Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-11-03


ifeiters Of Fifty Years age.
About fifty years ago, it was we'll known
that there were extensive gangs of coun-
terfeiters in East Tennessee. and in the bor-
dering States, who, at every opportunity,
would pass off their spurious coin upon in
nocent 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 50 nearly found
their rendezvous. that the rascals were COM
PEELED to leave the country, as the lawyers
say, ..instanter" 1t was supposed, at the
time they left, that they had large sums of
gold and silver boarded away in tho noun
tains of upper East Tennessee.
In the course of few years the recol-
lection of the counterfeiters had died out
of the memory of all, except the victims
of their fraud. A short time before the
breaking out of the civil war, man who
resided in one of the bordering counties 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 years, belonged to one
of the powerful bands of counterfeiters
which had infested Southern Kentucky,
East Tennessee, and bordering States
He further revealed that they had coined
their money in the mountain caves OF +.
Tennessee, 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 pursuit of the officers of the law be-
came closer, and finally they were COM
PEELED, to save their necks, to make rapid
fight, leaving many of the boarded piles
in the mountain caves where they had hid
den the treasures. He said that some Of
these caves had been discovered by the
yigilant officers, who had caused them to
beat SO precipitate retreat.
Though, as before remarked, the coun-
tcrfeiters had managed to carry off con-
siderable 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 thorough search for the hidden
treasure.
In answer to the young mans inquiries
as to whv none of the band had ever at
tempted to regain the money, the old man
said that the party had been compelled to
fee to Canada, where the ravages of dissi-
patton soon sent them to render ar account
for their misdeeds. AS for himself, re-
turning to this country after twenty years
absence, he had been afraid to search for
the money for fear of awakening suspicious
and rendering himself liable to the penal
ty of his crimes, committed quarter of
century previously.
When the war broke out, the young
man enlisted as private soldier, and, 1t
so happened. that he passed through Cooke
county. Here he met man named FAIR
field. who now resides at Newport depot.
and, to him, he repeated the confession of
the dying man.
A short time ago, Mr.. Fairfield told the
'.tale as twas told to him." to Messrs. In
derwood & 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 attentively 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 and sill
yer 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 In
dian Chief of giant proportions. Nearly
the entire frame was found, intact, and In
we'll preserved condition. The bones
we're carefully gathered, and the finders
intend having them wired and arranged In
their proper positions. The frame indi-
Gated that of man, at least eight feet
high and of massive build. The skull was
in perfect condition and the teeth in COM
plete preservation.
In the vicinity of the skeleton were
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.
Mai. Underwood was in the city yester-
day, and exhibited to us piece of the
the wampum. 1t was button-shaped
piece of testaceous shell, with hole
through the centre. The diameter Of the
wsmpum was an inch aud half, and it
was about half an inch thick. The money
was strange to all, except a few of the old
residents, whose acquaintance with the In
dians was made by mingling with them
when they were lords of the soil.
The search for the money is by no meas
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 be-
falls the seekers for the treasure of the
counterfeiters of fifty years ago.-Knor-
| yiUe Press and HcrdH.