Pancho Villa's Caches

The account

An army has to be paid, and Villa paid his from holes in the desert. The stories agree on the method and argue about everything else: a cave here, a hacienda wall there, a murdered digger everywhere. In Chihuahua the old men still lower their voices when the talk turns to el General's silver.

Leads, where the trail points now

• Where the trail goes cold: Villa banked nothing and trusted no one; he was ambushed at Parral in 1923 with his caches unspoken for, lieutenants hunted them for decades. That is where any serious search begins.
• What you are chasing is Revolutionary war chests of silver & coin. Work the documented record of Pancho Villa's Caches back to primary sources and separate what is attested from folklore before you commit time or money.
• Confirm who owns and governs Chihuahua, around Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico and get written permission before any search; treat protected or archaeological ground as off limits.