The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-24
Treaaure Trove IN North Carolina.
A SINGULAR STORY.

correspondent of the Wilmington IN. CO.
Daily Journal, tells the following curious story:
"a very curious discovery has lately been made
in a small islet situated in Big swamp, about six
or seven miles from Bladensburg, the particulars
of which are as follows:
"About sixty wears ago there lived, about half
q mile Of this islet, on the eastern edge OF the
swamp, an Englishman, who was known among
the settlers by the name of Elias Hugo. His first
appearances in this region was ia the spring OF
1906 then apparently In his thirty eighth or ninth
year and although his language and bearing de-
noted that he had been educated, yet his hard,
brown features bore unmistak8ble evidence OF
hard spent life. His manners were somewhat re-
served and tsciturn. Why be should seek lie
so cherries and secluded was mystery often
spoken Of by hisneighbors. Yet he proceeded to
erect a cabin for himself in this secluded spot,
where, he said, he earnestly hoped to pass his re-
naming years in perfect solitude.
The cabin fIonted the swamp, and from its
front door, with its frail st0op, narrow walk led
to the swamp; thence. in a westerly direction, by
narrow track to the iset. His furniture con-
sisted of chair, bench, rough pine table,
mattress, q bucket, and one or two cooking
utensils.
Here, alone and uncsred for, lived the mys-
terious stranger. until the 18th of May, 1909. On
that day Elias Hugo died.
"After the death of Hugo strange stories were
told of specter that was seen, aud Of strange
sounds that were heard about the house and
premises, and 80 deeply had superstitious dread
of the place taken hold upon the minds OF the
settlers that the cabin permitted to decay and
fall, as did its mysterious occupant.
mot long since, however, the place fell into
the possession of Mr.. Joel H. Ester and son. A
clearing away of the remains of the old cabin was
at once deemed necessary by the owners, and TO
this purpose they applied themselves vigorously.
They had not proceeded far. however, before they
discovered on raising the floor a small tin box
snugly eDcased in the base of the chimney under
the hearth. II contained a copy of Raphaels
Madonna, to which was attached a small cross a
razor with the initials h Fl. engraved on the ham
die, and the following letter
"BLADES COUNTY, N. c., May IL, 1909.
''Ssmusl w. Hugo. 80 Cheapside, London, England;
emu dear Brotber-This is perhaps the last adj
| dress shall ever send you. Before to-morrow's
sun has set / shall be in a 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 1 feel as If the fountains of life were dry.
| ing up.
''Then in tremulous hand
"Come to America, as urged you in previous
letter. have buried all the money brought with
me, amounting to about one million three hun
| dred thousand dollars, on small islet near by,
| the directions to which ! have sent you. Tho
| amount is contained in seven different boxes, and
| buried in eeparte places on the lslet.
| "Your afectionate brother,
"ELIAs HUGo."
| "a box containing two hundred dollars u
| French money was found on the islet referred u
| about three weeks ago."