BYWAYS PLUS: DATES! - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

Metal Detectors ...
[Continued from page 57.]
240 settlers heading for the New World.
At 5an Sebastian Marsh, an Anza expedition
campsite where the San Felipe
and Carrizo Washes meet, George made
one of his first exciting finds. It was an
olive wood cross with a metal figure of
Chris: and the skull and crossbones. The
skull and crossbones was a symbol once
used by the Catholic Church, but discontinued
in the early 1800s. The ornate
religious symbol he found with the
pewter figure and ivory tipped ends
could be old enough to have been lost by
a member of the Anza party.
Other finds included a Spanish short
sword, the rusted hilt of a Moorish short
sword, a brass icon holder studded with
bright red garnets, and a bronze candle
holder. Also found at the same location
were a military button from about 1846
and Chinese coins dating from between
1736 and 1797 during the Ching
Dynasty.
While these artifacts of historical significance
are exciting to George, what he
is keeping his eye open for while in the
San Felipe Wash area of the Marsh is a
legendary treasure. There are accounts
of wagons loaded with gold and silver
that were buried near the Marsh in 1812.
The story, according to the best inter-
pretation, tells of renegade Spanish soldiers
who marched south into Mexico to
plunder the missions. As they returned
north, they left a trail of destruction, until
Indians caught up with the party near
San Sebastian Marsh.
It is not known if the renegade soldiers
buried the wagons full of loot before they
were attacked or if the Indians buried
them after the attack, fearing they had
killed regular Spanish troops. But the
wagons were supposedly buried, and remain
there today to be found.
Many have tried to find this fabulous
treasure. In July 1970 a San Jose man
died in the blistering summer heat just a
few miles from the Marsh. Was he hunting
for the wagons? Found in his belongings
was a copy of Treasure World
Magazine which contained an article entitled
"Lost Gold of San Felipe Creek."
George has written a book, "Professional
Treasure Hunter," and teaches
classes in desert survival at his shop.
Though your treasure hunting adventures
may never be more involved than a
trip to a local beach or park, nevertheless,
discovery of an old dime can be just
as exciting as uncovering a Spanish
sword. And chances are it will happen
more often.
Discover for yourself the fun a metal
detector can bring to you and your family.
It can add a whole new dimension to
your outdoor activities. Good hunting!
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The Desert Magazine/March 1980 57