The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-04-07
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY
A Box cf Coin and Valuable Orna>
ments, Supposed to Have Been Bur
led by de Soto, Found Near Nafctez


From the Natchcz New South.
Many Of our readers will no doubt re
member the great excitement which existed
about year ago in this vicinity, caused
b. the assertion of an old negro sCreerce.s,
celebrated Capt. Kidd was buried short
what is tamiiarly known as the Devil S
punch bowl" Quite number of our col
ored citizens, believing the stories Of the
tor the hidden treasure in a spot which.
by the aid of the black art, she had pro
nounccd it to be buried
They progressed in their Labor of love-
(of gam for number of week without
success, and finally gave up in despair, a
heavy rain havirg incnmmoded them to a
dIscouraglng extent. Time passed on, and
the event has, perhaps, escaped the minds
of nearly all In whom the mysterious affair
was congnlzant, aud but for the event which
We are about to chronicle, would perhap,
have never disturbed their brains
again. However, we will on to our story
which Is strange as it is true.
Shortly after heavy storm, few weeks
ago, couple of negro boys, while hunting
III the vicinity OF the excavations made by
the dlscOmfted treasure seekers of one
year since, chanced to find dingy, rusty
old square box, which was so bound about
with metal as to almost resemble an iron
box. 1t was with difficulty the two com
bned could move 1t, and to carry it was
out of the question.
W hlle one of them remained near this
queer looking old box, the other went home
tor his father. The father, his wife, and
another coiored man, repaired TO the spot,
and remembering the old sorcercss tale at
once concluded they had found at least
portion Of the treasure. Events have prov
that they were not amiss in their conject-
ures. But they moved very cautiously in
the matter, least they should be discovered,
ana 50 under the cover Of night the box
was removed to their little cottage. Up TO
the early part of this week they confied
their secret to no llving person, but seri
Gus affair having occurred fe,wecn the
boys, the matter (being at first but vague
ly hinted att cane to the ears Of our re-
porter. lie repaired to the house on We'd
hesday night for the purpose of examining
the treasure found. The box in which it
was found Is about three feet long by two
feet wide, evidently made of a species Of
cedar, and is firmly bound by strips of iron,
running around ia;craiiy and diagonally,
Ind fastened with long nails, clinched In
side. The treasure consists principally of
ancient SpanisL gold and silver coin, dated
from 1850 up to 1880, and it is aajndged
that there is at least $500, 900 worth of
them. Besides the coin there are several
gold buckles and various other articles,
seemingly to have been worn as ornaments
A great number of silver ornaments were in
The box, which it appeared were used as
some OF their sword tranpings.
/; is impossible to tell what metal any of
the CONS or ornaments are composed of by
their looks, for all have a mouldy. gre, n
appearance, fully qttesting to the lapse Of
time since they were buried A little
golden cross, with an image of our Savior,
established the religion Of the pe,pie who
buried the treasure, and from the da es on
the varlons coins it is believed that the
treasure thus unearthed at this late day
was buried by none other than the great
dernando DE Soto and his followers, about
the year l44O, as it is well known that the
dl.coverer of the mighty Mississippi was in
this vicinity about that time, and also that
he was seriously troubled by the hostile la
dams
A piece of parchment found in the box
was SO old and musty that no characters
could be dIscunccrned upon it, As d whole
the discovery Of this long hidden treasure
forms no lnconsiderable event in our his
tory, and will throw new light upon the
adventures Of the hardy SraniardS who
trequented the spot where now stands our
beautiful city centuries ago a number of
individuals have visited the hut, and ex
amned the coins, and all agree with the
views of the writer as to whom the treasure
was buried by.
A rominens gentleman ha. hargained
for the box and its contents. with vie. Of
removing them to New York, where the
coins will bring large price from anti
qusries.