_____________ ...._
Our C atllolic Heritage in Texas
380
River, the other, El Almagre Grande, thought to be richer because less was known about it, was said to be in the upper reaches of the Colorado. Miranda was instructed to go to San Antonio with four soldiers from Los Adaes, where he was to be joined by four soldiers from each of the presidios of La Bahia, San Xavier, and Bejar, and four citizens from San Fernando. With these he was ordered to make a thorough investiga- tion, secure mineral samples, and report his findings. 64 Miranda immediately set out on his mission, urged by the bright hope of discovering fabulously rich mines. But circumstances and the jealousy of the citizens of San Antonio delayed his start until February 17, 1756. With twelve soldiers, an Indian interpreter and five citizens- Luis Antonio Menchaca among them-he made his way to the north and northwest of San Antonio going sixty leagues, some one hundred and fifty miles in eight days. In his march he crossed the Alarcon (Guadalupe?), the Blanco, a stream which he called San Antonio de Ahumada (Miller's Creek?), the Pedernales, San Miguelito and San Miguel (Honey Creek). A fourth of a league from the last stream he found the Cerro del Almagre, which he named San Joseph del Alcazar. Spurred by dreams of easy wealth, his men feverishly dug a shallow shaft and gathered samples of ore, while the five citizens who accompanied the expedition staked ten claims. As the work went on, Miranda explored Honey Creek Cove, which he vividly describes in his diary. The expedi- tion then reconnoitered ten leagues west from Cerro de) Almagre. Turning east along Honey Creek, he followed this stream to the Llano River, continued his march down the river to its junction with the Colorado, and explored the country for some distance up this stream before starting back to San Antonio on March 4. On the return journey he explored more carefully the spring and creek which he called San Antonio de Ahumada, and reached the conclusion it could support a small settlement. When he arrived on the Guadalupe he now met a group of Apaches, the first on the trip. The chief told him of rich silver deposits found six days' journey above the Llano, in the country of the Comanches. The Apache indicated that there was a whole mountain of pure silver, pointing to the silver buckles on the shoes of Miranda. Filled with new hopes, he hurried 64Decree of Governor Jacinto de Barrios y Jauregui, November 1 5, 17 55. In Testimonio de los autos fhos. a consulta de Don Jacinto Barrios y Xauregui ... Sohre haver descubierto en el paraje de Los Almagres, unos minerales. A. G. J. Audiencia de Mexico, 92-6-22 (Dunn Tr., 1752-1756), pp. 1-6. Copy also in San Francisco el Grande Archive, Vol. 14• PP· I-I 1.
Powered by FlippingBook