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was captured by the Spanish Conquistadors, operated for a period, and then all but forgotten. What treasure was it that caused this primitive operation of which the progress of every step is marked by dead men’s bones? The Mining Engineers Map Once when Mr. Pancake was in the head of a gulch, in a cave, a few hundred yards from the mine, he unearthed the remains of a human being. With the remains he found a black stone heart of about a pound weight, and also a slab of flint with a strange diagram etched upon it. He suspected the diagram to be of ancient Mexican origin. The stone was sent to the chief engineer of the Valencia Mines near Mexico City. The stone was returned with the report that it was a mining engineers map of ancient Mexican origin. With the aged Mexican, mentioned elsewhere, as a companion, Mr. Pancake took the stone to the mountain and revealed it to his companion. The two began studying the map, and the mountain, with the result that all the shafts, and surface work, were located in a short time. About the time the miners map was found Mr. Pancake found, under the overhanging stone at the point of the mountain a flat stone with a map of Bertrong Branch, and Coryell Creek and their relation to each other, and to the mountain, plainly shown. What is more surprising, and convincing, a mile from there in an old Burial cave, he found an exact duplicate of the stone drills, and stone adzes and chisels, together with the use last etching on the cave wall. Later, Ole Anders, and experienced mining engineer, and a half Caddo Indian, did some excavating there and found the treasure sought after by the ancient miners. Silver Sulfide and Platinum in small quantities. The mother lode, if any, may have been worked out, or may have been hidden by they who carried on this ancient operation. (We have an acknowledgement of receipt of a small shipment, 1 3/4 oz, of Potassium Platinum Chloride, by American Platinum Works, dated 9-10-'27 and signed, Chas. Ritz.) It is generally believed that Platinum was unknown until late in the Eighteenth century. The credit of the discovery of Platinum is given to the Spaniards: however the old Spanish scribes record that the aborigines of certain -- 76 -- parts of Mexico, mined and made ornaments of the metal. It is likely that the Spaniards learned of the "little silver of the River Pinto for that is what they first called Platinum, from the native Mexicans. And so it is quite probable that this old mine is an ancient operation of pre-Spanish times, and silver and Platinum were the treasures sought after. Then the Conquistadors took possession to in turn be exterminated by the native warriors of the Texas plains, and hill country. This single mine is not the only one to be operated. Within a radius of three miles are two other operations. One a single shaft mine, one mile northwest of the mine mentioned above. The operators of the Valencia Mine wrote Mr. Pancake that the single shaft mine could be located by following a line of engraved slabs of flint, describing the engravings. Mr. Pancake locate all of the stones mentioned, also the single shaft mine, as indicated. I have seen and examined every one of these stones, The third mine is an open cut, across the top of a brush covered hill. LOCAL LORE About forty years ago a Mexican came to Jonesboro with a chart purporting to be the guide to a treasure buried on Bertrong Branch, some two miles above the present mine. The Mexican was later killed near Austin, thus breaking up the treasure hunt. Other members of the party carried on the hunt for the buried treasure. They located a small cannon ball, some two inches in diameter. Also Doc McClinton, who was mighty bad about shooting squirrels, and owned a rife, and two cap-and-ball six-shooters, found a bar of metal with some kind of Spanish inscription on it. Doc was low on ammunition and ran the metal into bullets. Finally after nearly all the metal had been shot away at squirrels, it was discovered to be pure silver. Later they found at the foot of a large burr-oak tree, on Bertrong Branch, another bar of pure silver, weighing exactly one pound. A Mr. Wilson, leader of the party, had a cane head made of the bullion. The cane, I am told, is still in possession of the Wilsons, and McCorkles, of the Cowhouse Valley. About thirty years later, or in 1925-26, the following parties helped Mr. Pancake excavate the old burying -- 77 -- ground on the mountain side near where Bertrong Branch flows into Coryell Creek. Wm. Caskey, J. M. Hackney, Bass Sappington, Ole Anders and a half Caddo Indian, excavated and opened a number of old mining shafts in the ancient mine. Archeology of Pancake Mine The archeology of the Pancake Mine is represented by the remains of a primitive people of the Neolithic stone age. Mortars, pestles, stone hammers, arrow heads, flint knives, and many talismanic stones have been found. Very many of the flint artifacts represent superior workmanship. Many talismanic stones have been dug out of graves along with the remains of human beings. Some of these are small pieces of flint with curies figures etched upon them. Some smooth water worn pebbles, black, white, and bluish