Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-02-09

pulling away the bushes and removing
such flat stones as seemed to cover any
thing that looked like an opening. H
finally came to large stone, weighing
perhaps half a ton, which seemed tt
move as he jumped upon it. Loolzin,
carefully about it, he found it was NIGEL,
balanced on another rock below, and b.
thought it would not be much work t.
roll it off, if he had a lever. Remember
ing large stick he had seen on the shor,
a short distance from where he wis, HI
started for it. As he jumped from tn
rock he saw alt iron bar lying on tn,
ground, partly covered by the bushes
that grew in such profusion abou
there. II guess I'm on the right tract
now" thought Charles, as he pickedit up
As he expected, the stone moved very
easily, and with little effort he sent i
down from it's position into the water
few feet below, leaving an opening O.
about three feet by two. THIS was the
cave, sure enough, and into the opening
went Charles. It was large room
partially natural and partially cut by
man. The foul air warned Charles MOI
to go in further, and he at once sought
the open air and returned to the house
to tell Nellie what he had found.
Both we're very much excited over the
matter, and it was as much as Charles
could do to dissuade Nellie from going
back with him to explore the cave-a
thing he proposed to do before he slept.
Taking a couple Of lanterns and as
much dry wood as he could carry, he re-
turned to the cave and went in. He
found the air much improved, and so did
not build his fire. Aftera careful search
he discovered place in the side of the
cave which looked as if it might be a
door. Getting his bar he soon had a
large stone removed from the wall and
this disclosed another large room. A
pair of steps led down somewhere, but
Charles could not see the bottom. The
place was damp and the steps badly
rotted. SO he did not attempt the descent.
Tying line to his lantern, he proceeded
to lower it down into the darkness.
About two yards down it suddenly went
out. He drew it up, relighted it and
tried again, with the same result.
"Well, there's bad dir enough there"
said he to himself as he drew it up again.
He then proceeded to make large fire
in the cave, and when well agoing, he
took q largo burning log and threw it
into the inner cave. It burned mo-
ment and then went out, but long enough
for him to see the size and depth of the
room. It seemed about twenty feet
long, fifteen wide, and about eight feet
deep from the door. Another log was
thrown in, which burned little longer,
but it was full hour before he got a
good fire and the air Of the cave purified.
He then went back to the house and
got ladder, and with this descended
into the bottom Of the cave. Here he
found three large iron boxes. They
were not locked, and opening the boxes
he found what the letter said, the money.
Closing the boxes, he went back to the
house and told Nellie what he had found.
Nothing more was done that night, but
the next morning both Charles and Mel
lie went to the cave and examined their
treasures. Besides the money there
were lots of papers, yellow with age, but
still IN a very fair state Of preservation.
Among other things was large book
tightly sealed and a letter tied to it di-
rected to 'The discoverer of these box
IS. Opening the letter Charles read
IS follows:
These boxes were placed in this cave in the
'ear 1921, by me, and for this reason: mar
led my wife IN January, 1921, and supposed
she loved me, but soon found out my mistake.
1t was my money she was after; and when I
eft her and came over to this island, where
ound this cave. [ remained here week,
thinking hard thoughts all the time. I went
pack home and tried to live with her. AS long
Is furnished plenty of money we got along
nicely, but if refused cent we had a quarrel.
IN May OF the same year came to this island
Ind went to work upon this cave. did all the
work with my own hands, and when completed
mnued most of my money here and left it.
ild not enter the cave again till the year my
listers child was born, whom I named Nellie.
t was at this time this letter was written. The
ealed book must go to my neice if she can be
Hlnd. In it she Will find daily record of my
lie, and take warning from it if she will, and
ut make earth perfect hell for her husband.
+ she sells the island all the money must 90
With it, but this book is for her and her oniy.
have hoped that the letter I left with the
Iced of the island might prove true and that
ne money may all go to her and her family.
1me Will tell. Hoping whoever finds this may
njoy life much better than have done. I wish
hem much Joy. EBENEzER BUDGET.
The boxes contained nearly 100000
n gold and silver, which Mr.. Wilson
carried to the house.
The book was, as the letter stated, q
complete history Of the life of the old
niser as he was called, though the many
references made to sums given away for
Charts able purposes proved him any
hing but miser. Between every two
caves of the book was placed 81, 900
tote on the Bank of England. These
Nellie took out as she came to them and
ound there we're eighty of them.
Charles wrote to the Jonathan Budget
o come on and visit them, as he had
business Of much Importance to commu-
licats to him. The next day brought
him, and Charles told him of the treas
ire he had found. Mr.. Budget refused
o touch penny of the money, saying
re had all that his father wished him to
AVE, and that was enough for him, but |
re would like many of the papers found
n the boxes, which Charles gave him.
The matter was not noised about at
II, and to this day the people of Can
onville do not know of the discovery of
he money ON the island.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson will spend their
ummers on the island, and it is still a
'reat place for summer visitors. When
ou go there next summer, for of course
ou will recognize the place although
he names are not correct, see if you can
nd the caves.
Tennessee's Mineral Wealth.
There is a wealth of hidden and visi-
lie treasure all along theline of the Ala
anna and Great Southern railroad from
chattanooga to Birmingham, distance
142 miles. On the Lookout mountain
lde Of the narrow valley through which
ne road rrns ia coo1 and ~, +bo ,;.h+