Steinheimer's Millions — Bell County

Texas Co-op Power and Central Texas folklore describe Steinheimer cashing out Mexican mining wealth in 1838 and heading toward St. Louis with a heavily laden caravan. Fearing a looming fight between Mexican and Texan forces on the San Antonio road, the party turned into the Hill Country wilds. Steinheimer allegedly buried his cargo and drove a brass spike into a marker oak. Indians attacked; escorts were killed and Steinheimer vanished after writing a map to his sweetheart. A later search party could not find the brass spike. Tradition places the cache in Bell County near the confluence of the Lampasas and Leon rivers (Little River). Coordinates approximate Belton / Little River junction area east of Waco.