Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-21

[On City Derrick.
The ordinarily quiet little town of Frank
lin, up IN Venango county, has sensation
just now which is indeed a sensation. Col
umbusE Brown, who lives in the First ward
in Franklin, one day this week discovered
hoard of old French gold amounting to
$4,000. For many years past there has
been belief that during the occupation CT
this part of the country by the French,
large amount of treasure was secreted in
Franklin, near where the old fort stood.
Columbus Brown has mania in regard to
this treasure, and for years the
thought of becoming possessed
of riches in this way has haunted
him. Mr.. Brown had many dreams about
the subject, but the most important one
was on last Friday night. Then he
dreamed, as usual, that he was counting
and handling chest of gold, and that he
had found it buried in the earth at the foot
of tree, in an open field. So excited was
he that he awoke, only to find it all
dream, as usual. He arose, walked to the
window, and there before him in the field,
stood the identical tree which he had seen
In his dream. But he put it resolutely
aside as dream, as most sensible men
would have done, and retired to bed and
to sleep. He had scarcely closed
his eyes till he was again in the
field and digging at the root of
the tree. He was informed in some man
ner, he cannot tell how, but by man with
a foreign accent, and in military uni
form with a sword and sash, that if he
would measure a certain distance from the
| center of rock in the run, due north, and
| then measure thirty three feet due west
from that point, he would find the treasure
he had so often seen in his dreams. EARLY
| on Saturday morning he arose, and procur-
ing a tape line, went and measured as he
| had been directed in his dream. What
was his surprise to find that each and
| every measurement brought him to the
foot of the chestnut tree in the open
field. Brown did not tell anyone
about his dream, nor of the re-
suit, but during the day he went to Col
Breakley, who owns the ground, land asked
and obtained permission, on some pre-
text, to dig near the chestnut tree. He and
his son, a lad sixteen, commenced digging
at the root of the tree and at depth Of
something over six feet, about D. NJ,
struck something almost under the center
of the tree which gave forth metallic
sound. A further clearing away of the
gravel and stones disclosed the sides or
end of iron box or chest. Wild with ex-
element they continued to dig until they
had unearthed the chest or box, which was
thirty-one inches long, twenty inches wide
and twenty-rour inches deep, or about the
dimensions of an ordinary trunk. Their
united efforts could only turn it over, but
could not lift it from the excavation. The
young man was sent for ham
merI and cold, chisel, and the lid was soon
removed. The sigA which met their gaze
was enough to turn the head of any man.
The box was nearly two-thirds filled with
gold and silver coin, furnished and cover
ed with sand and mold, but nevertheless
gold. The coins are mostly French, but
number of English, German and Spanish
are among the lot. They bear oates,
1923, 1744, 1851 and various other dates,
the latest of which is 1854, which is the
same year Fort Macnault was completed.
On brass ruler found in the chest the
name "Joncaire" is plainly stamped. 1t is
a we'll known fact that this was the name
of the officer in command of the French
troops. A careful estimate of the coins
makes total value of about $27, 200. The
coins we're placed on exhibition at the
banks. The fortunate owner has been Of
fered ten times their value for a single
coin.