Twenty years ago (or so) a documentary appeared on ABC's Twenty Twenty that dealt with a vast treasure found inside Victoria Peak, at the time near White Sands Missile Testing Range, supposedly discovered by two browsing soldiers stationed on the base there. The documentary did express the Doc Noss family had some claim on the treasure but since the military had conveniently incorporated the Peak into the parameter of the Range subsequently and blocked off all access to its inside, F. Lee Bailey, representing the interests of the Doc Noss family, could not enter even with a warrant.
The book, 100 Tons of Gold, goes much further, even into the murder of Doc Noss and mention of the decades the man had filed a quick claim on his find. Although many chests of coins and other valuables were included, most of the value was in countless bars of gold stacked like cords of wood going back deep into the cavern. Far more than 100 tons. Doc Noss was under the assumption that the gold would be confiscated by the government under the Gold Reclamation Act of 1934. He didn't realize, since the bars were not fine enough to account for bullion, they were not under that act.
Many speculated about the origins of this treasure. Only when I found a picture of a diamond tiara taken from one of the chests and shown to a local reporter that was published in a nearby town did I discover the source. This treasure was one of the lost expeditions sent out by the Emperor Maximilian, stealing the treasury of Mexico. Placed in power by the French when they took Mexico during our Civil War, Maximilian knew when our Civil War was over, the US would run the French out of Mexico. For that very tiara is featured in a painting that hangs in the Government Palace in Mexico City of the Emperor and his Empress with her wearing it in her hair.
Two other such expeditions took place and I have found them, one partially exploited. Perhaps one day, when circumstance favors, I will make my move. James Horak
