The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-13
CAPT. KIDDiS TREASURE.
GREiT DISCOVERY or GOLD AND
SILVER COIN on STATEN ISLAND.

The Results OF n sberiff's Morning Walk
Bccencs mn AsricuIturist-NenrIy 800
Pieces Of Money POund-ItossviIIc wild
with Excitcmcnt-The Gold Seekers
ng1in on the Scent.
No little excitement was occasoned last Sun
day In the quiet little village Of Rossville. Staten
Island, by the discovery Of large sum Of money,
hidden many generations ago. when the village was
on the great line of travel between PHILADELPHIA and
New York. The drowsy hamlet, sleeping through
the warm Sabbath day awakened from its dreamy
state, opened Its eyes with startled and wild stare,
stretched its limbs and in a moment was hurrying
as II by common impulse to a common destina-
ton. which happened TO be the new and stately
residence Of Sheriff Abram winants, Of tho
Winants fimiy, who'd have lived tlereabouts since
their ancestors landed in Manhattan Bay, In the
times OF the good old Ameterdanmers and other
pious from wstery Holland Dame Rumor.
who gossips with thousand airy tongues among
the jewellers upon the banks OF the stormy Staten
Island sound-that broad sweep OF water that sepa-
rates the peaceful and easy Inhabitants Of the south
side from tho
APrLE-JAcK rIPPLERs AND cL,Y-DieoERs
Of Jcrscy--had finally got hold Of large atom OF
truth to build one OF her stirring structures upon.
There was really a jingle OF old coin about the
Winants mansion, an almost forgotten music to
most OF thc eagcr-eyeu anu opch-euItu EhAcIs ON
the heap Of pieces in gold silver and copper that
almost filed rcck measure upon the kitchen
table. But the cnk was not clear svery. The
corIoding fingers Of time had blurred and rusted
their fair sides and the clements through succes.
sion of generations had been busily engaged In
adding TO- them layer upon layer OF rus, and earth,
royal or imperial rulers, that cleaned brightly
enough hundreds OF years ago. before America It,
self perhaps was discovered. These
CURIOUS AND UNIQUE MEMORIALS
Of former tines wero well handled and weighed, and
lcarnelly discussed by then umismaticnns who con-
crcgated in sheriff Winans ample rooms, and tho
sheriff told the following story to fresh audiences
hundred times during the day, until the smoothing
and sofening influence OF gentle rye would no longer
aay the hoarscnoss or lis musical voice:
Walking out this morning said the Sheriff,
" 10 enjoy the brilliant spring sunlight and SOFT,
balmy air, had reached the corner or my house,
and was contemplating the luxurious and rapid
growth OF some early flowers. when nv eve c-ught
the CLEAN Of some metallic substance, as thought.
among tie grass. gave It push with tne
TOE OF MY Door,
when, much to nv surprise, I turned over two or
three round bits OF metal, which, On being exam
ined, proved to be COPPER coins greatly corroded
mcnts Of dates and legends, pursued my invcs,i.
cation with the aid OF hoe. ana was startled IN
turning M great numbers OF coin OF various sizes
and quality Before had completed my search |
had found 5G2 pieces
GOLD, SILVER, ASn COPPER,
most Of them so rusty rs to be undocipherable. I
%
laid away years and years ago, beyond the memory
OF mon now living. One Of the colts was Of silver.
abont the size Of quarter Of dollar, but thinner
bearing side the date 1862, and on tie otter
a Legend cannot translate. Many OF the COPPER
coins bore the date Of 1924 aud thereabouts. and
were clearly OF English origin, How they
there gentlemen. isa question YOU ran explain
readily as l. know nothing ahous IT,
That is the Sherif's story and a SUS reporter
has seen some OF the cons. lie las placed MAORI.
~ OF them In ye to clean them up, and we shall
doubtless soon I've ahlc to ascertain the nature OF the
coins six OF the unknown ones have been sent to
THE sNIrHsoNIAN INSTITUTION
at Washington to obtain the opnion OF experts uron
their character. They are evidently not English
mintagc. Altogether they are valuable addition TO
our numsm tic collection, and aua'ours and socc-
ties Will doubtless be able to obtuin specimens IL
they apply early.
The discovery has awakened IN extraordinary and
glowing spirit OF rc-carch among the ROssviuals,
and there is general revival Of ancient stories Of
BURIED TREASURES,
in which Capt Kidd figures vii, due prominence
All the venerable coored residents have forg ute
tire Fifteenth Amendment and are now iudulgn. in
dreams, in which the ghosts OF bold free booters au-
pear and lead tie gentle antique madcns to retired
spots where they point ont the places Of buried
sgnilS taken from stately Spanish enieons on the
Main There are also MANY signs youct>l'cd by tAele
falAnt pirates, ny which the believing may lind uu-
told wealth hastily away In the carly days Of the
province. The believers are many, Il to
judge rom the reports ~ travellers 10 those paris
who have seen the occasional ha- Of lantern Ike
the CLEAN OF the Will q the Wi-r. lt night, ON the
solemn shores Of tie Staten Island sound where TIC
GOLD sETYgRs ARE srENLTHILY PusnIXG
their researehes. II Capt Kidd's buried treasures
could be found. all Staten Island would suap is Tn
gers at the clay.dggcrs and aDpe-Ja-k =oal.crs OF
Jersey. Sheriff Ninants may have II last. ,ourd
the fact that the lae skipper Kidd dill gather toeetacr
much money
As he sailed. as he sailed"
thereby adding historical verify to traditional stories