The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-01-04
Treasure Trove.
WHAT FAITH IN A DREAM DID.
.LspesIal BY rolegraph 70 .ne rlmes.star

| LSpe,lal by Telegraph to the Times-Starl
! NEW YORK, December 19.-This morning.
| Journal prints an exclusive story from Frank
| lin, Pa, which tells of sensation which tina
town is enjoying over discovery which will
serve to rekindle the ardor OF the hunters fol
Capt. Kidd's buried treasure. The dispatch
says:
Columbus Brown, who lives in the FRS
Ward OF this city, one day this week, discov
cred hoard OF old French gold amounting tc
$4,000. For many years past there has beer
belief that during the occupation of this part
Of the country by the French large amount
of treasure was secreted in Franklin, neal
where the old fort stood, and close by the
ancient house of Capt. Smith. which is now
occupied by Professor Salinger as u residence
Z Columbus Brown had a mama in regard to
this treasure, and for years the thought Of be-
coming possessed of riches in this way had
haunted him. One Cay last summer too French
inen with maps and charts OF the locality and
who were said to have been descendants of the
old French commandant appeared in Frank
lin and stopped at the Exchange Hotel, re-
naming several days. They were very reticent
as tothelr business. They provided crow
bar and pick and spade, and made excavations
and went probing about in vacant lots and
various places in the Fifth Ward, frequently
consulting their maps and plans !; but as far as
was known they found nothing and finally
went away. 1t was supposed AZ the time they
were searching for lost treasure, of which they
had some information or clue.
There was some speculation and comment
at the affair OF the Frenchmen. IL was men
toned i'll the local papers but in time, like the
the hundred and one incidents anu accidents
OF every day life, it was forgotten by all save
MI In do
for treasure which were unsuccessful and he
said nothing about tie matter tor tear OF ex-
citing ridcule Mr.. Brown had many dreams
about the subject, but the most important one
was on 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 xcited was he that he awoke to lind
1t all dream as usual.
He arose and went to the window, and there
before him in the field stood the identical tree
he had seen in his dreams. But he put it res
olutely aside, as most sensible men would have
done, and retired to bed and to sleep. He
dreamed again. He was digging at the foot
OF the same tee. He was informed by . man
with Il foreign accent, in a manner which he
can't explain, that if he would measure a GER
tain distance from the center of a 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 OfLen seen in his dreams.
Early on Saturday morning he arose, and
a tdDe-line WentanC made the meas
as directed in his dream. He found |
that he was brought directly to the foot OF the |
Tree. Keeping his information To himself |
Brown visited Colonel Buckley, who owns the |
and on which the tree Is situated, and asked |
md obtained permission, on pretext, to dig |
10 nt no fraa He |
7ear-old boy commenced digging Immediately. |
Six feet unuer ground their spade struck some |
metallic substance almost directly beneath the
rec. A further digging away Oh the dirt dis
closed the sides anu end OF an iron box or
chest. Wild with excitement, they continued |
% dig until they unearthed the chest, which
Vas LWentyone inches long, twenty inches
vide and lwenty-tour inches deep, or about
he dimensit MS OF an ordinary trunk. Their
United efforts could not lit it from the excaVa-
ion, and could only turn it over.
The young man was sent for hammer and |
,hisel, and the lid was hurriedly removed
the sight which met their gaze was enough
10 turn the head OF almost any nun. The chest
Vas two-thirds full OF gold ami silver COINS,
and covered with Sand and mould,
)ut nevertheless gold. The coins were mostly
French, but number OF English, German and
spanish are among the lot. they bear dates
I729, 1744, 1751 and various Other dates, the
atest being 1904, which Is tue identical year
Fort Machault was completed. A brass ruler
Ound in the chest has the name "Joncarre"
stamped or cut on it. THIS Was The name of
he officer in command OF sne troops. The
ort was evacuated in 1853, AMI very hastily.
The location of the field in winch the treasure
Was discovered is about seventy-tiYe rods south
)f the fort, and was no doubt selected with
view to mislead the Indians and OF recovering
t at a subsequent date. The evacuation OF
.he French was, however, final, and the nearest
post they possessed was Fort Niagara, more
han a hundred miles distant, with a wilder
ness filled with Indians between, SO that it is
1ot singular they were never able to recover
he treasure. A careful estimate of the coins
makes q total value of $27 900. The COINS
were placed on exhibition at one OF the banks. |
Mr.. Brown has been offered ten times the value
or single coin. He of course, feels highly |
elated over his good fortune.