Quinn's account on the concealment of Spanish Jesuit treasures

(This is an excerpt from Ron Quinn's popular adventure book on Searching for Arizona's Buried Treasures," now available on Amazon.com.)

This is Ron Quinn's account of hidden Jesuit treasures in Southern Arizona. The following is excerpted from his book about discovering 82 pounds of Spanish gold in "Searching for Arizona's Buried Treasures."

Quinn's hunt for buried Spanish and Jesuit treasures took him, his brother and friends several trips into the Timacacori Mountains to eventually locate a Spanish treasure:

"During Arizona's early history, the Spanish built several missions across the Southwest. The majority were located in highly mineralized regions. After gold and silver were discovered, the converted Indians, both Pima and Papago [Tohono O'odham], worked the rich deposits. This continued for several hundred years.

These treasures were often stored within the confines of the missions or nearby in bullion form. During this time several Indian uprisings occurred. The peaceful Indians didn't like working in the dangerous mines where many died in accidents within these unsafe tombs.

The big Pima Rebellion of 1751 temporarily drove the Jesuit order out. This began by burning missions, killing padres and attacking anything Spanish. The padres heard of the impending revolt and decided to hide their wealth, then flee.

The hordes of gold and silver were hidden in mines located deep within the surrounding hills and carefully concealed, while others were hastily buried in caves and other locations.

With some of the faithful mission Indians, they traveled westward. Many died or were killed in route, taking their secrets with them.

The triumphant Indians had no interest in the "yellow metal" and over the years the mines were slowly forgotten, until legends, rumors and old Spanish documents began surfacing, telling of these lost Jesuit treasures.

The search has continued ever since. Several have been discovered. "One" medium size treasure was found by us during a cool afternoon in 1984."

Read more about evidence of early Spanish mining from Ron's Quinn's book.

Authored by Mr. Ron Quinn

Treasure hunting in Southern Arizona with Ron Quinn, brother Chuck, and good friends and partners, Roy Purdie and Walt Fisher is a fun read and a great book for novice or seasoned treasure hunters.

List Price: $19.99
Size: 8.5" x 11" (21.59 x 27.94 cm)
Pages: 304
BZB Publishing, Incorporated
ISBN-13: 978-1939050403
ISBN-10: 1939050405