colors. A stone, jet black, and shaped similar to a human heart was found buried on the chest of a man. The stone was of about a pound weight. There are a number of caves in the immediate vicinity, and all of them, so far as examined, contain human remains accompanied with specimens of stone-age art. Extensive ash beds, and quantities of mussel shells, are common to these caves. It would appear from the number and extent of these workings and remains, that this operation was carried thru a considerable time. In later years a Mr. Leah of Houston, spent a year, and considerable money, carrying the operations further, during which time most of the ancient evidence of operations was effaced, so that now the workings at the mine proper, appear modern. Mr. Leah must have found something that gave him a lot of encouragement for he called upon Mr. Pancake for a new contract. A new operating contract could not be agreed upon by the two. Mr. Leah abandoned the operation, but before doing so he stopped the mine and with a heavy charge of dynamite, blasted the tunnel full of stone. A year later an Indian named Sulo, came there and spent a year exploring the ancient remains of the vicinity. Legendary Ike Pancake's mother was descended from the Cherokee Indians. A legend of her people, handed down by -- 78 -- her ancestors, and learned of her by Mr. Pancake, relates that the Cherokee and Huaco had a war. The Huaco had many ornaments of hammered silver, earrings, bracelets, and other ornaments. The Cherokee inquired to learn where the silver came from. The Huaco chief said it came from toward the sunset in the big cedar brake. As a peace proffer the Huaco promised to reveal the silver mine when the moon got right. Peace was made between the two nations, and all prisoners were returned to their respective peoples. The legend says the Huaco forgot his obligation, for he could never find the moon in proper condition to justify him to reveal the silver mine to the Cherokee. The Mexicans Story A number of years ago an aged Mexican came to the Pancake Ranch. He was over eighty years old but did little chores about the ranch for some years. Once Mr. Pancake gave him a sombrero. The old man went into ecstasies of delight, patted Mr. Pancake on the back and said "Mr. Pancake you be plenty rich man". Tampico would frequently say "you plenty rich man", always indicating the hill where the old mine is located. He was often seen searching the rocks around, and on the brow of the mountain, and after the stone mining map, mentioned above, was found, he told a part of the story of the mine. He vowed that his father had worked there as a young man, probably more than a hundred years ago. Tampico has been dead about thirty-five years. He would often say "Mr. Pancake, you be plenty rich man". The Old Lady's Story A good many years ago, an old lady who had lived in this community prior to the war between the states, and knew somewhat of the legendary lore, was visiting Mr. Pancake. On coming near the foot of the mountain an immense slab of limestone was seen, with a large walnut tree growing at its base. The lady at once made the remark "This is the place." She then inquired if there was "living spring in the creek directly in front of the mountain. Then the lady replied "We are near where the old Mexican mine is located." The Black Stone Heart Many years ago old Tampico, for favors shown, revealed -- 79 -- an ancient working, now known as the Pancake Mine, to Ike Pancake. This was high up on Coryell Creek in Coryell County. There are numerous caves in the limestone hills that border the narrow valleys of Coryell Creek and Bertrong Branch, and in these caves and valleys several ancient burial grounds have been found. Beginning in 1925 Ole Anders and a half Caddo Indian did a lot of treasure hunting and excavating in and around the Pancake Ranch. They had somehow gotten possession of what purported to be a Spanish or Mexican chart bearing certain markings that should be found on stones in various places in relation to the Pancake Mine. There was another object to be found, viz--a hard, black, glossy stone bearing the likeness to a human heart, and of about a pound weight. This chart was written in the sign characters of the ancient Mexicans. The lines were traced and all points called for were found including the Black Stone Heart. The stone was broken and a part of it sent away for chemical analysis. I do not know the analysis reading. Ike had gathered 40 or 50 artifacts, arrow heads, flint knives, scraps of pottery, iron oxide and this broken likeness of the human heart, which he gave to me. For several years I kept the Black Stone Heart with my collection of Indian relics, not thinking it had any special significance. Now, 1936, found me with this curious stone and a very strange story connected with it. For the past 25 years, I hunted Indian relics, explored old camp sites, and prowled in caves in search of the cultural remains left by the antecedent races who occupied this land, and had written many folk lore tales and treasure stories, so that certain people regarded me as a treasure hunter and several men have sought my assistance in hunting buried treasure and lost mines. It was because of this reputation