrows, and I was never able to obtain one.

Hola amigo sadly that is the fate many who research there treasure legends are restricted by land access.

I have location where there is cave near a waterfall on a island in the Western pacific where there is cave with treasure with combination of looted treasure from various ships captured by natives and pirates in the 19th century. Unfortunately the old chief had bad experiences with white men in the past. If I set foot on his territory he will add my scull to his collection.

10992644.jpg

You cant charm everyone but time my friend as his son might be a different story.

Kanacki
 

UncleMatt

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I am glad I do not have to deal with the same obstacles you must deal with Kanacki!
 

UncleMatt

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I haven't posted here in awhile, but want to ask if anyone knows of a trail in the malpais south of Grants, NM called the "El Encierro Trail"? Is should start on the north side of the lava field and make its way to Cerro Encierro, which is inside The Hole IN The Wall area that is enclosed by the lava field. It would have been used by sheep herders back in the day. I know quite a few people in that area, but so far no one can help with this.
 

RKW

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I haven't posted here in awhile, but want to ask if anyone knows of a trail in the malpais south of Grants, NM called the "El Encierro Trail"? Is should start on the north side of the lava field and make its way to Cerro Encierro, which is inside The Hole IN The Wall area that is enclosed by the lava field. It would have been used by sheep herders back in the day. I know quite a few people in that area, but so far no one can help with this.

To me, it sounds like the "El Encierro" Trail might be the same thing as the trail to Cerro Encierro. Google "Cerro Encierro trailhead" and see if that pushes your research in the right direction. BTW, Cerro Encierro means "Confinement Mountain" in Spanish.
 

UncleMatt

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I think that is doubtful. The trail I am looking for starts on the north side of the lava field, and a wagon trail leads to it that passes between the Arasso and Porter ranches on that side of the malpais.
 

UncleMatt

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I found the trail head! It is on private property along the north side of the lava flow, south of the Arasso and Porter ranches. The family of the the man who wrote about the treasure ended up buying the property where it was supposedly located.
 

South Sea mariner

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I found the trail head! It is on private property along the north side of the lava flow, south of the Arasso and Porter ranches. The family of the the man who wrote about the treasure ended up buying the property where it was supposedly located.

Hello Uncle Matt

Thanks for the posts and updated it has been a very interesting and captivating topic. enjoyed the treasure yarn very much.

Mal
 

audigger53

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Actually it was from my brother when he was stationed at Fort Huachuca. @ guys came back to the post after they had been discharged from the Army and showed a silver bar that they had found in one of the ravines where the Army did live fire missions. "The bar was 3 feet long and weighed 70 LBs. It was one of a stack of bars that were exposed on the side of a ravine. There were at least 2 stacks long and about 6-8(?) per stack." He was one of the escorts for the guys as they tried to find the ravine and bars again. The Army gave them 2 weeks to try and find them again as they had the one bar as proof of their story. They never did find the rest of them. That's where the 60-70 Lbs for silver and 100 Lbs for gold for the Mules, which were also the large burros from central Mexico that the Spaniards used for mules. They had special packs for the bars to spread the load on the mule/burro.
 

South Sea mariner

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Another possabilty we assume it was just the Jesuits that left a lot of treasure in the south west.? Its was most likely Iberian Spanish people from around the time of the Mexican war of independence?


The French Invasion of Spain, 1808: Believe it or not, internal events within Spain were the main factors leading to the Mexican Revolution. Napolean Bonaparte, the famous French general, invaded Portugal and Spain, crippling the powers of the Iberian Peninsula. At the time, Mexico was the center of New Spain, a large colony that extended throughout Mexico, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean. New Spain took advantage of Spain's precarious position during the Napoleonic Wars, making decisive moves toward independence.

Grito de Dolores, September 16, 1810: On this day in 1810, a Catholic priest by the name of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla led a call for revolution from the town of Dolores, officially starting the Mexican Revolution. Today, September 16th, is celebrated as Mexican Independence Day. The exact words of Hidalgo's speech are contested, but he appealed to ideas of independence, fear of Napoleon, and to Mexico's indigenous roots against Spanish oppressors.

Hidalgo led a series of successful revolts, killing Spaniards throughout Mexico and nearly claiming victory within the year before being pushed back, defeated, and executed in 1811. His remains were publicly displayed to detract against any further revolution, but this only helped to fuel the continuation of the movement. Guerrilla warfare continued throughout Mexico for nearly a decade against royalist forces. ( this as you could imagine forced many to conceal mining or personal wealth )

February 21, 1821, The Army of the Three Guarantees: The Mexican Revolution took a decisive turn in favor of the Mexican rebels in 1821, when Spanish General Agustin de Iturbide, defected and joined forces with the rebels. The resultant army became known as the Army of the Three Guarantees, who swept across Mexico in the coming months. The Battle of Azcapotzalco was the last major battle of the Mexican Revolution, which led to the signing of the Treaty of Cordoba, declaring the independence of the Mexican Empire. However, the Spanish crown refused to recognize the treaty, and the fighting continued.

September 28, 1821, Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire: By September, all resistance to the revolution had effectively ended after the rebels took firm control of Mexico City. At this time, the contents of the Treaty of Cordoba became ratified as the Mexican Declaration of Independence.

Its was perhaps from this internal conflict many mines in the south west became abandoned and family treasure hidden by Iberian Spanish families now ousted from power by the native born Mexican Spanish. The problem in the American North West was also compounded by the Apache uprising after 1821 in the power vacuum. forcing many Iberian Spanish survivors never to return.

Perhaps look in the context of that era between 1810 and 1821 will turn up exciting information about hidden treasure? Understanding Spanish culture back then may be the key to understanding the context in how treasure was hidden?

Mal
 

South Sea mariner

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To me, it sounds like the "El Encierro" Trail might be the same thing as the trail to Cerro Encierro. Google "Cerro Encierro trailhead" and see if that pushes your research in the right direction. BTW, Cerro Encierro means "Confinement Mountain" in Spanish.

I am a little confused.... as Confinement Mountain in Spanish is "Montaña de confinamiento"

Cerro Encierro means hill confinement. It may sound like splitting hairs so to speak but it can some times lead to things be taken out of context due to language translation. El Encierro "the confinement" If that helps....

Mal
 

UncleMatt

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The malpais surrounds several areas, which are know as the Hole in the Wall, and The Little Hole in the Wall. Those are the enclosures involved here. There is a volcano cone inside the Hole in the Wall called Cerro Encierro at 34.877981, -108.051267 .
 

Holyground

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Truth be told, Richardson could color a story redder than a Navajo blanket; he mainly wrote novels, under the pen name Maurice Kildare, and he never let truth get in the way of a good story.
 

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