Gentlemen: regarding outlaw loot, I am minded of an incident that took place near here, Chinapas , chih. The Palmarejo Mine smelter was doing custom smelting, as is required by law. The people were at Chinapas having a fiesta, so only the crew of the smelter were there. Just as they finished, They were hit by 5 men who proceeded to kill all but one, who was badly wounded. He told the posse members that he had seen them load up several mules and head for the Palmarejo narrow gauge Railroad.
The posse took off after them and when they arrived at the 1/2 way point, where there was a watering tower,they lost the trail. 'While scouting for sign, one of the posse members spotted where they had tried to hide two bars of Gold. This set off a rush to find the rest, giving the outlaws time to get away, they never found the rest of the bars, nor caught the outlaws. .
When I first arrived in Chinapas in the 50's they took me out to the water tower to see if my detector could find the missing bars, I had no success. They then told me that the outlaw's mules were found in a near by arroyo still with their pack saddles. I also checked that area, but didn't find anything, so we returned to Chinapas with just another nice story
Many years, later my cousin told me an intersting story. It appeared that at a lumber camp where he purchased lumber , there was an old man, the cooks helper, that approached him with an interesting story. The old man told him that he, another gringo, and 3 Mexicans held up a smelter in old Mexico, but unfortunately they had to kill everyone there because of the fight that they made. He said that the people were at another town near by, some 5 miles, which was the reason they had to end the fight as quickly as possible.
He said that they had previously loaded up several mules with heavy rocks to simulate a heavily loaded animal, then buried all but three bars in a prearranged spot on the 'same' property. They then took off driving the mules until they came to a water tower. There they very crudely buried two of the bars, hoping that the posse would do exactly as they did. They then drove the mules to the nearby arroyo where they scattered the rock, then turned the mule loose., and so escaped. The mules loads had obviously been put someplace, but where?. he he ehe
They went north to Chihuahua, where two of the Mexican bandidos were killed in a saloon fight, the third was sent to prison for another crime where he died.. The old man and his and partner escaped to the Us, where he did odd jobs waiting for an opportunity to return to Mexico for the Gold bars. Unfortunately the Revolution exploaded and then drug on for years. It was impossible for him to return.
He told my cousin that he could lead him to the exact spot with no problems, but that he would need a Jeep and only he would be armed. My cousin remembering the old mans' account of killing the workers at the smelter, said "thank you , but but no thanks. Shortly afterwards the old man died.
This is a classic, 'true' example that many outlaws had things prepared before the crime, so almost anything is possible.
Another favorite spot is in a corral. dig a simple shallow trench, putting the loot in it, cover it up, then run the animals over the spot a few times and it was effectively hidden forever.
Don Jose de La Mancha
p.s. I know within 35 meters where the spot is, but haven't had the opportunity to return there with the proper detector. It is in an area covered with broken iron parts and scrap metal. A real worthwhile challenge. I may get ORO and Beth on it.
timberwolf's dream
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