Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-19
THE MUNCHAUSEN MEDAL.
Il Pennsylvania Man After It.
IOil City Blizzard. /

!Ol City Blizzard.j
The ordinarily quiet little town of
Franklin. up in Venango county, has a
sensation just now which is indeed a sem
sation. Columbus Brown, who lives in the
first ward, in Franklin, one day this week
discovered a hoard of old French gold
amounting to $4,000. For many years
past there has been belief that during
the occupation Of this part of the country
by the French, a large amount OF treasure
was secreted in Franklin, near where the
OLD fort stood. Columbus Brown has a
mania in regard to this treasure,
and for years the thought of
b ecoming 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 Fri
day 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 foo of the tree, in an open
! field. So excited was he that he awoke,
only to find it ali 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 1t resoiutely aside as
dream, as most sensible men would have
done, and retired to bed and
to asleep. He had scarcely closed
his eyes till lie was again in the field
and digging at the root of the tree. He
was informed in some manner, he can not
tell how. but by & man with foreign ac-
cent, and in d military uniform with a
sword and sash, that If he would measure
certain distance from the center of a
rock in the run, due north, and then meas
ure thirty-three feet due west from that
point, he would tind the treasure he had SO
often seen IN ms dreams. Early on Sat
urday morning ne arose, and, procuring q
tape line, went add measured as ne had
been directed III his dream. What was his
surprise TO ind that each and every
measurement brought him to the foot
of the caestnua tree IL the open
field. Brown did not tell anyone
about his dream, nor OF
the result. but during the day he went to
Col. BrealSley, who owns the ground, and
asked and ootained permission on some
pretext. 10 dig near the chestnut tree. He
and his son, lad sixteen, commenced dig
ging al the root of the tree, and at a depth
Oh something Over SIX loSl, GDOub K p L.,
struck something almost under tbs center
of the tree which gave forth a metallic
sound. 4 further clearing away Of the
gravel and stone disclosed the sides OF
end of an iron box or chest. Wild
with excitement they continued to
dig until they had unearthed the box
or chest. which was 81 inches long, 20
inches wide and twenty -four 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 ex-
cavation. The young man was sent for
hammer and cold chisel and the lid was
soon removed. The sight which met their
gaze was enough to turn the head of almost
any man. The box was nearly two-thirds
filled with gold and silver coin, furnished
and covered with sand and mould,
but nevertheless gold. The coins are
mostly French, but number of
English. German and Spanish are among
the lot. They bear dates, 1929, 1914, 1851,
and various other dates, the latest of which
is 1854, which is the same year Fort Mac
nault was completed. On brass ruler
found in the chest, the name "Joncaire" is
plainly stamped. 1t is well known fact
that this was the name of the officer in
command of the French troops. care
full estimate of the coins makes q total
value of about S27, 900. The coins were
placed on exhibition at the banks. The
fortunate owner has been offered ten times
their value for a single coin.