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Beale never says that anyone found about their alleged mine. He only questions if someone might pose as an imposter at some later date. Up to this point his alleged letters never say that anyone else other then the alleged party members, an alleged person in St. Louis, and Morriss knew about the alleged mine. The fact that Cockrell worked the mine in 1823 and didn't encounter the Beale party then, or get rich from his efforts, says quite a bit, I think. And I'm fairly sure that had Cockrell's mining effort produced much at all worth the effort then he would have probably gone back himself to get more. And remember, none of this is coming directly from Cockrell himself so here again it's all secondhand information.
Oh but he did say someone had found out:
"One recommended Santa Fé as the safest place to deposit it, while others objected, and advocated its shipment at once to the States, where it was ultimately bound to go, and where alone it would be safe. The idea seemed to prevail, and it was doubtless correct. that when outside parties ascertained, as they would do, that we kept nothing on hand to tempt their cupidity, our lives would be more secure than at present."
He said that outside parties found out what they were up to, and it put their lives in an unsecure position. You can see from the letter sent from St. Louis that Beale was careful to not mention treasure, or names, even his own. This was a letter sent through the mail. Even in the letter left to Morriss in the iron box, Beale said "I thought, at first, to give you their names in this letter. but reflecting that some one may read the letter, and thus be enabled to impose upon you by personating some member of the party, have decided the present plan is best." So, even in this letter, Beale was careful to not give names, even his own, as he signed it T.J.B. Why was Beale so careful, even with letters left in the iron box? Could it be for reasons he stated?
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