In this video we tell of two stories that W.C. Jameson told about in one of his treasure books titled, “Lost Treasures of American History.”

The first story titled, “Lost Spanish Treasure in the Lava Beds,” deals with 14 pack mules each carrying 300 lbs. of silver ingots on their way down to Mexico City from Spanish mines near Durango, CO. Supposedly the pack train got attacked but not before the Spanish had time to bury the silver and then tried in vain to fight their way out. 

Jameson’s stories may have a thread of truth to them, and he mentions at the end of this story that a rancher named Soloman Bilbo had married an Acoma Indian woman and learned of the Spanish massacre as it was passed down through generations by word of mouth. As you know the Native Americans didn’t care about treasure and were only interested in the horses, mules and the eradication of these Spanish intruders. 

So, how does Jameson come up with 14 pack mules of silver carrying 300 lbs. of silver each? A pack mule normally carries about 20% of its body weight and back then they were small and probably weighed no more than 400 to 500 lbs. meaning they probably were only carrying about 100 to 125 lbs. each. Also, the purity of the silver dore bars that were smelted at the mine were probably only about 70% pure. Taking all that into account thus trims the value down to about $500,000 at today’s prices. Was there a treasure and were they attacked coming or going from the mine? 

The second treasure story titled, “Black Jack Christian’s Lost Train Robbery Gold.” It was about a train robbery around Grants, N.M. that took place on November 6, 1897. 

Jameson tells of Black Jack and his two outlaw partners robbing the train of $100,000 in gold and silver coins along with a canvass bag full of watches, jewels and money they took from the passengers.

In researching the story, I read a newspaper article written a couple of days after the robbery saying there were four outlaws not three. 

Next, I researched Black Jack Christian and found out he was killed in an ambush by a Sheriff’s posse and date of death was April 28, 1897. If that being the case then he wasn’t alive to rob the train on Nov. 6, 1897.

Another fact is that $100,000 in gold coins, which were most likely $20 gold pieces, would weigh 1 troy ounce each so the weight would have been 342 lbs. If 20% was $1 silver coins the weight of the silver would have been calculated at 1 troy ounce being worth $1 or 20,000 troy ounces which would equal 1,371 lbs. Don’t think they hauled that much weight in their quick getaway. One must question the $100,000 in the robbery. 

Always remember to research the treasure story as often they are embellished to attract the greed that resides in many of us that clouds our judgment in seeking the truth. 



Cheers,

Greg Hawk