Legends of Texas Page: 26
279 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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Texas Folk-Lore Society
It was agreed. The two men wandered over Packsaddle search-
ing in vain. Finally, Chaney, becoming weary and impatient,
told Roland emphatically that he was "tired of foolin' "; and his
wary companion answered, "Show me the money, and I'll show
you the mine !"
Chaney, however, refused to produce the price unless he was
shown the whereabouts of the mine; whereupon Roland turned
shortly on his heel, and saying tersely, "Go to hell !" strode angrily
down the mountain trail.
That night Roland spent with Mr. Wyatt, on old pioneer living
in a cabin surrounded by cedars in a gap at the foot of Packsaddle.
Of course, the guest related the incident to his host that evening
as they smoked their pipes by the huge fireplace. And when it
was time to "turn in," Roland rose nonchalantly from his seat by
the dying embers and, wearily stretching his arms to their full
length while yawning portentously, drawled: "And do ye know,
Mr. Wyatt, at the very time I tole Chaney to hand me over them
thousand dollars, I was a-standin' right on top uv that there
mine !"
A day or so after the stranger's departure, Mr. Wyatt climbed
Packsaddle. In his explorations he found a cave with a wild
animal skin upon the floor. In the center of the cave on the skin
lay a huge nugget of silver.
Needless to say, mining enthusiasts who were let into the secret
came from far and near to search for the lost mine; but, to this
day, no one has discovered the hidden vein of metal.
II
THE MYTHICAL BOWIE MINE
In the fall of 1876, when my father, J. T. Estill, and a lawyer
friend, D. Y. Portis, who had both been attending district court
in Mason, were on their way in a two-horse buggy to court in
Menardville, Mr. Portis related to my father "the true story" of
the fabulous Bowie Mine. Mr. Portis, an elderly man of perhaps
seventy years, was a typical old Southland planter who owned a
large farm in Brazoria County. He was a learned man and
splendid at repartee; so the two companions, jogging slowly
along the long trail to Menard, kept up a lively conversation;
while now and then the woods resounded with their hearty
laughter.26
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Legends of Texas (Book)
Collection of popular Texas legends, including tales about buried treasure, the supernatural, pirates, origins of Texas flowers, and other miscellaneous legends. The index begins on page 271.
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Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964. Legends of Texas, book, 1984; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67651/m1/40/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.