Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-06-16

dnOIuOf Eurchd--Ol1AJ thOiO "ON.N ~
scarcely any trouble in finding the long
buried treasure, and it was immense.
Her eyes glistened with pleasure, as
she gazed upon the jewels of fabulous
value. They were equal to the dia-
monds found by the Count of Monte
Christie on the island of that name.
Whore is it?'' we all cried, in a
breath.
1T is long distance up that way
indicating the direction with her hand.
"Well, describe the place." said her
uncle, who was as enthusiastic as the
rest of us.
at is large, square built, old,
wooden-frame house with fiat roof
covered with tiles, of three stories in
height, with piazzas on all sides. 1t has
a circular staircase in the center of the
building, extending to the top of the
house, which is surrounded by a balus-
trade. 1t is situated in q large square
of ground grown up with rank grass
and weeds. Everything bears marks of
decay-even the high board fence has
fallen down in places. No one lives in
it, and it is fast going to destruction"
!" Where about is the Golconda of
buried riches you saw ?'' | asked, for |
knew the building well, and had visited
it several times with gay parties seeking
amusement and pleasure.
1t was one of the principal points of
curiosities in the old town, and rivaled
in interest, to the stranger, the far
famed French market, the old cathe-
dral, and jackson Square.
Everybody in New Orleans knew it as
the d" Haunted House." 1t belonged to
an old French lady, who had inherited
the property, and lived in Paris. She
had an agent in the city, but he did not
attempt to keep it in repair. 1t had
been built by Laftte, "The Pirate OF
the Gulf" many years ago, and 1t had
not been occupied for long time. The
material of which it was constructed
had been imported from France, and it
had been built in the most substantial
and elegant manner; all the arts OF that
time had been freely brought into re-
QUESTION to decorate and ornament it.
The doors and staircase were carved In
the most exqisite style. The rooms
were large, and each one had a 0oor
leading out on the piazza. The views
from all sides of the building must have
been beautiful when it was first con-
structed.
Whether Lafitte really ever did build
and occupy it is true or not, | do not
know. | only report the legend as cur
rent in that vicinity. ~
To return to our story, which we have
Il, s~11t @fS ~
building.
Whereabouts is the treasure buried
which you saw ?'' "
1T is about four feet under the sur
face of the ground, in the center OF the
hall, or passage-way, between the two
large rooms on the ground floor. If ]
were there, l could point out the exact
spot"
ave shall have to go there and take
you with u.s." | replied; and it was
agreed we would go the next day.
After describing some of the beauti-
full iewels-among which was a neck
lace Of diamonds, Of immense size; a
diamond breastpin, containing soli-
taire of priceless worth strings OF
beads of amethyst; bracelets and rings,
set with diamonds and rubys sufficient
to supply ballroom of bellies at Sara
toga-we broke up the seance, and re-
turned to our homes.
The next day, in the afternoon, we
took a carriage and drove to " The
Haunted House."
She was there magnetized into the
clairvoyant condition, and Immediately
pointed out the exact place where was
concealed sufficient to make us all rich.
After doing so, she was suddenly seized
with spasmodic tremor, while her face
expressed horror, fear and dismay. She
appeared to suffer terribly, until a few
passes were made, and she returned to
her normal condition.
She said, upon our asking what was
the matter, that she had seen woman
murdered by two men, in the next
scene as she saw it.
We then returned, and arranged our
plans for making the necessary excava-
tions the following night. Knox, the
engineer, would supply the pickax and
shovel, lanterns, ETC., from the boat on
which he was employed, lying but a
short distance from the building where
was concealed our hopes and fears.
About eleven o'clock at night we
jumped into an omnibus, and rode up
to within short distance of the boat,
where we obtained the implements re-
quired, and then sauntered along the
shore of the river, to while away the
time, until the witching hour of night
should arrive, and the people in the
neighborhood had retired to bed.
We found large board pile lying on
the shore, on which we clambered,
pulled out our TASKS of brandy and
cases of cigars-necessary stimulants, or
deemed to be so, in enterprises of the
kind in which we were engaged.
We drank, and smoked our Havanas
with great zest, increased, doubtless, by
the confident anticipation of the fortune
that awaited us. A few feet of earth
only divided it from our hands; in an
hour or two it would be all our own.
We had brought carpet bags to carry home
our riches. If we had confidence enough
to engage in the enterprise, it would be
common prudence to be prepared with
something to put the gold and jewels
in, we argued; and SO we had carried
them with us.
We cracked jokes, and told stories,
and enjoyed ourselves well, lying there
on the board pile.
The old Scotchman had been great
traveller in foreign lands, and he regaled
us with his adventures.
At one o'clock our party of four di-
vided, and approached the house in
different directions, in order to avoid
attracting attention.
We approached the house like men
bent upon some crime. / felt like a
burglar, but we were fortunately not