The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-18
PENNY EXPLORATIONS.

tIny bCr-Ihe rOfCer Tue
,liH md her Uut-Ail sbout the Impni-
pubir Wealth Of . Treasure Trov-.
During the past week the rumor that Sheriff
wynsnt had found q number " coins In bis garden
created q great excitement In Staten Island and es-
pecialy In the neirhborhood Of Rossvie, where the
worthy Sheriff resides. I. was whispered that a
company Of responsible citizens had been formed,
who had determined to dig thoroughly in the vicinity
OF the treasure trove and they had subscribed $500
apiece for the preliminary expenses OF the underak
ing. It further reported that lady OF magnetic
powers, not quite unknown In Wall street,
had been professionally consulted, and that
she bad when in trance condition propbe
sled therfuture wealth Of every one con.
cerned in the enterprise. The srticles which had
been published In various issues OF Tm SUN had
helped TO sn the namc. An enthusiastic sDccuiator
staten Island, who was In Philadelphia on busi
ness Of importance, bought SUN in the streets OF
that city, read article concerning the discoveries
In Rossye, and Immediately left his affairs to take
influence OF the same mad gold hunger which years
sent thousands to die tho banks OF the Sacra
nento. gallant Colonel still further Increased the
excitement by showing everywhere he went topaz
ling sot with small diamonds, which he averred him.
sell had found IN clay pit on some property he
The reporter Of The SUN paid a visit yesterday to
sheriff wynant and was received with the most
Distinguished courtesy. The coins shown to
him, and submitted in the amplost sense to his in
yostiRation. He found them TO be nearly sI hun
They were without exception English haifpennies
OF the relgns OF William Ill, who commenced TO
Re i@s S q SeVsss yssS .sG% or M
reisn, I!y7 or the reign OF Queen Anne, which
there is, strange to say, not singe specimen II 10
equally strange to fnd nothing but halpennies, not
single penny, no farthings, and solitary speci
OF colonlsl coinage IN tue shape OF pine tree
shilling, evidently coined by hand bearing the date
OF 1859, and the name OF Massachusetts,.
To enter irtO In pOtlpse low these be
found in shcrin wynant's garden would be alike
any theory based on tie treasures OF Cant Kidd,
TIE freebooter; must fall 70 the ground
OF Capt Kidd no one speaks In Rossville. A Col.
Tislale, who has made himself conspicuous by his
stories Of a cock and bull--we mean OF n ring and
cay anRer-loiged for several years IN the hoye OF
an old woman known as Aunty seight by her
siends but talked OF by the youth of the village as
which rises from the waters OF Arthur's Kills
wnere they merge with the more turbulent waves Of
families Of the island, married to a man whose
ancestors were as wealthy as the PATRONS Of Al
oil her life in state Of the brutal ignorance
and fifth Her husband never worked q day in his
le, though at one period lie attempted to preach,
but was restrained by the common sense OF the
community The woman herself used formerly to
tel fortunes by hand. and by the mysterious combi
nations OF the tea leaves In the cup that neither
cheers nor inebrates. She made also u little lace,
which she hawked around, and was welcomed every.
where by the young people because she had q
Portable knack of prophesying matrimonaily exactly
what her customers expected
The reporter Of TnE sCN thought TO prop.tiate
her by asking to have his fortune told hut she dis.
claimed slbillne power Questioned as e. the tradi
nons oi the island she admitted thst old Polly Ellis
had conhded to her as great secret that her father
| had been told by an old sailor that Edward Leach,
the pirate, surnamed Black Hawk. had buried trea-
| ran thus:
"Betwi.t the Sound and Arthurs XIII
| There's gold beneath the hunters rill;"
which verse she interpreted TO mean q creek that
| ran near her own house. When questioned as to
Col. Tisdsle's finding ring in clay pit on his
laughed the story to scorn and remembered to have
seen him wear II and far from corroborating the
story Of the Colonel, she made it seem very sus
| pieous.
eDe;rous TO see the ground where the rims. was
iound youI.reporter went down there, and saw Mrs.
having specuated In clay in the vicinity, but stated
nnt the enterprise had failed, the clay being mixed
in lor charge said that t. ~S' sHc had a' sssn s%
the Colonel ind the ring two years ago
tie box Of black % Wood @ bound % with 'OS some white
metal Inside was a i've dollar bill, some pearls,
and a little kniie with white handle; She had
sorry as she know now % that that /; y; was " buried Hfss
H III Was white p or green one he o sSa sS1
said green. He took out his pocketbook and showed
lie suggested il probably aid belong to tSe Irishman
as neither Captain Kidd nor Blaekhawk invested in
has Ssn % pn sGGS Re 'at S
covery OF Sheriff Wynsnt to profit, and hoped by
raising an excitement on tue subject TO
dispose OF his clay pit, The ring which
| lie was known to wear when be came
| to the island was rung In The old hag with whom
| the fasticious gentleman took his meals aud lived
was pressed into the service as collateral witness,
and rumors were raised OF companies, and clailyoy.
| ants and corsairs OF the past, Putting aside all
these little inventions II may be said that TO numis-
| matists the discovery OF Mr.. Wynant Is valuable,
since from the curious hoard he possesses gaps In
| collections may easily be filled. Tho coins are In a
| tolerabe state OF preservation, and those Of the
reign OF George the Second Of sngularly artistic
| finish.