that the story of the Black Stone Heart came to me. After learning the story, I was glad for once that I was known as a treasure hunter. In 1935 a man, supposedly Mexican, but very distinctly, Indian, came to me to inquire of my archeological finds on Coryell Creek. He had heard that I had the Black Stone Heart. When I placed it in his hand I noticed that a pallor came over his countenance. He seemed deeply moved and solemnly shook his head. After a long and careful examination of the, stone, he draw from -- 80 -- it on the ground. There was a drawing of the hills a leather brief case, a parchment, unfolded it and spread streams adjacent to the Pancake Mine. The writings were in pictographs, undecipherable to me. He traced the lines of the strange picture writing to a cave in the head of a gulch that cuts into the south side of the hill in which the mine is located. "Here", he said, "is where it was found" He was correct, for in this small cave the excavators removed the remains of 14 human bodies, a large number of arrowheads, a few scraps of pottery and the Black Stone Heart I now have. Raising his eyes to mine, he said, solemnly: "it is broken, it is broken", and was silent for several minutes. Rising, he continued: "It was a priceless treasure of my people, but it is now worthless and disaster will overtake any member of my people who have it in their possession, for it is broken." I was all attention as he briefly unraveled the story of the sacred stone which he had traveled so far to retrieve. "Long; long ago, my people lived in the table lands of Mexico. They were cultured and had cities built of stone, and orchards, and rich fields. They were prosperous and no member of the nation was in want. We had wise men, and poets and were happy. "The happiness of our people was doomed, for a fierce race of warriors came upon the table lands of Mexico. Our cities were captured, our fields laid waste, our people enslaved, and all but a remnant were driven out of the country. Our King, with this remnant, retreated over the mountains but was overtaken by the fierce enemy and killed together with most of his people. "Our King was scared and our wise men and priests removed his heart and presented it to the sun: it became as hard as stone. This was taken as a good omen. It became a tradition of my people that as long as this heart of our King was kept unbroken our nation would be Divinely guided. Our people removed far to the northeast where they increased in numbers and built a city, and crowned the young prince as king. "The overpowering nation came again and drove us out of our homes. The Stone Heart was the treasure of our King. After many generations of wandering, during which time our kings jealousy guarded this sacred treasure, we came to this land. It was a fertile land. Timber, clear streams, grass and wild life in abundance. -- 81 -- "Our wise men, and King, thought it well to build a city and temple here. Many thatched houses and fields of corn. Our king was happy. A stone Temple, a sacred place to the sun, was erected on the brow of a hill facing the rising sun. After several kings had reigned happily, we were attacked by a fierce race coming out of the plains toward the great mountains. The war was terrible. Most of our people were killed and buried in the caves and fields. Many of our nobles were killed and buried in the caves our people had lived in. Again, our king was killed, and with the sacred stone, and some of the great chiefs, were buried in this small cave. Our people had buried the stone of sacred guidance. "Our enemies left, but our homes and temple were laid waste. Decimated in numbers, and heartbroken, our young king with a remnant of survivors, made their way from nation to nation, toward the Rio Grande. On the long journey, they were subjected to many nations, so that is was many, many years before the great river was reached. During all of this time our kings and nobles lived as common men, but always preserved the tradition of the Stone Heart. Finally, a very small number found themselves in the heart of Mexico, among strangers. It is from them that I come. A single, straggling village among other people. I am the last of the kings. Tradition says that if we retrieve the Stone Heart we will become a great people. We have kept the record. I have seen the desolation. I have seen the floor of our temple. I have seen the caves where my ancestors are buried. I have sought the sacred stone for many years. Like my hopes, and my nation, it is broken; it is broken." My Royal visitor sat in silence for some time, then resumed talking: "It is no use for white men or Mexicans to bring charts and dig here for gold. That Stone Heart was the sacred treasure, and is broken; It is broken." He left the stone with me and with many courtesies, bade me farewell and departed. Before he bade me farewell, I had asked him for the pictograph parchment. It too, was sacred to him, so he kept it. This is a strange story, but stranger still, Ike Pancake has found many strangely marked stones, the graves of the deal, the Black Stone Heart, where it was supposed to be, the stone floor of the temple, and many of the -- 82 -- |
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