Hello All
Thanks for the great comments made.
The earliest account from Don Bernando Miranda, Lieutenant General of Texas in 1756:
He claimed to have found large amounts of silver at a hill in Llano region in which he name Cerro Del Almagre near a place called Honey creek. He petitioned the Spanish vice Royalty to build a Presidio in the Area.
But the Spanish authorities were not exactly convinced of the tale, suspecting Miranda was engaged in a little private expansionism, called his bluff, requesting he return with more samples from the hill. Miranda set once again with a small party to recover more samples and was never seen again. Most likely killed by the Indians.
Never less the Spanish did decide to build the Presidio
On February 28, 1758, Colonel Diego Ortiz Parrilla (commander of the presidio), wrote the following account:
"A quantity of ore was brought to me by Don Jose de Guzman, who stated that it had been taken from an outcropping discovered near the Chanas (Llano) River. I examined and tested this greenish silver ore mingled with lead." (The 25 pounds of ore yielded one and one half ounces of silver). Clearly from these accounts we can see that there was a reason for the Spanish to be there to mine silver and subjugate the Lipan Indians. However the Indians had other ideas.
Colonel Diego Ortiz Parrilla made repeated request for extra men for garrison because of fear of Indian attack and was ignored. On the 16th of march 1758, 2000 Comanches attacked the Mission miles away from the fort and slaughtered every one in the mission.
The Spanish struggled on always under maned until 1766. The Marques De Rubi, Charles III inspector General Commented that..
The San Saba Fort affords as much protection as one his Majesty ships anchored in the Atlantic. The Spanish soon Abandoned the Fort and the region.
In 1810 a Lieutenant Juan Padilla visited San Saba and Cerro Del Alamagre and claimed the area was very rich in silver. Ignacio Obregon collected impressive ore samples from the area in 1812 and recommended the San Saba Presidio be reoccupied by the Spanish. However it was never acted upon because of the Mexican revolution against the Spanish.
So BA could be right that Bowie could of found out about the Silver Deposits through marriage to the daughter of the vice-governor of Coahuila y Tejas.And through his dealing with the Indians which it was claimed they came into San Antonio twice a year to barter silver.
from all accounts we know the Bowie Brothers were not successful as on 29th November 1829 the expedition to find the silver was attacked by Lipan or Comanche Indians and through the use of superior fire power beat off the attack. There was rumor of second attempt by the brothers to find the mine. It is not known if they were successful or not.
When I first heard this legend I thought It was one great mine but I think the more you read into it, it is a series of mine workings and that is perhaps why we have some times conflicting directions?
If you can find a map by a surveyor in Texas called Elias Wightman dated 1828. It is alleged to give the approximate location of the San Saba mine.I have been trying to find his map but have not been lucky enough to have found it.
I suggest to any of you out in that part of the world should keep your eye out for that map, as I am sure there are still copies in existence somewhere in Texas or perhaps even Washington Library on congress?
Another thing on wish list.
Hardluck
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