The Shasta courier., 1870-11-19
Hidden Treasures I'm Tennessee
From the Knoxville Herald.

From the Knoxville Herald.
About fifty years ago, it was well known
that there were extensive gangs Of coun-
teifeiters in East Tennessee, and in the
bordering States, wha at every opportunity
would pass off their spurious coin upon
innocent people. They became so bold
that the officers of the law were forced to
use every means within their power to put
stop to the circulation of the worthless
money. and to have the offenders brought
to justice. The officers had SO nearly
found their rendezvous that the rascals
we're compelled to leave the country, as
the lawyers say, "instanter." 1t was sup
posed at the time they left, that they had
large sums of gold and silver boarded
away in the mountains of East Tenn, ssee
In the course of few years the recol-
lection of the countefeiters had died out of
the memory of all, except the victims of
their fraud A short time before the
breaking out of the late civil war, man
who resided in one OF the bordering coun-
ties of Kentucky was on his death-bed
To young man who waited on him during
his last illness, he revealed the fact that he
had in his younger days belonged to one
OF the powerful bands of counterfeiters
which had infested Southern Kentucky
East Tennessee and bordering States He
further revealed that the had coined their
money in the mountain caves of East Ten
nessee, and had boarded away vast sums
OF genuine gold and silver, until, finally,
their success had made them too bold, and
growing more and more careless, the pur-
suits of the officers OF the law became more
close, and finally they were compelled to
save their necks, to max, a rapid flight,
leaving many of the boarded piles in the
mountain caves where they had hidden
the treasures. He said that some of these
caves had been discovered by the viglant
officers, who had caused them to beat SO
preclpitate retreat.
: Though, as before remarked, the coun-
terfeiters had managed to carry off consid-
erable of the money in their saddle bags,
yet they had left the bulk of their wealth
hidden in the caves. The larger portion
OF the money was in cave in Cooke county.
East Tennessee, near Pigeon River, and
the dying man urged the young man to
whom he conveyed the information to make
a thorough search for the hidden treasure
In answer to the young mans inquiries
as to mhy none of the band had ever at
tempted to regain the money, the old man
said that the party had been compelled TO
flee to Canada, where the ravages of dis
sipation soon sent them to render an ac
fNr tl. Il
returning to this country after twenty
years absence, he had been afraid to search
Tor the money for fear of awakiny sustic-
ions and render himself liable TO the mem
atty OF his crimes, committed quarter of
century previously.
When the war broke out, the youno
man enlisted as a private soldier. and it 50
happened that be passed through Cooke
County. Here he met man named Fair |
field, who now resides near Newport depot,
and to him he related the confession of the |
dying man..
A short time ago, Mr.. Fairfield told the
''tale as it was told to him." to Messrs.
Under wood 4 Morton, who are engaged |
in mining zinc on the bluffs along Pigeon |
River in Cooke County. These gentlemen
were much interested with the narrative,
and listened atteh lively to the tale of the
hidden treasure. A few days ago, they
concluded to search the numerous caves in |
that locality for the reputed gold AID silver
hidden within their recesses.
During their hasty search they found |
near'the entrance of one of the caverns,
the skeleton of what appeared to be an
Indian chief of giant proportions Nearly |
the entire frame was fourd, intact, and in |
well preserved condition The bones
were carefully gathered, and the finders
intend having them wired and arranged in
their proper ositions. The frame lndi-
Gates that OF man at least eight feet
high, and of massive build The skull
Was in perfect condition, and the teeth in
complete preservation.
In the vicinity of the skeleton was found
one hundred and fifty eight pieces of
Indian "wampum." The size of the pieces
would indicate them to be of great value |
as Indian money was accounted.
Major Underwood was in the city yes
terday, and exhibited to us piece of the
wampum. 1t was button shaped piece |
Of testaceous shell, with hole through |
the centre. The diameter of the wampum
was an inch and half, and it was about
half an inch thick. The money was
strange to all, except few of the old
residents, whose acquaintance with the
Indians was made by mingling with them
when they were lords of the soil
The search for the money is By on means
given up. The discovery Of the skeleton
and the wampum has but added to the zest
with which the search is continued. We
will record whatever of interest befalls |
the seekers for the treasure of the counter
friters fifty years ago.
A Mr. Ards, OF Los Nietos, Los Angeles |
l. r. IL L