Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-28

Kidd's Treasures.


The treasures of Kidd are furnishing
some little excitement again on the banks
of the Hudson. The New York Times
has the following: a ls i
yesterday afternoon James Vreden-
burg, Harry Tuttle, David II. Briggs and
John Mearns appeared before General
Madison Baker, as referee, and made
lengthy and almost incredible statement.
According to their story last spring Briggs,
who is an enthusiastic spiritualist, had a
dream, which revealed to him great
rusty iron chest submerged under the wa
ters, close by the rocky mountain lodges
of the Hudson Highlands. He put away
the vision, but it came again even more
distinct. He then went to a clairvoyant,
who directed him to the spot where Cap
tain Kidd's iron treasure chests were bur-
led. He temporarily suspended his trade
that of silversmith-and enlisted three
companions before named, who together
chartered yacht and went upon the ex-
pedition. The clairvoyant furnished par
ticular instructions, which they closely ad-
hered to. AT first they landed at Crow
Nest and took possession of an abandoned
dwelling. The spirits under whom they
proceeded only allowed them to work at
night. In September they commenced.
While digging by charts in perfect silence
they were surprised, captured and NOR
tally scared by some United States detec-
tives, who took them for fugitive counter
feiters engaged in burying plates. 4
AT another time party OF adventurous
young men who saw the lights on the
mountain side, and could not account for
them, came over from Cold Spring to in
vestigate, thinking they might find the
river banditti that had been operating at
wholesale through the various towns
The diggers suddenly extinguished their
light, and sent shower'of stones which
went crashing through the woods below,
filling the air with birthstone fumes. The
adventurers could not take such recep-
ton, but tumbled and leaped down the
mountain to their boats and pulled home
ward for dear life, fully believing that
Crow Nest was beset by legions of devils
The spirits then ordered change of base.
So they moved down below Snakehole
Creek, "a picturesque locality, marvellous
| for its seclusion, and very prolific of snakes.
| Again they dug and blasted.
! Twice they were visited by detectives,
who supposed them to be river thieves,
and they set all the country ajar with su-
perstitious wonder at the lights on the I'M
| Inhabited mounted sides. Finally, after
many attempts, the successful blast was
made with ten pounds of powder on Sun
day night The explosion was awful. 1t
seemed as though the entire mountain had
been split in two. A great ledge at the
waters edge was riven and a monstrous
boulder overturned. Underneath this was
portion of decayed vessel. They pulled
it out and discovered huge rusty iron
chest 1t was the work of a moment to
dash in the cover with sledge-hammer,
and disclose piles of coin smeared with
null Frantic with excitement, they scram-
bled over the spoils, and finally came to
blows, when The spectators, Jerry Lanigan
and his boats crew, came upon the scene
and interposed. 1t seems that they ac-
tually secured about seven thousand dol
lars in ancient Spanish doubloons and SOW
ereigns, besides some jewelry, all Of which
was greatly discolored by the water, rust,
&c.
An amicable arrangement for the divis-
ion of the spoils has been made. They
intend to renew operations at another place
in the spring-all under the direction Of
the spirits. Several persons from West
Point visited the scene to-day. A great
piece of the rocky mountain-side down to
the river level is torn off, but no traces of
the hull OF submerged vessel are appar-
ent, excepting the few green slime-cov-
cred ribs which contained the iron treasure
chest. One of the treasure hunters, Harry
Tuttle, had his face considerably bruised,
as he says, by piece OF rock from the
explosion, but as the boatmen declare, from
a blow received during the scrimmage."