Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-09-10

| Nertlse 10 reward Tor pOcket-DOOk COLI
tanning ten s. notes, some private letters,
a small bottle of hair dye and q toothpick.
The Money Cave.
| HUNTING FOR SPANISH TREASURE IN THE HEART
ORA MOUNTAIN, WITH THE USUAL LUCK.
A trip to the so-called "money cave" at
Brandon Vt, is described in letter to the
Newburyport Herald
We left the Brandon House at P. NJ,
and drive of three miles brought Us to the
foot of the Green mountain where we
| left our team and set out on foot. We went
through fine maple orchard, across the
Sugar Hollow brook " and then began to
climb the mountain. The day was very
warm, and by the time we reached the cave
we were glad to sit down in the shade and
cool off, while taking a survey ofthe place.
| The mouth of the cave, or tunnel, Is at the
foot of ragged cliff about two hundred feet
| high. Near it is a small log house or cabin,
| such as lumbermen use. containing stove
Tor cooking, two hunks filed with straw,
and two chairs. At the mouth of the cave
is a horsepower machine, such as is used in
threshing grain, used here for pumping wa
ter. These, with the long line of cutters to
carry the water away, are all that Is to be
seen outside.
THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE IS TOLD IL An OLD
SETTLER.
About 200 years ago, some Spaniards had
mine here in the mountain, where they
got out silver which they smelted and made
into bars and coin. having a room or cave
for this purpose away in the bowels OF the
earth. This was carried on for some years,
till fight with the Indians at Beaver Dam,
on Sugar Hollow brook, took place. All but
one of the Spaniards were killed. and he
escaping left the country. Many years at-
ter he came back to secure the treasure lett
behind in his flight lie was joined by
resident Of this place, a Mr.. Field, and they
commenced the search for the cave. They
looked for three iron wedges which the
Spaniards said pointed to the mouth OF the
cave. Mr. Field found the wedges, but
kept the fact a secret, and purposeiy mised
the Spaniard, meaning to get the treasure
alone and have it all himself The Spaniard
continued the search tor weeks, and was OF
ten seen crying and raviag about the place
and at last returned to spain. Then Mr..
Field tried to get his treasure. but could not
find it As there had been a slide of earth and
rocks which buried every trace of the cave.
He commenced to dig, and the work has been
going on at intervals ever since, till large
sums of money have been expended.
\ DIsAGREEABLE PLACE Tor VISITORS.
Having put on some old clothes and each
taken a lighted lantern, VIC dove into the
earth by an entrance about four feet high
and three feet wide, which descended at an
angle Of IS degrees for 100 feet, when we
came to well twenty feet deep, crossed by
a narrow board, enough TO make Us hold our
breath. Near this well the water has drop
ped from the rocks overhead till lump OF
ice that would weigh 100 pounds was form
ed. The change from 80 degrees above zero
to freezing was rather sudden, and We hur-
riel along Is well as We could in the small
place. Now the tunnel took 4 turn upward
for four feet, and, leaving the main tunnel.
turned back andupwari toward the entrance.
but aite- going some twenty teet came 70
an end. Then we went back and took the
other wav, dove or Squirmed down through
a hole not over two feet large, into pas
sage 50 low and small that we had to crawl
on hands and knees, pushing the lantern
before u on the rocks. The channel was
dirty, wet, and so crooked We could not see
four feet ahead Of Us. This kind of crawl
ing we continued for some 80 feet and in
one place had to squirm along as 4 snake
does, for
THERE WAS NOT ROOM TO cEEzr.
At last we came TO a little cave or cham
Der, which is about as far as the diggers
have gone-for last fall when they were
little beyond this place they struck through
a kind Of wall, when the water washed in
and drove them from the place. nearly drown
ing them. The spiritual medium by whose
aid they are working had told them this
would occur, 50 when it did come, they
had the prize sure. Bat before they could
get the water out with hand pump, winter
came on and the work was abandoned
till this season, and now they expect every
day to find the money The tunnel is more
like a rabbit hole than a mine IS very small,
crooked, and With the roof unsupported ex-
cept in few places, giving the impression
that the diggers expected every moment to
find their treasure. and 50 took no pains with
the hole, so as YOU crawl along hundreds Of
feet under ground, you imagine the roof
dropping on you or stone falling before
You and cutting off all escape. The great
mystery to me was how they could get
two-inch pipe into such a tunnel, bend it, and
couple it. for they have done this to get the
water out We crawled out and drove home,
and that night dreamed Of the ''Catac0mbs
of Rome" Dante's Inferno, and Of being
buried alive but l would not have missed
that trip to the money cave for great deal.