The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-03-20
TREASURE TROvE.

A Rsminises0es q Guerrilla Warfare
-sixty-nve iThs1sand Doaiars IN Gold
and Silver rnsarthsd.
Prom The Cinctn,aa loasi~.
MARRow-BoxB. Cumberland county,
Ky., March, s.-During the last week a
sensation of considerable interest came to
the surface, which deem worthy of note
for the EnqHirsr. It was nothing more
or less than the discovery and recovery of
. vast amount Of gold, silver and precious
stones which have been buried since the
beginning of the war in small cave on
the farm of Robert o. Willis, one mile
south of this town. The treasure consists
of about $4,000 in gold and silver coin.
and about $4,000 tpresent valuel Of jew
e,ry, euoh as diamond rings, pins, ear
ings, etc. It appears that Mr.. Willis
placed all these valuables in an old su-
gar-kettle, which be buried in the extreme
end Of the cave, covering it over with
boards and loose rock from the side of the
cave. His wife alone he informed in re-
gard to the precise spot where the treas
ure had been secreted Of course It would
have been very imprudent to have In
parted such an important secret to any
other person or persons.
A few weeks after secreting all this
treasure, Mr.. Willis mysteriously disap-
peared. 1t is supposed he was killed by
guerrillas on the Cumberland river,
whittier he had gone with several head Of
cattle to ship to Nashville. Hewas never
heard of afterward. and his wife mourned
for him until the day of her death, which
occurred last Saturday, March l. Al
though she was well aware that there was
vast fortune buried in that cave, yet
she did not impart her secret to any per
son, and, having . good income from the
farm, and no particular need Of any OF the
money. 30 she thought she would let II re-
main there, as it was fully as cafe as it
would be elsewhere. Grief over the loss
of her husband. and having poor health
combined, rendered her somewhat care
less and Indifferent. She lived all alone
with an old negro man and his wife az
her servants and companions. They were
old elaves-belonged to her father-had
nursed heI in her infancy, and she was
perfectly contented. She had no children
or near relatives, anu few days before
death claimed her rs his own, she impart-
ed the secret Of the hidden treasure TO
these old servants. also to Rev. John ID.
Hogan, her pastor, and Neesrs. Owsley
and Gore her attorneys. summe1sd to ex-
ecute her last will and testament.
The treasure was found according to di-
rections, all safe and sound and IN frst-
class condition, and it was opened In her
presence. She bequeathed her jewelry
and 80, 900 TO her old servants. also the
old homestead, rich farm Of some two
hundred acres. The remainder she order
to be invested IN securities for her hus-
bands benefit, should he turn up alive in
twenty years. II not. that it be donated
to Catholic charitable institutions that may
be greatly in need Of it at that tune. In
Louisville, Ky., the interest TO be given
from now on yearly to the orphan asylums
there. This vast treasure was taken 10
Glasgow, Ky, yesterday, and shipped
from there to Louisville. where 1t Will be
deposited for the present with the Safe
Deposit company. The old colored ser.
wants who are thus abundantly rewarded
for their devotion expressed the wish that
their portion Of the treasure be invested
for them, As they did not wish TO keep II
in the house, fearing they would be muir
dered for it,
The cave wherein the treasure has laid
undisturbed so many years has been visit
ed the last few days by many curious per
sons. and our citizens have been greatly
excited over an event OF such extraordina.
ry interest.
forgot 10 mention that Mrs. Willis be.
queathed 81 900 to her home paper, tn,
Glasgow ,Ky.) Times, which she a.sert,
in her will, was a source Of great comfort
to her in her sorrow, bringing weekly
news from her old home in Barren county,
Kentucky, and thus, for once in the his
tory Of the times, newspaper is kindly
remembered in "a last will and testament '