The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-04-18
Old Bob the Ferryman.
The Story of a Faithful Old Negro
and his Buried Treasure.
THE SECRET OF A LIFE TIME.
$4,000 Brought to Light After Hav-
ing Been Buried Thirty-Seven
Years.
From the Elberton Gazette.

From the Elberton Gazette.
Old Bob was aslavo of Mr.. D. B. Cade,
of this county. Prior to tho late emanci-
patton Mr.. Cade had owned him during
the whole of his life. His master placed
him when very young at his ferry at the
junction Of Broad and Savannah rivers as
a ferryman. He was delighted with his
position, and came to be very successful
at his calling, and after he was assigned
to his position for life, as it was, his mas
tor told him that he would pay him for
his services ON Sundays If he would stay
at the ferry and attend to it. Old Bob
was proud Of the opportunity. for he
never left tho ferry If he could help 1t,
and always seemed satisfied when he
was there. His Sundays wages up to the
(Spanish coin) some time prior to the
May freshet Of that year. He had buried
his silver at the root of an old tree which
stood on one side Of the road which leads
to the ferry on the Lincoln side. This
tree was a noted place Of resort for the
people when Petersburg was in its most
fiourishing condition. The thick and ex-
tensiye branches of this tree made an
agreeable and pleasant shade, under
Witch the denizens Of the ancient city
have often met and spent hours of joy
and festiyity. It was only q few feet from
the bank of the river, and during that
freshet it was washed up and c,rried off,
and old Bob's money left buried where
the tree stood. He was there at tho ferry
at that time and saw and knew Of it all
but he was not alarmed in the least about
his money, for he loft it to rest where he
had placed it. He remained at his post
after this, and received his Sundays
,-,.Aa 49, 70 S1xn ftro0 ~ thu Lotto npO0r10I-
patton. It is not known what he did
year 1910. After the emancipation Of
Slaves he still remained there, although
he was coaxed by his children, who left
the ferry after freedom to 60 with them
and leave the ferry in the hands Of some
one else ; but he positively refused to go
and remained there until q few weeks ago
when death separated him and his below
oil place. For the last two years he has
been helpless and not able to do anything
by which he could procure food and
clothing. His kind and generous old
master feeling that it was his duty to help
him when he could not help himself, has
furnished him with the necessaries OF life
for the last two years and at his death
paid his burial expenses. ,
About ten years ago old Bob informed
! Que Ol Ills SOtlS Ludl ITO ltA ooAtO StAfSA
buried, and a few weeks ago (just before
his death) he informed another OF the
fact, and the place where it was deposited
and told the two boys t 60 to his old
master aud get him to go with them and
show them where the old tree stood, and
for them to dig there and they would find
his money. His old master instructed
one of his own sons, MI. d. B. Cade, Jr.,
to 90 and show tho negroes the place
where they might find their fathers hid
den treasure. They went with a sut11-
cheney OF hands and commenced the
search. They had made an excavation in
the ground ten feet doep and six feet long
whom one Of the hands struck a blow with
his pick into the side Of the excavation,
his pick entering the tin box that con
tainted the treasure. When he drew it
out preparatory to striking again the sill
yer caine falling down to the bottom OF
tho pit---it was only u feet from the sur
face of the earth. They continued the
search III that portion Of tho excavation
until they found four hundred and sixty
three dollars in silver. The money was
carried to Mr.. Cade, ST., who divided II
equally among the children, five in num-
Der.
Thus the great secret Of old Bob was
revealed Which created q great merri.
ment among the darkies. 1t is evident
that the silver has been buried tor thir-
ty-seven years, and thore is no telling
how much longer. Old Bob died when
seventy-tive years of aye, having spent
sixty years OF his life as u faithful ferry
MAIL. v.