The Hart Treasure

I will now tell you a tale. A tale full of murder, romance, pirates, and treasure. A true tale. Allow me to begin.

Have you ever heard of Pancho Villa? He was a man who started a revolt in Mexico in the early 1900's. Many joined the revolt. Some were only boys. Boys like one named Joaquin Garcia. He joined the revolution and went on many raids to steal, kill, and destroy. On a raid, while Joaquin and the men he was with were stealing horses, they were caught by the government army. Everyone but Joaquin was hanged, because he was so young. He was only 15 or 16. I wonder if he was "pinchable". Joaquin was given two hours to run before they began to track him. He ran, literally ran, across the border to Fresno, California. But still in Mexico...

Imagine a beautiful ranch in Mexico. Cattle, sheep, a big family to run things, and... a wealthy gold mine. On this enormous ranch, there lived a beautiful girl with long, auburn hair. Thus girl's name was Elizabeth Del Los Monteros Hart. She was part English, hence the "Hart". One day, the men got word that Pancho Villa's army was coming to raid their ranch. For safety, they sent the women and children, including Elizabeth, across the border, while the fathers, brothers, uncles, and cousins stayed behind to fight. Elizabeth and the others fled to Fresno, California, where they were safe, for many years, not knowing of the fate that befell their men.
The raiders were not stopped by the small "army" that tried in vain to protect their ranch. The raiders took everything, including the gold, and hanged all the men. At least, they thought they killed all. Two men escaped. A man, John Hart, and his son, Edward Hart. These were uncle and cousin to Elizabeth Hart. The escaped the hanging and fled. All they owned, all they had worked for, all their family, was gone. In anger and revenge, John and Edward Hart became bandits. They robbed Mexican banks and churches, trying desperately to gain back what they had lost. They became outlaws. Others joined them, until they were a gang. When they had accumulated a large treasure, John and Edward searched for a hiding spot for it. Finally, after travelling miles through Mexico, they found the perfect spot. But one small problem. Indians lived there. So... they fought the Indians just like in a movie! With the Indians out of the way, John, Edward, and their gang found it. A cave. Like the pirates they were, a hole was dug in the cave. The treasure was buried. The cave covered up. John and Edward then murdered all who were with them. They were now the only ones alive who knew of the treasure and its location. A map was drawn. The years passed...

Edward died. John alone now lived with his secret. But he too was dying. He vainly searched for a living relative. Finally, he found Elizabeth, still in Fresno. John sent a telegram to his niece, beckoning her. She went to him, and he told her of the tragic end of the ranch. He told her of the treasure. He told her where it was hidden. He gave her the map. Then, John Hart died.
Elizabeth met Joaquin Garcia in Fresno. Ignoring his past, she fell in love with him, and they were married. Many years later, after Joaquin had died, Elizabeth would gather all her little grandchildren to her side, and would tell them the tale I have just told you, only in greater detail. She showed them the map. One little grandchild, Gilbert, was always fascinated with the story as were his cousins and siblings. He always wondered where his grandmother hid the map when she finished the story. No one knew. When Elizabeth died, her house was torn to pieces in a desperate search for the map. It was never found. Her house was later burned to the ground. No one ever found it. Perhaps she destroyed it. Perhaps it was stolen. Perhaps it burned down with the house. We shall never know.
Now, you might be wondering why I told you of little Gilbert. Well, Gilbert grew to be fine young man, and when he was 21, he married a beautiful 18-year-old girl named Fatima (Hers is a whole other story!). They had two children, Michael and Jennifer. When Jennifer was 18, she gave birth to a beautiful daughter, who inherited her great-great grandmother's auburn hair. This girl's name was... wait for it... LILIA!