I've been in on discussions a few times with folks looking for the lost silver. It's a great story:
The Point of Rocks Treasure
FORD COUNTY – The Point of Rocks treasure is well documented in historic records.
The original version was penned by buffalo hunter and frontier scout Robert M. Wright and published in 1913.
To summarize his account, the following events occurred in 1853 along the Santa Fe Trail, roughly four miles west of present-day Dodge City at or near a landmark known as the Point of Rocks, once marking the border of Mexico and the United States.
Wagonmaster Jesus M. Martinez was leading a train of freighters from Mexico to Independence, Missouri, which consisted of 82 men and 120 wagons.
Martinez was a trusted plainsmen and veteran freighter of 30 years. Each night Martinez ordered the wagons corralled for protection and guards were posted with orders to sound the alarm on the approach of Indians, bandits or prairie fires.
One night the freighters corralled their wagons and settled in for the evening. Little did they know they’d reached the trail’s end.
While the men slept, the guards observed movement in the distance, but could not make out what it was. The dogs commenced making a fuss and Martinez was awaken by a guard.
After observing the suspicious activity, Martinez sounded the alarm and told his men Indians were afoot and to prepare for battle.
Trenches were dug and makeshift breastworks erected. With the Mexicans staring into darkness, and prepared to fight, the figures of hostile Indians seemed to increase as they lurked closer and quietly surrounded the Martinez train. Minutes passed in silence that seemed like days as the freighters waited for the wraiths to strike from the darkness.
Then, shattering the stillness of night, the first war cries came; moments later phantoms could be seen as they passed through shadows from every direction to lay siege to the ensnared freighters.
Eighty-two balls fired into the enemy line was the Mexican reply. The Mexicans, according to Wright, “Fought like demons!”
Heavy causalities on the Indian side caused them to retreat and left the Mexicans praying for deliverance. Soon after sun up they knew deliverance was not at hand. The Indian commanders ordered renewed assaults at intervals; it was a battle that raged on for five days.
Day 5 – The Indians had suffered far more causalities then the Mexicans. But time was the Indians collaborator and both sides knew water and ammunition had become scare for the Mexicans and the end was nigh.
They fought until chowder and lead were spent and, when the guns fell silent, the train was consumed by rage and butchery. Only one man managed to escape the bloodlust that night - Jesus M. Martinez.
Jesus watched as “wild Cheyenne, Arapahoe and Kiowa” warriors pillaged the train, setting fire to several wagons, and capturing their stock, taking mostly flour, bacon and other provisions. Then, “Indian-like, immediately left the field of carnage,” wrote Wright. Martinez simply remained in his… “hiding place until morning and until the Indians were miles away,” Wright added.
“Surveying the ruins covered in gore, Martinez”… “was alone with the dead,” Wright penned.
Being freighters, the train carried more than just trade goods; a considerable amount of Spanish silver specie was being transported as well. Wright states Martinez immediately secured the treasure, but did not find it all.
A dying Martinez told his son he recovered 21 small bags, each containing 1,000 silver Mexican dollars. He then carried the treasure away from the massacre site some distance and buried it. He could not remember what direction or how far he walked.
From there, Martinez claims he walked back to Mexico and in time returned home. He died soon after, but only after swearing his son to find the treasure.
Years later, Martinez’s son did arrive in Dodge City to search for the treasure. He searched for weeks, but ultimately returned to Mexico empty handed. So far as is known, the treasure was never found.
