The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-04-27
Wonderful Discovery.

A BOX OF COINS AND VALUABLE oRNA-
MENTs, SUPPOSED TO, HAVE BEEN
BURIED BY DE SOTO, FOUND NEAR
NATCHEz, MIsS-GREAr VALUE OF
THE TREASURE.
Many of our readers will no doubt
remember the great excitement which
existed about year ago in this vicmi-
| ty, caused by the assertion of an old
negro saret'ress that quantity of the
Treasure of the once celebrated Captain
Kidd vas buried Mt short distance
! from the National Cemetery, near what
is familiariy known as the Devils
Puuch Bowl" Qnite a number of our
| colored citizens, believing the stories
OF this old woman, engaged III the
| work of digging for the hidden treas
ure in Il spot which; by the aid Of the
black art, she had pronounced it to be
buried.
They progressed in their "labor of
love" (of gain) for a number of weeks,
without success, and finally gave up
! in despair, Il heavy rain having dis
tent. Time passed on, and the event
has perhaps escaped the minds of near
ly all to whom the mysterious affair
WIS cognizant, 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 heavy storm, few
weeks ago, a couple of negro boys,
willie hunting in the vicinityof the ex
cavications made by the discomfitted
treasure-seekers of one year since.
CHANGED to find dinGy, rusty old
square box, which was So bound about
| with metals as to almost resemble an
iron box. 1t was with difficulty that
the two cOmbinnd could move it, and
to carry it was out of the question.
| While 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, re-
paired to the spot, and remembering
| the odd sOurceress' tale ut once con
cmaed they had tound at least por-
ton If the treasure. Events have
proved that they were not amss in their
donjectnrcs. But they moved very
lcant;onSly. in the matter, lest they
should be discovered, and so under the
cover of night the box was removed to
their little cottage. Upto the earl>
part of the week they confded their Sc
clet to no living person, but a serious
affair having occurred between the
boys, the matter (belng 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
examining The treasure found. The
box III which il was fonnd is about
three feet long hy TWO feet wide, evil
IDENTITY u,atl,s of IL species OF cedar, and
firmly bound hy strips of iron, running
around lattrally and diagnnally, and
fastened with long nails, clinched in
side. The treasure consists principally
of ancient Spanish gold and silver
coin, dated from 1850 upto 1880, and
it is adjudeed 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
I great number of silver ornaments were
! in the box, which it Appeared we're
used as some part of their sword trap
pings. "a r-a g9'8
It is impossible to tell what metal
any of the coins or ornaments are com
posed of by their looks, for all have il
mouldy, green appearance, fully attest
ing to the laps of time since they were
buried. A little golden cross, with an
image of our Savior, establishes the re-
Fligion OF the people who buried the
treasure, and from the dates on the
varions coins it is believed that the
treasure Thus unearthcd at this, late
day was buried by none other than the
great fernando de Soto and his follow
ers, about the year l64O, as it it is well
known that the discoverer of the nigh
~ Mississippi was IN this vicinity abont
t at time, and also that he was seri-
ous'y troubled by the hostile Indians.
A piece of parchment fonnd in the
box was SO old and misty that no char
acters could be discerned upon it,. As
Il whole the discovery of this long hid
den treasure forms no incOnsiderable
event in our history, and will throw a
new light upon the adventures of the
hardy Spaniards who trequented the
spot where now stands OUR beautiful
city, centuries ago. A number of indi-
vidnals have visited the hut, and ex-
alnine,l the coins, and all agree with
the views OF the writer as by whom the
treasure was buried by. G
| A prominent gentleman has bargain
ed tor the box and its contents, with Il
u view ofremOving them to New York,
where the coins will bring large
price from anriqnaries.-[ Natchez New
4 South.