Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-29
How one Conltderale Gold Went

Atneho N0n.l banner.
It will be remembered that at the
Gloss Of the late war a number Of
wagons, loaded with gold and silver,
belonging to the Confederate Govern
ment and the Richmond banks, were
robbed by struggling soldiers in
Wilkes county, near Washington.
There are men now living near Athens
who common report says got a finger
into the pie, and from the way they
blOomed out, paying in specie for land
and stock, gave good ground for sus.
plcion. As the money would have
doubtless fallen into the hands of the
Federals, no n blamed the boys for
taking this means to get their hard
earned pay. Men who we're present
at the sacking of the wagons say the
soldiers after loading up haversacks,
pockets and every other receptacle al
hand with the precious metal, hid
quantities of it in the woods
near by, while a wagon load ofthe bull
lion was dumped into a creek that ran
near the seen Of the robbery. One
soldier who was greedier than the rest,
took of his pants, tied up both legs,
aud thus made a pair OF saddle bags
by which he was enabled to carry off
a vast quantity OF gold. The writer
was living in Elberton at the time oil
this robbery; aud remembers that the
10y after its commission two soldiers
stopped al his fathers house for the
night, after first seeing that he
was a Mason, and gave into his keeping
more gold than a negro could lift. The
next morning they LETT for Madison
county and we heard of them
passing through GAINESVILLE. The
day after the robbery parties who
visited the place say that both gold
and silver was scattered along the
road like leaves, and a large am luut
was picked up. Since that time there
has been almost a constant search for
the hidden treasure. A negro barber
in Washington stated that he knew
where a box of the bullion was hidden.
and for u time he was pstted and
feasted on all hands, even detectives
from the Richmond banks coming out
70 work up the case. Bat it was soon
discovered that his story was all a
hoax. People have come from a long
distance to search for this gold, and
the woods around the scene has been
every foot secured time and again. A
couple OF years ago a man named
Cohen, who had bought the land
where the robbery was committed
conceived the idea Of turning the bee
OF the creek before mentioned, with
the confident hope Of uncovering tn,
untold wealth hidden beneath III
waters. 1t was q stupendous under
taking and required months of hare
labor; but he received not a nicke
for his pains. The bed Of the streau
was carefully searched, but neithe,
gold nor silver were found. Thi
seemed to have thrown a dsmper upor
the searches, as we have heard Of NJ
late attempts TO find the bidder
wealth, although there will doubtless
be fools enough in many generation
to come to keep up the excitement
In all probability there was golC
buried here, as the soldiers could mo-
have carried It all off, but they eitheI
afterwards returned for it themselves
or secreted it so securely that it vii
never be found. Mr.. II. L. Crawford
Of Athens, was a guard with thes,
wagons for a time, but left them I
few days before the robbery was com.
mitted.