The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-01-21
TREASURE DIGGERS.
HIa Calling In New York fEe SaHCpr-
fuI Rod OF fFOrtune-(sOId or Human He


faI Rod OF 2FOrtune-(IOId or Human Re
mains
What do you think" said wealthy
property owner on the East side to a Mer-
curry reporter, yesterday 4 middle-aged
man asked me whether | would permit
him to dig in my cellar for a treasure
which he believed was buried there"
Did you give him permission asked
the reporter. 'No, | thought he was
crazy; he told me long rigmarole about
a rod of fortune, by the inclinations of
which, as he had passed my house, he
knew that there was money buried in my
lot on Allen street. When | turned n
deaf ear TO his representations be said |
would be sorry for it," The reporter
copied the address which the treasure
digger had left, and repaired to a base
ment near the foot of RivingtOn street,
where he met the seeker after treasure.
He was a man of about fifty, with a gyp-
sy-like complexion. The basement in
whicn he lived looked like cross be
tween Junk shop and chemists labora-
tory. He acknowledged he was profes-
sional treasure-digger. he was native
of Alsace, and spoke German and French
fluently. His father had been a success
full treasure-digger in Alsace, aud his
grandfather had been chief of gipsies.
He had possessed the evil eye. Where
ever he appeared farmers and peasants
han paid him not to look at their cattle.
His most valuable property had been an
old rod of fortune, which lie bequeathed
to his son. The latter had made good
living by discovering hidden treasure
through the indications of the rod. Be
tween 1880 and 1850 his father had thus
unearthed forty old chests with gold and
silver-notably one at Colmar, contain
ing upward of one hundred thousand
francs in gold crowns. His father had
died in 1857, and he had embraced the
same profession, his principal exploit had
been the discovery of large vault under
:he palace Of Nancy in 1861, where
number of coats of arms of solid gold and
silver were found. During the Franco
German war he rendered the French gen
erals valuable services as Il spy. Taken
prisoner by the Prussisns, he escaped,
but was sentenced to death, and his prop
erty at Guenwiller cOnfscated. Two
wears ago he had come to New York, and
commenced selling his grandfather S pre-
scriptions. AS for treasures buried in
New York. he said his rod of fortune had
indicated the presence Of good many i'm
various parts of the city, and he had re-
covered three of them. The rod was of
very dark wood. and ornamented with
narrow strips of gold plate. No Profane
eve must see it. In his hand, but only
on certain days, when he passed houses,
the ground in front Of which was broken
open, it would incline, and thus indicate
that treasure or human remains were bur
led. This alternative had deferred seve-
raj people, TO whom he had applied to dig
in their cellars, from granting it. The
rod of fortune, however, would "work "
only on certain days and under certain
consultations; nor would he dig for
treasure except at midnight during full
moon week, or on st. Johns (midsum-
mer) day. Another reason, he said, why
people had refused to let him dig on their
premises, was their belief that finding
hum IN remains would involve them in
trouble. Believe me" he said, as the
reporter babe him good-by, there isplen-
ty of gold buried on this island, and ]
could find it if properly encouraged" -
NeD York Mercury. -