Since the 1700's, stories of abandoned or lost Spanish mines and buried treasure in San Saba and adjacent counties have fired the imaginations of thousands of treasure seekers. The following items, from the San Saba News, convey well the excitement these stories generated around the turn of the century.

San Saba Mines. June 24, 1887.

Mr. A. Fitzgerald, a capitalist of Mexico, who has experience as a miner, has purchased of Mr. Rufe Hoover of Hoover's Valley, 640 acres of land for which he paid $10,000. He says the signs of gold and silver are very promising. A specimen of the silver ore may be seen at his office.

In personal interview with Mr. Fitzgerald, he informs us that he has 45 years experience as a miner, and he believes his purchase will realize millions of dollars. That the specimens indicate rich gold and silver both; that the veins being fissure veins are inexhaustible. He thinks, are at least two miles long. The purchased land is mountainous, and about 14 miles southwest of Burnet. Mr. Fitzgerald has a partner whose interest is one fourth. He will return next week with an eminent French chemist, and will begin operations soon thereafter as possible.

This mine was operated once before by inexperienced amateurs, some 10 or 12 years ago. Mr. Mabry showed us a fine specimen of pure gold he took from the place.

Burnet and Llano counties are wild with excitement over the discovery of valuable deposits of gold and silver recently found there. For several weeks there has been a considerable influx of prospectors and speculators, and rumors of every description have been rife. These have now, so far as Burnet county is concerned, settled down to a positiveness that gives no room for doubt. Gold is there and there is large quantities. The people are in a perfect fever of agreement, the recent developments being the talk of ever one. To particularize, then, it seems that in the Hoover Valley 15 miles from the town of Burnet, and in the same county, are situate ...

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