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in my ears and was followed by a terrific rush of
air which came from the drift that I was about to enter.
"’I
was lifted off of my feet and thrown against the rock walls of the shaft with
such force that I was badly bruised and almost knocked senseless. The rush of
air gradually subsided, and as it did so there came echoing out of the murky
drift one of the most piercing and plaintive cries I have ever heard.
"’It
was a wail that produced indescribable and uncontrollable terror in me. I fled
for the rope, and -quickly tying it around my body, I yelled to the Mexican to
draw me up.
"’There was no response from above. I yelled and yelled, but Pedro
did not come to the rope. I then realized that he had heard the mysterious
demonstration and had fled i his superstitious terror.
"’It
was lucky that the rope was fastened to a mesquite trunk on the surface, as I
was able to draw myself out of the shaft hand over hand, bracing my feet
against the walls. Just as I reached the surface the underground phenomenon was
repeated.
Mexican
Five Miles Away
"’My
Mexican was found at the home of a sheepherder five miles away. The story that
the mine is haunted has spread throughout the Mexican settlements here, and as
I can get no one to help me, I have abandoned all hope of further exploring the
wonderful mine at this time.’
“Mr. Boyd
went to
“Mr. Meade
then took charge of the expedition. They spent three months at the mine, but
only one attempt was made to explore the underground workings, and that
experience was so terrifying that the men, including the Americans and
Mexicans, threatened to leave if forced to make another effort.
“They sunk
a shaft near the old one to a depth of
