The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-12
The Negroes Dig for a
Treasure Trove.
AT MlDNIGHT'S HOLY HOUR.
They Forget Their Terror of Panthers
in Their Fright at Demon.
MAMMONlSH RITES INTERRUPTED.

on one OF the islands the Wacssa may be overrated
by the crcdulous but unantiquarian rcad,r on nrst
perusai OF my first account of that incident BE IL
known that | do not claim for this strange
relic such a character or ascribe to II an
existence dating back into the prehistoric
ages | do not that the inscription
found on its base is composed OF hieroglyphcs In
nv first pen picture o. tho monument simply gave
rein to conjecture and those which then announced
conceive be both natural and probable But II re-
mains for acknowledged Swans to obtain II view OF
this wonder, il possible and render verdict TO tho
world upon its character and history. The doubt IN
the minds OF those learned gentlemen will be relative
to their ability reach tue island on which 1t is STU
aicd Al present there is only one route known to
any living boing. That is the ono traced by the
HERALD expedition.
FAILURE
1t was my purpose on the day following the discovery
TO cause my assistants make some effort to remove
the mass OF rock its he'd and transport across
the morass toward the HERALD camp. They shook
their heads at the proposition, however, and seemed
to think that IL would DO sacreg'ous 10 toppe over
possible divinity who had so long in melancholy soil
tudc ruled the isle.
"'Care to gracious, massa thinks dat ole chap take
his hans out his pockets and squash dis nigga If he
louch him.
ssDah dab l sees do blue flames a-comin out do
nose. Goodness, 'Hosaphat oh we's done gone took
now shua. Dis Is ole Baal hssclf an de Lords gwine
for TO try us like Danne"
With difficulty Gained this pious trcpidation, but it
Afforded an inspiration Tor the naming Of the place,
aud IL accordingly called the 'lsle Of Baa'' IN
harmony with the theory that the image is stone idol
The negroes during the night had been subject to
The drest alarms, which now, on my return from the
camp and the limiting Of the dabolcar character OF the
image they commenced to narrate, sitting on tho
fallen column aud seeming to abandon all idea OF the
necessity OF labor. Indeed, had it not been for the
Judges" forttude in remaining with them they
could have been persuaded even by torture to
ha passed the of darkness the island. They
now declared that tho devil himself, If he impedcd
their retreat In all his terrible panopy OF fire, could
not prevent them from fleeing from it before sunset
was reminded by this forcibe utterance of the swift
passage of time, and recommended the sable mutt
neers to commence digging up the IDOL with the added
threat that II not soon accomplished they
would certainly stay there until the next morning.
Two hours of labor failed to render 1t possible for
them TO remove it from its position They found 1t
too pondcrous to t and was forced to acknowledge
that the project OF carrying 1t out and presenting 1t
TO the Smithsonian Institution was just then mprac
ticabe. In order that 1t might not oppe over during
our absence caused the excavation to be filed, and
left to the ground nearly Its original appearance as
possible.
DIGGING TREAsUAK
now observed for tho first time signs Of fresh dig
ging about the PROSTATE column. This excited my
curiosity and asked what it meant
specs dere mus DO bones a.bured dere
boss an do wolves hab ben a-scratchn' for to hap
pick at en-"
Now, | had been informed long before that wolves
inhabt this portion OF Florida and the half laughing
halt ashamed demeanor of the negroes compelled me
10 suspect some more occult meaning of these marks.
The Judge was fortunately out OF hearing, prow-
ing about borders OF the island in search OF fresh
discoveries or would have missed n treat in the
icssion OF the negroes they would then have told
the story with less establishment The Judge
atcrward related the adventure to nc In his way.
and of the two versions conceived the following mar
ration.
DISCUSSION SUPERNATURAL
The uight had been Of raycss darkness. AS the
shadows began to fall, while the almost COM
petey yelled behind the of the forest, tho
groes showed early symptoms of dread and fear.
Gathered by themselves one side OF an immense
fire. while tho "Judgc" lay, tired and drowsy, the
other they talked in low tones oil some strange pro-
jcct, tho contemplation OF which seemed TO alright
them while it tempted them on.
"'Care to goodness, niggas, Iso afeercdl Amt
you? Dcys ko,ch u.s. shoa. "
mo, dcy amt gwine to kotch us dan 'sif We
stayed hycrc."
'Wal, IT'S rcythcr skcery. Pears like dcrc IS moa Of
danga a-srrin' bout dan dere is kecpln' close an
luieL"
The Judge heard this conversation family at FIRST
but the idea struck him chat the negroes
tion--that is. rctreating from the island while
he asleep and gaining tho camp Now
though the Judge" is a man OF proven
bravery, this prospect DID not please him. sooner
had the darkness fallen .han the whole party had
conscious Of wild ANNALS approaching the bvouac,
and the latter had prowl about
with sieahhy tread and angry breathing. The open
space in which the fire was built was surrounded by
dense underground that the enemy could DO SEEM
except that occasionally erce reflection OF the flames
seemed dartcd back from pairs Of burning eyes which
were like bloodshol blazing through vague dark
ness In lull OF tho negro patois he listened the
restless pace OF the unseen monsters still heard,
stealing round and round tho centre OF warmth and
light The "Judgc" felt no apprehcnsions of their
making attack long the logs kept blazing
in great pile but the thought of being deserted and
left alone watch his lre and thus lose rest and
Sleep together with tho strangeness and werdncss
their bvouac, alarmed him. But more of the talk now
Tell on his ear,
"DigY 'spose you don't find nunln. Make fools oh
voursels!"
ayes; but dere's, maybe, ralc Spanish gold dab,
,udcr dat stone. Yves gwinc to nnd sumhn wot,
den. you say? Wudn't you like oh dat you
wal less You hops US, y can't cit none on H. Yves
rwInc to wide 1t 'mong dem as wot works Dy
hcar."
sides de pumas koich you just as quick hyere fol
de Jcdge's asleep. as wild us. Yves gwinc to tote
torches an de gun long wild u.s."
The .Judgc's' apprehension turned to quiet ant
vo,celess laughter.
..wbo mt dat pot dere Jabc?" said Burncy
.p ,,rates wot prowIed about Cuby an of de udde
.s,,,ss Dew took dc ships agoln to Spain wild d.
k,,a,s treasure OATS do fishermen told dis emil
when he war a shaver"
.But wot's dc use ngwine on 10 dig dis dark night
Reckon its wort all dc gold dan's in Caliiorny Tor
90 way iro' dis fire dis bycrc night"