Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-10-13

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to direct me, [ was perforce obliged to
adopt this course. We reached the
shoal where we had obtained our water.
about noon. and anchored; we immedi-
ately pulled boat ashore, and landing
proceeded to look for the high trees.
The Point mentioned, appeared to me
to be answered by a projection from
one end of the shoal where there we're
rocks and trees, and about half mile
from the pit where we had dug up the
box. To this place we all proceeded,
and found several cedar trees that
might be considered high. Selecting
the one nearest the point, we COM
menced search for the rock indicated
in the inscription. There were rocks
enough, but none that looked like coral.
We measured seventeen feet northwest.
and then seventeen feet northeast; and
SO around all the points of the COM
pass. without making any new discovery.
At last, however, when we were be-
ginning to look pretty blank, the cap
tain stumbled over a stump of a large
tree, some fifty feet from the one we
had started from, in q southeasterly di-
rection from it, and nearer the Point
This must therefore have been tue first
high tree before it was cut down, or
blew down, and rotted away so we COM
menced our measurement from this
point, and on reaching the distance
stated, came at once upon large piece
OF coral, settled in the earth, and Gov
cred with underground, and which must
at some time have been placed there by
human agency, as no coral rock ever
got so far inland naturally. We at once
commenced digging with renewed en-
ergy, and after considerable labor, sue
ceeded in removing the coral, and
leaving the soil free for us to work
upon. We dug now with a
will, and had got down about
six feet, when my pick-axe-for
[ was In the pit myself-struck some
thing hard, and with clear, metallic
ring, bounded off. I cleared the dirt
away, and saw at once that I had
come upon large iron chest. Digging
our pit larger in all directions, the di.
mansions of this chest wss presently
before us,-about four feet long by
two broad. At each end was massive
iron handle, and it became obvious that
we should need strong tackle to raise
SO heavy an article to the surface. We
accordingly returned to the schooner
for what we required, and it occupied
Us the whole afternoon to erect our
hosting machinery. We therefore
postponed the remainder OF our labor
until the next morning, and passed the
night on p-board, specializing on the
strange mystery which seemed to be
about to provide for our fortunes for
ever
The next day, at sunrise, we were
again on the spot, and proceeded Wits
and stTarueu -1rIr appiiances to the ut
most, and it was several hours before
we succeeded in getting it into position
on the surface, where we could examine
it. It was made, as I have said, of iron,
strongly bound and riveted, with lock
that seemed burglar proof. Fortunate
ly I had with me large navy revolver,
and, drawing this, I applied it to the
lock, fred it, and shattered all before
it. We raised the lid, and whatever
our expectations might have been, they
could never Lave approached the mar
velous reality. It seemed, for an in
slant, as if we had let loose a sea Of
fire, SO grandly luminous was the pic
ture presented to our astonished vision.
| When we had somewhat recovered
from our wonder and admiration,
and could proceed to de-
tailed examination, it was only to have
that wonder increased with everything
we touched. Huddled together in a
confused heap, as though pitched hur-
! riedly in without care and without
thought, were jewels and gold
enough to have ransomed an empire,
and in every form that genius could
conceive or art execute. There were
vases, cups, urns, fagons, chalices, cen
sers, all in frosted and engraved gold.
There were crucifxes, candelabrums, a
mit"e, an archiepiscopal ring, thurible,
and, in fact, every conceivable article In
the precious metals, used In the most
gorgeous church service. Next there
were tankards, goblets, punch bowls,
all sorts of family plate, heterogene-
ously mingle together; then jewels, I'M
til the eye wearied Of their briilancy.
| Beautiful coral and bells in richly
chased gold; bracelets, necklaces. mas
sive and heavily jeweled rings, watches.
brooches, all the thousand and one con-
trivances of an old-time bijouterie.
Then cloth of gold, and of silver; silks,
India fabrics of inconceivable fnencss
and priceless beauty. The chest was
lined with sandal wood, and the pun
gent odor of that most aromatic plant
filled the air and suffocated the senses.
That these were all the spoils Of rob
berries the most foul--that many on
them must have been obtained through
crime the most bloody and terrible, we
well knew. Churches and cathedraas
had been sacked; ladies bondoirs ha6
been violently robbed and their inmates
probably abused and maltreated-yet
this knowledge could not divest this
mass of treasure of it's indefnable
charm.
Hours passed while we turned oven
and examined the various articles; ti1e1
!, we commenced to transport them care
fully TO our boat, and thence OH boari
, the schooner, continuing this task anti
we had entirely emptied the chest, which
[ we then lowered again into the pit AMI
: covered with dirt.