LEGENDS OF CHILE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 February 1926, Page 8

LEGENDS OF CHILE.

WOMAN’S QUEST FOR DEAD CIVILISATION. NIGHT OF AGONY AND HORROR. Few countries are richer in legends of buried treasure than Chile, in South America, the home of an ancient and vanished civilisation whose wealth in gold and jewels was on a fabulous scale. One of the most fascinating of its legends deals with the treasure said to be hidden in the Cavern of the Silver Priestess, in Succo Hill. Below is a description of the terrible experiences which befell Miss Hestacombe, an Englishwoman, who was the last adventurer to attempt to solve the mystery. All the legends of Chile tell of a religion founded on blood sacrifice to strange and terrible gods, of weird and cruel ceremonies, and of the wealth and power of the Silver Priestess who dominated the vast country from her rock-g;jrt cavern high on the great Succo Hill looking towards the giant peaks of the Bolivian Andes. Miss Hestacombe, who lived for years in Valparaiso, the capital of Chile, had studied the ancient legends of the country very deeply. She was an authority on all that pertained to ancient South America, and site made out a good case for the probability of a vast treasure hoard being secreted in this high cavern. She claimed that the Tights of the High Priestess of Succo Hill resembled certain aspects of the religion of pagan Rome. The Silver Priestess, according to tin? legend, was a virgin priestess who guarded the cavern temple of the gods of the harvest, just as the vestal virgins of ancient Rome guarded the Temple of Diana. She was convinced that the legend was founded on fact, and she was determined to put her theory to the test. CAVERN’S DEAD GUARDIAN.

She set out at the head of an expedition to unravel the mystery, taking with her a train of Indian guides and carriers Before starting she said that if she located the cavern she expected to find evidence of a. number of guardians of the treasure, an inner chamber, and a secret recess where the treasure had been stored—and possibly might stiil lie. Exactly what happened to the expedition Miss Hestacomb was never able to tell. All that was known was gleaned from the guides who went with her.

The cavern was found on a high crag commanding a superb view of the colossal Andes. Vegetation had -obscured its wide mouth, and a landslide had partially closed it. When these obstructions were removed a strange sight met the eyes of the treasure-hunters

Across the entrance of the cavern lay the bleached skeletons of fifty men. Far from being affrighted at this sight, Miss Hestacomb was jubilant that her theory had been verified. With high hopes she lit her flare and jmssed into the yawning black cavity which lay before her. After passing beyond the last shaft of daylight the party found the floor of the cavern covered with icv water, and from then the hunters had to follow narrow ledges cut into the rock face, where a slip meant a plunge into what was now a black stream of unknown deptli A PERILOUS MARCH. A long and eerie march through gloom, illuminated by the glare of torchlights, brought 'the party s to a 'large circular chamber from whose roof hung huge stalactites. Here was further evidence of • the long-dead priests. At one end of the great ball a pillar supported an altarJike erection; rude carvings in the naked rock of the walls depicted the procession of the worshippers hearing gifts of gold and jewels to the gods of the harvest. One scene was of human sacrifice upon the altar. Working along with her escort, Miss Hestacombe found a small opening behind the altar. She announced her intention of exploring it. but her guides drew back. They were already nervous—the sinister tunnel opening, a cavern within a cavern, terrified them.

Argument failing to move them, Miss Hestacombe ordered them to await at the mouth of the great cavern, and plunged with her torch into the narrow opening.

After waiting for hours without seeing or hearing anything of the woman treasure-hunter, the guides timidly re entered the cavern, and hallooed at the entrance of the tunnel into which their leader had disappeared. No answering shout came. They returned, camped on the open hillside, and waited.

Next morning they again entered the cavern,' shouting into the echoing shadows.

The voice that answered them made their blood run cold. Miss Hestacombe appeared out of the gloom, her hair streaming, her clothes torn, her eyes aide in terror. She was entirely bereft of her senses. And in that condition she was brought by the Indians back to Valparaiso. Although Miss Hestacombe recovered her reason, she was never able to reveal what she saw, heard, and suffered in that inner sanctuary of the Cavern of the Silver Priestess on Succo Hill.