I think it would be fun, interesting, and possibly profitable to see what the DodgeBoard members can do on researching a treasure legend. Most treasure legends are nothing more than exaggeration, but there are those few based on fact.
With the wealth of information available on the Internet I thought we could compile all sources and either say It could be true, or its a bunch of malarkey.
Lets start with one of the most well documented lost treasures in Kansas, the Martinez Silver. The Martinez Silver legend is typical of such treasure stories of southwest Kansas. People carrying valuables on the Santa Fe Trail get sacked by renegade Indians and the valuables are never recovered.
I'll get us started with a basic rundown of the story and then we can compile any and all information we can find on the Internet to see if we fill its fact or fiction.
Martinez Silver:
Date: Summer of 1853
Names: Jesus Martinez experienced wagon master that led some merchants from Santa Fe toward Missouri to purchase goods.
Location: Stories say they were attacked after one days travel after crossing the Arkansas/Cimarron.
Lost: 21 bags containing approximately 1000 silver dollars per bag.
All were said to be slaughtered with the exception of Martinez who buried the silver and made his way back to Santa Fe. He told his son who later came to southwest Kansas to search. By that time Dodge City had sprung up. Young Martinez was seen west of dodge poking a steel rod in the ground according to locals. He(young Martinez) is also to have told the story to some local cowboys in hopes they would help.
A link to the story:
Lost Treasure: Martinez Silver