Jesus Martinez Wagon Train Silver — Dodge City

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Jesus Martinez Wagon Train Silver — Dodge City

Lost Treasure KS • Ford County County
Description
Santa Fe Trail legend of trader Jesus Martinez burying twenty-one bags of silver dollars — $21,000 total — west of Dodge City after an 1853 Indian attack wiped out his wagon train.
Historical Notes
In 1853 Martinez led a large wagon train from Santa Fe toward Independence when Indians attacked for five days. Survivors were thought dead; looters burned wagons and drove off stock. Martinez emerged to find 21 bags of $1,000 in silver each. Unable to move them, he buried the cache and walked to safety — telling no one until he confided in his son before death. The son searched unsuccessfully in 1876. Later hunters found wagon parts lending credence to the tale, but the silver has never been reported found.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

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