The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-28
De Soto's Treasures-Perhaps.

Here is tough but readable story
from the Memphis Aoalanche of Nov. 90
A defendant of one of De Soto's fol-
lowers, Senior Jose Munoz, by the mer-
est accident, found in blind closet, the
existence of which was only brought to
light by the tearing down of part of
an old mansion on bluff near Memphis,
with the view of rebuilding it in more
modern form, parchment which set
forth in substance that, at point near
that city, was deposited in the earth q
helmet containing q diamond, sap
phire, and ruby of immense value, to-
gether with an order of knighthood and
a sum of money; that this treasure was
the property of one Jesus Munoz, who
had been the scientific adviser of De
Soto, but having fallen under suspicion
of practising witchcraft, had anticipated
| his doom by suicide, first confding to
mother earth, with certain incantations,
the wealth that would suffice to ransom
a prince, when princes were worth ran
sOming.
Upon the strength of this information
party of leading citizens was at once
organized to investigate the matter. 1t
was about ten o'clock when the adven-
turers landed from their skiffs on Presi-
dents Island. Placing his theodolite
exactly in front of the venerable tree,
Captain B proceeded to lay out his
first angle indicated by the parchment
scroll. To the surprise of every one, the
distance" brought the party to lone
ly spot on the shore OF the river, where,
in gulch, worn by the mad freaks of
the storm in times gone by, were the re-
mains of a boat of fashion that no
workman has designed on the North
American Continent for more than two
hundred years, although the same de-
scription of vessels still navigate the
coasts of South America, and are still
built by the descendants of the same
Spanish people who first brought to the
knowledge of the world our Mississippi.
The boat had been constructed from a
single log, and was about sorty-six feet
in length of keel. The wood had almost
been transformed into coal by some
strange atmospheric cause and the truth
OF what we say can be verified by piece
of this antique bark, which was brought
from the spot by our reporter, and is
now on exhibition at this office. From
the ruined stern protruded an iron which
had once secured the rudder upon which
was still visible the initials F. & l."
Whether or not this is the remains of one
of De Soto's boats it is impossible to de-
termine with certainty, but Professor
Dillington was decidedly of the opinion
that the wood Of which it was composed
had been exposed to the action Of the
elements for more than two centuries.
The inference was irresistible. In the
course of ten minutes the workmen had
excavated pit about three feet in diam
eter and two in depth. Just at mid
night, by Captain BIS time, the
spade of MCGOWAN struck some metallic
substance-it proved to be ancient he'll
met, the upper part of which was cor
roded, and eaten away by the rust of
years. Fashioned as it had been to re-
sist the stroke of lance, sword, and battle
ak, it yielded to the first blow of the
modern and homely spade. 1t was cleft
in twain, and as the light from the lamps
flashed down upon its oxidized surface,
from the interior was flashed back three
wondrous rays ofradience,diamond pure,
sapphire blue, and ruby red, all beauti-
full and dazzling, while gazing down.
ws rds the awestricken tamperers with
what man uses or examines at his peril
saw three gems of fabulous size and
lustre, lying upon a faded and decayed
order of nobility, and within the rusted
head harness of knight, who laid his
lance in rest for the last time before any
city ON the North American Continent
had any existence.