Lost Treasure: Coronado's Gold

[Detector]

OK I'm posting this one in hopes that someone can fill in the blanks. I've seen it mentioned in almost every list of Lost Treasure but have yet to get any details.

In 1541 Coronado made his infamous journey through what now is Kansas in search of the fabled golden cities of Quivira. The story is short and sweet that on crossing the Arkansas River, led by the Indian guide Turk, they buried from 3-5 million in gold.

Thats the short and sweet of what I've been able to find. Several problems here including the area Coronado was thought to have crossed.

The oldest crossing of the Arkansas was where 2nd street crosses the Arkansas. The earliest accounts of travelers of the Santa Fe Trail talk about crossing the Arkansas at the Lone Sentinel. The Indians said this crossing has been in use for as long as they have memories. Chances are the hill that Coronado held the first Christian mass on was our now infamous Boot Hill.

[TexKan]

First thought............... why would they bury the gold???? That just don't sound right to me -

[Detector]

First thought............... why would they bury the gold???? That just don't sound right to me -

Exactly what struck me as odd.

Now I do know it was common to bury/cache items that were not needed to be picked up on the return trip but it still didn't sound quite right.

[TexKan]

I think most buried gold............. was actually stolen - by those that said they buried it. I think that's just an old way of spinnin folk lore....... also ain't bad for tourism either. Every town has a folk lore........ buried gold is the most common

[Detector]

Yes but there is also many of those buried treasures recovered. Half the fun can be sorting the fact from fiction.

If I had to make a guess I'd say the Martinez Silver has the best odds of being for real. I believe the period or the crossing, or both, is off, but I do believe the story is fact.

Actually the list is long. If you spend some time reading the accounts of travelers in this area it's very common to read the same basic occurrences.

Family sells all their valuables back east and heads west.
Makes it to Indian Territory and comes under attack.
Bury the valuable so that survivers can return to claim.
No one survives valuables remain buried.

Where we live now was one of the most dangerous areas of the Santa Fe Trail for attacks. The bluffs to the north made a perfect place for the Indians to see travelers from a distance, and a great place to pounce on wagons from. That why in this small area we have had Fort Mann, Fort Atkinson and Fort Dodge.

[TexKan]

I do think there is lost treasure....... no doubt but most of the wagon trail folks were not the wealthest folks anyhow. Course just a few tokens of thier money then is worth lots now. I don't think they had millions or even thousands....... those folks took ships to California I would think......... or sailed themselves. I think alot of big loot is at the bottom of the ocean or sand pit!

[Zeb]

Originally Posted by TexKan

I do think there is lost treasure....... no doubt but most of the wagon trail folks were not the wealthest folks anyhow. Course just a few tokens of thier money then is worth lots now. I don't think they had millions or even thousands....... those folks took ships to California I would think......... or sailed themselves. I think alot of big loot is at the bottom of the ocean or sand pit!

Alot of the travelers did carry large amounts of money. After all most sold everything they had to head west. They had companies (Express or Frt Haulers) just like our trucking companies of today hauling gold east and money west. Large amounts of money crossed the Kansas plains.

I do not think most people took ships (unless you mean the rich). Especially if they live in say Illinois or Missouri. East cities yes probably alot took the very long voyage to Cali. But the land route was faster by far I think.

Martinez = Yes Silver

Martinez Silver was documented by the Merchant that he was traveling to in St. Louis. The Merchant had done business in the past with Martinez and said it was very likely that he did carry that much Silver because he had seen the man with large amounts in the past. He returned to Mexico via Sante Fe NM, broke and broken.

Coronado = No Gold

Spanish Armor (Breastplate) was found around the Jacob's Well area in Clark County in the 40's? So I believe he was in this area for sure. IMO I don't think they carried enough gold on them to make mention mainly because they were prepared to haul gold back after they found the Cities or City (or any gold). They didn't come to trade so gold would have already been shipped back to Spain (from mexico) and probably wouldn't have done them any good on the Plains anyway. They would just take what they wanted.

Gold Bar = Probably not but could have happened
I can remember Detector and I almost getting shot by a farmer between here and Jetmore some 20 years ago. We stopped on a country road at a creek to just check out the area for a battlefield, when the Farmer came around the corner, stopped his vehicle and got out with a shotgun. Started raising hell with us telling us to get off his county road. We did as he asked(told). Later we had heard a story about the man and why he was so protective. Story has a gold bar was unearthed while someone was plowing the field up many years ago. He still thinks there cold be more. Gold was hauled in this area to fort Dodge and the Mann/Atkinson site. Gold bars ??? probably not. Coinage maybe.

[TexKan]

Why would you think a covered wagon, crossing mountains, fighting indians would be quicker than a ship? Now that don't make good sense to me.

IMO - if I were traveling - not sure if I would survive the trip and I had lots of money - I would take the passage where I could have some luxery and I would put my money in an Eastern bank and have a letter of credit. It was easier to carry and actually it's often what they did.

The farmers and explorers took the wagon trains. Granted some had money but only a fool would take his money in gold or silver, it wieghed down the wagon - If I wanted extra weight in a wagon I think I woulda been lookin at water and food - all the gold bars in the world won't take care of me on a hot summer trail! I just think most of the travelers in wagon trains were the working class folks lookin for a better life. Lots of them traveled that way but honestly why would you travel like that if you didn't have to? If it was adventure you were lookin for - you wouldn't need to pack millions with you for that adventure.

I'm not disagreeing cause truth is I'm not sure any of us know for sure just who was on the wagon trains. Folks changed thier names so often back then - hell some probably weren't sure exactly what thier name really was. - just what they were told it was. If you had committed a crime and needed to start over - ya moved and changed your name - folks often times were married many times simply cause they picked up and left, never came back and started over elsewhere................. so who can really ever really be sure? Just cause the manifest said jane doe was there don't mean it was the jane doe you are thinkin of.

[Made in the USA]

I think most of those got bogged down in Utah, Texie!

[TexKan]

Well it's pretty obvious I wouldn't have made a very good pioneer woman - I woulda been the dance hall queen madame and made enough money I could take a ship when I was ready to relocate my girls to the gold coast!