Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-08-31
Singular Discovery in Oregon.

FROM oregon tnere comes taIe OF
treasuretrove. Leaving Portland, in
the abovc-namcd State, not long ago, to
trace the line of a new branch railway,
certain surveyors entered, one day, IL
small, rocky glen, near the line OF the
old military road between the small
towns of Cornelius and Astoria. Look
ing about therein for a suitable point OF
sight for his theodolite, the chief of the
party CHANGED to select an odd. looking
pyramidal stone, thickly covered with
lichens and densely grown about by the
lmmemorial underbrush of the region.
| In striving to tear some of the latter
away, and braclng foot against the
| stone i'll vigorous execution OF that pur-
pose, an assistant accidentally scraped
| from the rocky surface so much of the
encrusting moss that a large section was
laid quite bare. Upon the spot thus
denuded of It's covering OF ages the
| surveyors were surprised to discover
certain deeply craven marks, which,
upon closer inspection, proved to be
a Icgible inscription of the letters and
numerals IN. |. G. +. >. P.' Instantly
all thoughts of railroading were sus-
pended and every energy directed to
the Interpretation of this enigma of the
wilderness. For Il time all sorts of
guesses were hazarded but it struck
one of the pundIts that the letters and
figures might be Il memoranda in the
dialect of their own land gaugins pro.
tession. Say, for instance, that they
meant North, chain; east, , perches"
The idea was an inspiration not to be
disregarded. Measuriny north and east,
as prescribed, the party found another
curious moss grown stone, Ply. amidal in
shape like the first. Not doubling that
this bore further directions, they eager
ly cleared enough of its, face to discern
large figure ~" cut in it. only that
and and nothing more. This second
stone evidently had continuity of in
scliption with the first, and was
promptly thrown from its place b
levers; but only the bare, hard earth
appeared beneath, and gave no sign of
further revelation. What if the figure
should mean seven feet down?n was
the question evolved from the ensuing
feverlsh consultation. A suspicion OF
hidden treasure was now uppermost in
every mind, and when spades were
brought and digging began the excite
ment waXed intense. Deeper and
deeper delved the anxious shovelers
until the clink of some metal responded
to the blows ct the eXcavators. 1T took
but a minute more to reveal Il rusted
IRON ling attached to the rotting cover
OF Il wooden box or chest, IRON bound ;
and i'll three minutes that ancient
casket was lifted and hauled from its
tomb 10y as many hands and shovels as
could fix hold upon it. Up it came,
under the grasp and stare of men pant
ing with Undesirable expectation, and
ceremony was not regarded in the sum
mary process OF forcing the nd. Within
the decaying strong box, and protected
by its lining of copper, were found old
Spanish, Mexican, and South American
silver coins, to the value of nearly
$4,000, together with several pieces OF
quaint jewelry. There were several
golden Spanish doubloons, and silver
breastpin i'll the shape Of a leaf, set
with thirty-one rose-cut diamonds. The
whole treasure was black with age, and
must have been under ground for Il
long term of years; but, as shown by
the above valuation, it richly repaid its
delighted finders, who, dividing it
equally among themselves, and return
ing with it to the city, became straight
way as famous for their strange adven.
ture as they had been in its coined
| reward.