The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-03-05
Treasure TroYe in North Carolina.
A SINGULAR STORY.

A correspondent of the Wilmington n.
CO Daily Journal tells the following Curl
Gus story;
"a very curious discovery has lately
been made in a small islet situated IN Big
Swamp, about SIX or seven miles IRON
Bladensburg, the particulars OF which are
as tollowS:
about sixty years ago there lived, about
hall mile from this islet, on the eastern
edge of the swamp, an Engllahman, who
was known among the settlers by the name
Of Elias Hugo His first appearance in
this region was in the spring OF 1906, then
apparently in his shrty-eighth or ninth
year; and although his language and his
bearing denoted that he had been educated,
yet his hard, brown features bore unmls
taxable evidences OF a hard spent life.
His manners were somewhat reserved and
taciturn. Why he should seek life SO
cherries and secluded was mystery often
spoken of by his neighbors. Yet he pros
ceeded to erect cabin for himself In this
secluded spot, where he said he earnestly
hoped to pass his remaining years Iii per-
feet solitude
1.-The cabin fronted the swamp, and from
its front door, with its frail stoop, narrow
walk led 10 the swamp; thence, in west
erly direction, by a narrow track to the Is
let. His furniture consisted Of a chair,
bench, rough pine table, a mattress, a
bucket, and one or two cooking utensils.
Here, alone and uncared for, lived the
mysterious stranger, until the 18th OF May,
1909. On that day Elias Hugo died.
After the death OF Hugo strange stories
were told Of spectre that was seen, and
- dc hot IT arI a nI,
the house and premises, aud so deeply had
a superstitious dread of the place taken
hold upon the minds of tie settlers that
the cabin was permitted to decay and fall,
as did lis mysterious occupant.
Not long since, however, the place fell
into the possession of Mr.. Joel II Ester
aud son. A clearing away Of the remains
of the old cabin was at once deemed neces>
sary by its owners, and to this purpose
they applied themselves vigorously. They
mad not proceeded far, however, before
they discovered, on raising the floor, a
small Tin box snugly encased in the base OF
! the chimney, under the hearth. 1t con-
tanned a copy of Raphaeps Madonna, 10
which was attached small cross, razor,
with the initials Il. H. engraved on the
handle, and the following letter:
BLADEN COUNTY, n. c., May IL, 1909.
Somrei ID. Hugo, 80 Cheapside London,
| EHgEaad:
Ny DEAR BEoTHER: This is perhaps
| the last address | shall ever send you. Be
fore tomorrow sun has set | shall be in q
spirit world, marching in the holy and
wonderful company Of the holy souls, who
for the honor of Christ and the Holy
Mary, despised the things OF the world
Even now | feel as if the fountains OF Ele
we're drying up.
Then 10 a uemulous hand
Come 10 America, as [ urged you in &
previous letter. | have buried al! the mo
ney ! brought with me, amounting to abouj
one million three hundred thousand dol,
lars, on a small isIet near by, the direction.
TO which | have already seat you. G'h,
amount Is contained in seven diferen
boxes, and buried in separate places on tht
isiet. Your atfcc,iouate brother,
ELIAS HUGO.
GA box containing two hundred dollar
in French money was found on the iset re
lerred TO about three weeks ago.