Lost Spanish Mines of the Burro Mountains

My favorite hobby, keenly shared by my wife Joan, was prospecting the hills and valleys of East Texas.

- BY LESLIE J. REAGAN

Then our son Russell was born and our mineral hunting had to stop for a time. We missed our trips, for each had been rugged but wonderful adventure. Finally, three years ago, when Russ was only four months old, we decided to shoot the works and really go prospecting.

After careful planning, packing and repacking, we headed West with Russ safely tucked in his crib behind the front seat of our station wagon, well surrounded by suitcases, bedding, Geiger counters and prospecting equipment of all kinds. In a two-wheel cargo trailer behind the wagon we lugged clothes, dishes and other essentials.

We had previously picked Arizona as our final destination, but kept an open eye and an open mind for any likely locations along the way. Since there are no Federal lands for mineral filing in Texas, we really began looking the country over after we had crossed the New Mexico state line.

Approaching Lordsburg, New Mexico, the Pyramid Mountains to our left and the Burro Mountains to our right caught our fancy and we decided to stay for a few days and look over the mineral possibilities.

Our first move was to find a good motel and an approved baby sitter. For these necessary item we dropped by the Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce and met their very charming manager, Mrs. Marguerite Codding. She not only gave us the needed information but offered her assistance in any way possible in our search for minerals.

After proceeding to the motel, we found that Russ was out of boiled water and now started a series of events that provided us with our biggest laugh, my wife's greatest embarrassment, a new partner and a co-ownership of seven lost Spanish gold mines!