Ben Sublett

The Guadalupe Mountains, located in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico, are said to be home to some of the richest gold mines in the world. Ben Sublett, an old miner who lived during the 19th century, was supposed to have found a vein of gold so valuable he could mine $10,000 worth of gold in a week. Sublett was the first "town character." He left town frequently on prospecting trips. The railroad workers and good women of the town saw that his family didn't go hungry. He didn't provide for them much better when he was there. He frequented the saloons and did odd jobs; “witching” for water, collecting bones and day work on the railroad to make a grub stake to go back to the mountains. Then, one day he came into the saloon and tossed a bag of gold nuggets on the bar and bought drinks for the house. He also promised his family the moon. He made several more trips of 3 or 4 days duration and brought back nuggets each time. People tried to bribe him with both whiskey and cash to disclose the location of his treasure, but he wouldn't tell. He didn't even tell his own son. He died in January, 1892, leaving less than $50 in gold nuggets under his pillow in a buckskin sack. To this day, no one knows where the mine is located, and scientists don’t believe large gold veins are even located in the Guadalupe Mountains.