Lost Padre mine

View of mountains west of Fort Tejon, where a prospector ended up after reportedly rediscovering the Lost Padres mine in the 1800s.
Mineral scattered through the Canyons of San Emigdio, suggesting the presence of a mine nearby.

The Lost Padres Mine, sometimes referred to as the "Lost Los Padres Mine" is a legendary mine believed to be located in southern California within the borders of the San Emigdio land grant in Northern Ventura County of what used to be New Spain or Mexico.[1]

History

According to historical accounts the Lost Padres mine was created and operated by Catholic missionaries and Native Americans. The creation of the mine could be anywhere from the late 17th century to the late 18th or early 19th century, although earlier estimates are likely more accurate due to the indications that the Jesuit priests who funded the creation of the mine were dignitaries of Spain or Mexico.

The mine is reportedly home to large deposits of unrefined gold and silver from veins of quartz pushed into the mountains of Southern California by glaciers roughly 1.8 million years ago.[2] In addition, it is believed that as many as 20 bodies of workers, mostly Native Americans, were buried in a cave-in. The dangers associated with this mine do not end there. Upon its reported rediscoveries in the 1800s, many of those seeking to return to the mine were killed in riding accidents on the way, either being thrown off their horse, or falling down the side of the steep mountains of the San Emigdio region.

20th Century

Throughout the 20th century and up until today, several small groups of people and families have searched for this little-known legend that many historians agree does exist, or has existed at one point. The most notable and prominent example is the Edwards family. John Edwards is the primary source of researchers, as his father and grandfather were both reportedly experts on the topic. Edwards' father had reportedly rediscovered the mine around the time of World War II, only sharing its general vicinity, today known as Doc Williams Canyon[3] near Eagle Rest Peak in the mountains of Kern County, just north of Mount Pinos, the tallest peak in Ventura County.

Recently

The most recent attempt at rediscovery in present times is held by Jake Allard, a local college student of Anthropology at Moorpark College. Allard has claimed to have made a total of 3 expeditions in the regions described by Edwards, following the San Emigdio Creek through the various canyons, the most successful of which was accompanied by three colleagues from Moorpark College and Carnegie Mellon University. Allard believes this vicinity is the only viable option based on clues and context given by historical records, including veins of silver and quartz and gold dust discovered during the search. Artifacts discovered by Allard back up this claim, including a late 18th or mid 19th century mining tool, although it has not as of yet been confirmed from where it came originally.[4][5]

Red Rock Canyon mine

Some theories exist about the Red Rock Canyon mine, located near Castaic, actually being a vein of the Lost Padre mine. However, there are many issues with this claim. Red Rock mine, as remote and unexplored as it is, was created and mined in the 19th century, up until 1935, over one hundred years after the Lost Padres mine was said to be in operation.[6] Some, including Allard, dispute this claim and have worked towards disproving any notions of Red Rock Canyon mine being related to the Lost Padres mine, including a set of trips to map a path to the Red Rock mine by the end of 2016, with the accompaniment of fellow history enthusiast Jared Arp, in hopes to collect evidence of late Mexican/ early American creation of Red Rock mine, rather than that of Jesuit missionaries.

References

  1. ↑ "Legend of the Lost Padres Mine.". m.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  2. ↑ "Glaciers of California | Glaciers of the American West". glaciers.research.pdx.edu. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  3. ↑ "Doc Williams Canyon Topo Map, Kern County CA (Eagle Rest Peak Area)". Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  4. ↑ "Ventura | Society for California Archaeology". scahome.org. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  5. ↑ "Mining Artifacts". miningartifacts.homestead.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  6. ↑ "Gold Mines of Los Angeles County". www.lagoldmines.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
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