Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-01

"A Box of Coins and Valuable Ornaments.
Supposed to have been Buried by De
Soto, found near hatcher, Miss.-Great
Value OF the Treasure.
From the Natchez New South, Feb. 8

| From the Natchez New South, Feb. 26.
Many of our readers will no doubt re-
member the great excitement which exist
ed about year ago in this vicinity, caused
by the assertion of an old negro sorceress
that quantity of the treasure of the once
celebrated Captain Kidd was buried at O.
short distance from the National Gene
terry, near what is Familiarity known as the
IS Devils Punch Bowl" Quite a number
of our colored citizens, believing the sto-
ries of this old woman, engaged in the
work of digging for the hidden treasure in
a spot where, by the aid of the black art,
she had pronounced it to be buried.
They progressed in their "labor of love"
| (of gain) for number of weeks, without
success, and finally gave up in despair, a
heavy rain having discommoded them to a
discouraging extent. Time passed on, and
the event has perhaps escaped the minds
of nearly all to whom the mysterious affair
was c0gnizant, and but for the event which
we are about to chronicle, would perhaps
have never disturbed their brains again
However, we will on to our story, which is
as strange as it IS true.
| Shortly after q heavy storm, few weeks
| ago, couple of negro boys while hunting
| in the vicinity of the excavations made by
the discounted treasure seekers of one
year since, CHANGED 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 that the two
combined could move it, and to carry it
was out of the question.
While one Of them remained near this
qucer-i0oking old box, the other went
home for mis- father. The father, his wife,
and another colored man. repaired to the
spot, and remembering the old sorceress'
tale, at once concluded they had found at
least a portion of the treasure. Events
have proved that they were not amiss in
their con- lectures. But they moved very
cautiously in the matter, lest they should
be discovered, and SO, under the cover of
night, the box was removed to their little
cottage. Upsto the ear y part of this week
they cOnhded their secret to no living per-
son, but q serious affair having occurred
between the boys, the matter (being at first
but vaguely limited at) came to the ears Of
our reporter He repaired to the house on
Wednesday night for the purpose of ex-
aiming the treasure found. The box in
which it was found is about three feet long
by two feet wide, evidently made of a spe-
cies of cedar, and is firmly bound by strips
of iron, running around lateraliy and
diagonally, and fastened with long nails,
clinched inside The treasure consists
principally Of ancient Spanish gold and
silver coin, dated from 1850 up TO 1880,
and it is adjudged that there is at least
$50, 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 part of
their sword trappings.
| 1t is impossible to tell what metal any
Of the coins or ornaments are composed of
by their looks, for all have mouldy,
green appearance, fully attesting to the
lapse of time since they were buried. A
little golden cross, with an image Ct our
Saviour, establishes the religion of the
people who buried the treasure, and from
dates on the various coins it is believed
that the treasure thus unearthed at this
late day was buried by none other than
the great Hernando De Soto and his fol
lowers, about the year 1910, as it is well
known that the discoverer Of the mighty
Mississippi was in this vicinity about that
time, and also that he was seriously troubI-
ed by the hostile x-di,.-.~.
A piece of parchment found in the box
was SO old and musty that no characters
were discerned upon it. AS whole, the dis.
covery OF this long hidden treasure forms
no inconsiderable event in our history,
and will throw g new light upon the adj
ventures Of tho hardy Spaniards who fire.
beautiful city centuries ago. A number
Of individuals have visited the but, and
examined the coins, and all agree with
the views Of the writer as to whom the
treasure was buried by.
z prominent gentleman has hargained
for the box and its contents, with view
of removing them to New York, whore the
coins will bring a large price from anti
Iquariea.