The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-18


cured /" at home" Whether the silver has beer
scattered with the first miners, or whether 1t ha
been removed to safer place by the watchfu
Guardian of such treasures, or whether it lie
there yet, in huge rich masses under some faithful
rock, to give fortune to the lucky finder, is more
than we can tell.
For the Voice of Freedom.
THE NESHOBA MONEY-MINE.
About forty years ago, an old Spaniard
who spoke very good English, wandered
through the western part of Vermont
inquring diligently for the town of Mesh
oba. He put up for the night in Bran
don, where, on continuing his inquiries,
he was informed that the Indian name of
this town was Neshoba. "Thank Heav-
en-" said he, II am now rich man"
al have crossed the deep blue seas, en-.
during many perils to find this delightful
place."
The people were greatly astonshed at
his singular observations, and often ques'
toned him as 10 the cause of his taking
so long and tedious journey, expecting
to find wealth among the rugged hills of
Vermont, but obtained no satisfactory an
swer. The general conclusion was. that
the Spaniard must have been an heir to
some large estate, and had come to prove
his title, and take possession of their beau.
tiful town.
For long time the old Spaniard was
seen daily rambling over the hills tow
ard the Green Mountains, which created
high degree Of suspicion among the
Yankees,and they continued to annoy him
with questions relative to his motives,
until he was finally induced to relate the
following story;
"My grandfather, when youth, ac-
companied ten Spanish miners to North
America, who travelled many years in
this country, searching for gold g. silver
ores. They proceeded nearly one hun
dred leagues north of Manhattan Island,
where they found, in place called Mesh
oba, large mine of rich silver ore
Having with them all the necessary ap-
paratus for mining and coming, they
continued raising and making the ore
into bars and coin, with great success,
until the French and Indian War broke
out, when they were obliged to flee for
the safely Of their lives.
One evening as four of the party were
returning from Lake Horizon, (now Lake
George,) with some fish, they were holly |
pursued 5ya large party of Indians armed
with tomahawks and guns. On their
arrival at the rendezvous of their COM
panions, they held consultation, and
decided to leave as soon as possible after
secreting their treasure. which amounted
then to about ninety Mule loads of bar
silver, and seventy coined into Spanish
dollars. This they quickly threw under
high shelving rock and after placing a
quantity of large stone over it, made their
way for Manhattan Island, where they
soon safely arrived"
This singular history caused many TO
marvel, and numbers preferred their as.
sistance to make thorough search for
the discovery of this inexhaustable mine
of wealth. The search was commenced
and continued with much energy, until
the great depth of snow with which this
section of country is usually covered in
the month of December, put stop to
their labors. In May following, the search
was renewed with Refrigerated spirits;
and the bold hunters pushed through the
rugged forest with the speed of Nara
ganset, sleeping night after night under
huge rocks and leaning trees, until the
near approach of winter warned them to
desist.
AS their labors had so far proved fruit.
less, they gave up all hopes Of success,
and the old Spaniard, with much depress.
ion of spirits, bid them his final adeu,
and departed for his native land.
AS years rolled on, the great excite
msnt produced by the money hunters
began to die away, aud for some time
there was apparently nothing thought or
said about it. About the year 1920 one
John Amerdon, thrifty and independent