The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-07-18
OUR STORY TELLER.
CAPTAIN KYD's TREASURES.


At many points in the vicinity OF
New York, along the Hudson River, on
Long Island and in New Jersey, there is
an ineradicable faith among the local in
habitants in the existence of vast sums
Of buried treasure supposed to have
been concealed by that redoubtable sea-
wolf who has been represented in an
ancient ballad as singing:
"ohl my name Is Captain Kyd,
And most wicked things did,
As sailed"
In the neighborhood of the Shrews-
bury River, N. j., local tradition is most
positive in affirmation of chests of gold
and Jewels sunk in the ground some
where about there, and there are ancient
fishermen who will swear that they have
seen the goblins, specters and demons
popularity supposed to guard that treas
ure. Some confirmation of their aver
ments, the credulous may find in the
fact that on every occasion when such
apparitons have been seen, it has sub
sequently clearly demonstrated that
spirits had been about at the time or
very shortly before. Indeed one vener-
able oysterman, Uncle Dan Racket,
one particular goblin that they have
got spon quite friendly and social terms,
and says the old man: "He looks SO
gDod-natured at me ] do believe he'd
give me a whack at the money if he
wasn't afraid the others d play merry
with him if he went back onto his
Job as watchman."
The superstitions about those buried
treasures have grown instead of weaken
ing by time, have strengthened in gen
Grafton, after generation, but there
is less consequent exertion for
the recovery of the lost wealth than
there used to be-much less than one
would naturally expect when there is so
little doubt Of its existence. Forty
years ago, or even twenty-five, nearly
every able-sodied man near Shrewsbury
River had borne his part in the general
turning up of likely spots. But, singu.
larly enough, hand in hand with the
conviction that his wealth is there, goes
another that it is useless to search foI
it, since it is guarded by devils whose
magical arts a,e always sufficient to be-
guile or frighten away the seekers.
Hiram and Charles Greenwood, fisher
men, who lived near Red Bank, thirty
years ago, were at the time among the
most persistent seekers after "Kyd'l
buried millions"
Their belief in the practicability O
unearthing the treasure was about tn,
only thing in which they agreed, for NJ
two men within ten miles around, OF
land and water, were on worse term
than they, brothers though they were
Each had so fully made up his mind t.
get that money, that he more than hal
regarded himself already as its rightfu
proprietor, and looked upon the other
persistent search as a wicked endeavo
torob him of his own. So they went ou
fishing separately; solitarily meditate
and speculated upon the possibilities O
the future as they baited their hook
and drew in their fnny prey; dreame
wild visions of wealth and power as thei
exhausted frames lay in hard-earned re
pose in their separate cabins, and each
when he fancied some presage in drear
had vaguely indicated the spot where
should dig, would HE him out alone i
the night to delve hopefully, but eve
in vain.
Hiram, the youngest brother, was th
first to weary of this contest, and mad
some overtures for a combination {
forces to his brother, but they wei
scornfully rejected. Then he dete
mined that, for time at least, he woul
content himself with watching Charlt
at work, so that if Charles should be
lucky as to find anything he woul
pounce upon him with demand for a
equal share of the find.
Night after night he followed Charlie
N.xvlt III L L l.
the stunted bushes, behind clumps {
trees, and even in the water, managin
always to keep near him, yet without b
presence being once suspected.
At length his patience seemed likel
to be rewarded. He heard ,Charles's ma
took strike some metallic substance in
shallow hole, saw by his eagerness an
excited gesticulation that he had foun
something unusual, and at once sprar
from his concealment with shout
"half Is mine claim halfp
"Claim what you like, you'll g
nothing of this" replied Charles, in
tone OF menace, standing guard over Il
hole he had dug.
Il dreamed Of this spot, and was iu
coming to dig it up" argued Hiram
mo odds to me what you dreame
I'm here nrst, and all there Is belongs
me, answered Charles.
Angry words and threats followed u
til Hiram sprang upon his brother and
desperate hand-to-hand fight ensue
Fortunately neither had any 9th
weapon which he could use in clio
quarters than his fists, but both we
strong men, stimulated almost, If n
quite, to frenzy, and their combat W
a furious one. They fought until bo
were exhausted, and then fell togeth
across the shallow hole in which lay,
they believed, the splendid stake for Dc
session Of which they struggled.
What the real valueof that stake W
they learned when, having patched
temporary truce, they Joined In di
ging, and unearthed-an old broken ca
iron chowderpot. EH ~
Some party Of excursionists had use
and doubtless accidentally broken t
old utensil, and had then tumbled It in
hole, where il was in time covered
the drifting sand but to this day the
are old residenters in that neighb,
hood who firmly believe that VIII
Charles Greenwood's mattock stru
metal IL was indeed Captain KY,
Treasure chest, from which It reboundt
but that while the fight was going