Parking lot probed for Juarez’s gold
- Share via
Nov. 28, 1939: Treasure hunters dug deep into the Hollywood Bowl parking lot in search of a 74-year-old stash of gold, The Times reported.
The hole they made was “big enough to bury a prehistoric hairy mammoth,” the newspaper said. “By nightfall, they had delved some 12 feet toward the supposed lost wealth of Juarez -- $200,000 in gold and jewels -- without uncovering as much as a plugged doubloon.”
Henry Jones, a Seattle mining engineer, was behind the dig. He was following an old tale involving Mexican President Benito Juarez dating back to 1865, The Times said:
“In that year, Diego Moreno, a shepherd, allegedly buried the treasure which he had filched from a convoy assigned to take it from Mexico to San Francisco to purchase guns for Juarez’s revolt against Emperor Maximilian.
“Some strange fascination surrounds probing for hidden wealth,” The Times noted.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
