Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-11
TREASURE TROTE IN MISSISSIPPI
ALLEGED RELICS OF DE SOTO.

ALLEGED RELICS OF DE SOTO.
The Natchez New South contains this re-
markable story: MANY of our readers will
no doubt remember the great excitement
which existed about year ago in this vicinity
caused by the assertion of an old negro sor.
ceress, that a quantity of the treasure of the
once celebrated Captain Kidd was buried a
near what is familarly known as the Devils
PunchBowl.' Quite number of our colored
citizens, believing the old woman, engaged in
the work of digging for the hidden treasure.
''They progressed in the labor of love Cot
gain for number of weeks without success,
and finally gave up in despair, heavy rain
having disconnected them to a discouraging
extent. Time passed on, and the event has,
perhaps, escaped the minds of nearly ALL
"A few days ago a couple of negro boys,
while hunting in the vicinity of the excavation
made by the discounted treasure seekers of
one year since, Glanced to find a 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 combined could
move it, and to carry it was out of the Ques-
ton.
ssWhile one Of them remained near this
queer-looking old box, the other went home
for his father. The father, his wife, and
another colored man repaired to the spot, and,
remembering the old sorceress's tale, at once
concluded they had found at least a portion of
the treasure. Events have proved that they
were not amss in their conjectures. But
they moved very cautiously in this matter
lest they should be discovered, and so under
the cover of night the box was removed to
their little cottage. Up to the early part of
this week they confided their secret to no liv-
ing person, but it came to the ears of our re-
porter. He repaired to the house on We'd
nesday 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 straps of iron, running
around latterally and diagonally, and fasten-
ed with long nails, clinched inside. The
treasure consists principally of Spanish gold
and silver coin, dated from 1850 up to 1880,
and it is adjudged that there is at least $780,
600 worth of them. Besides the coin there
are several gold buckles and various other
articles, seeming to have been worn as orna-
ments. great number of silver ornaments
were in the box, which it appeared were used
in some of their sword trappings.
1t was impossibleto tell what metal any of
the coins or ornaments are composed Of by
their looks, for all have mouldy, green ap-
pearance, fully attesting the lapse of time
since they were buried. A little golden cross,
with an image of our Savior, established the
religion Of the people who buried the treas
ure, and from the dates on the various coins
it is believed that the treasure thus unearth-
ed at this late day was buried by none other
than the great fernando de Soto and his fol-
lowers about theyear 1910, and it is we'll know
the dscoverer of the mighty Mississippi was
in this vicinity about that time, and also that
he was seriously troubled by the hostile In
dians.
A piece of parchment found in the box was
so old and musty that no characters could be
disccrned upon it. As whole the discovery
of this long hidden treasure forms no incon-
siderable event in our history, and will throw
new light upon the adventures of the hardy
Spaniards who frequented the spot where now
stands our beautiful cities centuries ago. A
number of individuals have visited the hut
and examined the coins, and all agree with
the views of the writer as to whom the treas
ure was buried by.
prominent gentleman has bargained for
the box and its contents, with a view Of re-
moving them to New York, where the coins
will bring large price from antiquaries."