Rebel - KGC
Platinum Member
- #1
Thread Owner
AKA LOST SAN SABA Silver mines in Menard, TX "area"...
"Google" SAN SABA SILVER MINE... 




One version has it that a military post (presidio) was erected on the north bank of the San Saba river before the mission was founded, and that the Viceroy had dragged his heels deliberately in making the grant so as to get his own stake in it. I even have suspicions about the assayer who performed the initial assays, <Aldaco> telling Miranda that he needed to have at least 40 mule loads worth of the ore to make a proper assessment of the values. The presidio was named San Luis de las Amarillas, and the mines must have been rich if Gov Miranda can be believed - "the mines which are in the Cerro de las Almagres are so rich that I guarantee to give to every settler in the province of Texas a full claim...The principal vein is more than two varas in width and in its westward lead appears to be of immeasurable thickness."
<letter from Don Bernardo de Miranda, Lt General of the province of Texas to the Viceroy, Feb 1756>
This is but scratching the surface - I look forward to your replies.
Miranda wasn't the governor. He was a SGT. that was promoted to Lt. and given the title of Lt.-General which meant that he was a Lt., but was in charge of the little expedition that went to the Llano area, found silver ore(Los Almagres) and made some interesting claims as to its worth. He wanted to be Capt. of the presidio if it was founded there. The San Saba stuff is all legend, none of it true and I suggest you read C. F. Eckhardt's book, "The Lost San Saba Mines". It is real history. By the way, Charlie is still alive(I think) and writes for Texas Escapes now(I think). Just telling it like it is...