The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-09-07
For the Monmouth Inquirer.
A NARRATIVE.
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my brother-in-law; but he soon passed
away, leaving his sister and me the heirs
to the immense wealth buried in dis
tant place. / looked around and found
so much reason to be satisfied with my
condition and prospects, that / concluded
not to make the attempt to recover the
treasure. But my wife, who had worm
ed the whole secret out Of me, became
dissatisfied. and gave no rest until con-
sented to make the attempt to recover
the lost treasure Accordingly, at the
first opportunity, l sailed for New York;
and in order not to attract the attention
Of the inhabitants of the place to which
| was going, crossed to Staten Island,
and passing to the south end, found aman
just landing with boat. / engaged him
to take me over for six dollars, FIVE of
which / was to pay him before starting,
and the remainder on my return. At the
appointed time he took me across, and
having landed me at the place indicated,
which, according to the marks on the
chart, must have been very near the spot
where the old man and his companions
landed with the treasure. then started
in the direction marked down, keeping in
nearly level road, until had walked
half mile, or thereabouts, when came
to a gorge. I took my bearings, and
found what suppose must have been the
place where the treasure was hid; but
unluckily had forgotten spade which
the boatman had obtained for me before
starting; SO made mark, and then cut
green stick and forced it into the
ground, and returned to the shore to get
my spade, when / could see nothing of
the boat or boatnan, but found the spade
stuck in the ground. After taking it in
my hand. l stopped and listened, and
could hear the sound Of oars at no very
great distance, and could perceive dark
object moving up the river; but not wish
ing to attract attention, took my way
back to the gorge, when just before
reached it. heard some persons in con-
versation very near the spot; SO l stepped
out of the road and concealed myself in
the bushes, where | soon fell asleep from
WEAKNESS. When / awoke it was broad
daylight; and was just about to emerge
from my place Of concealment, when I
heard footsteps approaching from opposite
directions, and stop directly in front of
my stake, when two men commenced a
conversation. Shortly afterwards boy
came running up and informed them of a
murder that had been committed in a
lonely house not far from the shore. The
victim was woman, and it was supposed
that she had large amount of gold and
silver in the house. After telling the
news the boy started on, and the men
were about leaving, when one Of them
saw the cross / had made on the ground.
and the stake driven into it. I did not
hear their remarks, but I judged that
they suspected something; SO 1 kept quiet
untilithey commenced to track my foot
prints. made on my first visit, and on my
return to the shore. AS soon as they were
out Of sight, started on until I came to
a better place, where the bushes were
thicker and farther from the road. Not
withstanding the seclusion of my place of
concealment, heard and saw enough to
know that the neighborhood was fully
aroused, and that many people were un-
der the impression that some party had
landed from boat and murdered the
woman, and then robbed the house. l
concluded that my safety depended on
my concealment; so l remained in the
bushes till night. / had few crackers
in my pocket, which l ate sparingly, not
knowing how long it might take me to
get beyond the reach of danger. I had
no doubt that the boatman committed the
murder; and as l knew not his name. nor
where he belonged, and being a stran-
ger, how could account for my presence
there without betraying the secret of the
treasure M
These and similar reflections urged
me on; and SO, after. four nights travel
ing, subsisting on the few crackers, an
occasional egg from wandering hen, and
a drink of milk from stray COW, l found
myself about three miles from Amboy:
but still | dared not attempt to go there,
when an incident occurred which relieved
me. 1t was just after sunrise, as / sat
behind some bushes, when / saw man
we'll and neatly dressed coming towards
the bridge that crossed the brook, when
perceivlng that on the opposite side there
were two roads, he hesitated and seemed
to be in some doubt about his road, and
awaited the arrival of farmer who was
coming with horse he had brought from
an adjacent field. just as they met, the
horse SHE'D, and caused the traveller to
start and knock off his hat against pro-
jecting limb, and in reaching to recover
it, he slipped into the mud, and spoiled
the appearance of his coat and pantaloons.
The farmer assisted him to rise, and in
vited him to his house to clean and dry
his clothes; but he declined the invita-
tion, and said he would go back, as he
would be too late if he stopped to dry his
clothes. So the farmer went on to the
house. which was in sight. and the tray-
eler, after taking some of the mud from
his coat, turned to retrace his steps, when
stepped out, and calling him by the