Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-07-17
SEARCHING FOR TREASURE.
supposed TO BE Sunk In n British
Transport.
Philadelphia Record

Capt. Thomas E French, of Atlan~
tic City, candidate for the superin-
tendency of the life>saving stations
on the Jersey coast has recently sue
ceeded in a long cherished design
the purchase of a tract of fast land
known as Chestnut Neck, on the Lit
tie Egg Harber river, where it is sup
posed British gold is buried. The
property contains 125 acres and is
situates in Galloway township. At
lantie county, abouttwelve miles from
the ocean, and is noted for its game
and fish. Capt FreRch is a famous
repository of local lore and droll sea
yarns. One of the latter of which he
spun to Vice President Hendricks the
other day at Atlantic City, which
threatened to asphyxiate taat states
man with laughter.
When boy he was told by an cold
inhabitant" the story OF q historic
skirmish that took place on The river
at Chestnut Neck between a party Of
colonists and detachment Of British
ers for the possession of a valuab Ole
English transport ship. The vessel
had been captured off the coast of At,
lantic county by an American privat.
eer, ana afterward run up the Little
Egg Harsor river to the fast land at
Chestnut Neck. Here she was run
aground and was supposed to be safe
from the cohorts of George ". 1t is
said she contained vast quantities of
stores for the British forces then
operating for the subjagation of the
colonies, and it is vaguely limited that
she had on board several chests of
gola for the paymasters of the British
armies. There was vendue of her
effects, which lasted for several days
and was attended by Jerseymen for
miles around.
One dark night, before the auction
GERS hammer had knocked down the
whole of her cargo, the British organ
lied an expedition to recapture her.
Their barges stole noiselessly up the
the little river, but before they reach
ed the spot where the transport laid
high and dry the watchful patriots
discovered them and opened fire upon
them from the banks. One of the
heroes of the midnight battle was
William Gaskitl, who was blessed
with cat-like eyes, to see IN the dark,
and which popularity is inherited by
his descendants. Tradition says that
every time he blazsd away at the
barges with his old flint lock an oar
dropped into the river. He killed II
men.
1t is not now known which party
was victorious, but the transport was
set on fire and burned. At a very low
tide her gaunt and charred timbers
can yet be seen sticking out from the
sand. The recollection of this episode
of the revolut ion had been forgotten
by every one except Capt Tom French
and few old residents. The captain
had for years entertained the idea of
pu chasing the wreck and adjacent
property. Learning that it was for
sale he quietly bought it. He is
confident that an exploration of the
wreck will reward the searcher for his
pains
There have been valuable pieces of
gold>mounted cutlery picked up in the
vicinity of the old hulk. The Town
send Wrecking company, of Somers
Point, hiss made proposition to Capt.
French to blow up and explore his
marine corpse for so per cent Of what
ever of value is found. 1t is believed
that enough copper can be obtained
from her to more than pay for the
trouble of getting it. In a couple of
weeks Capt French will orga uize
private expedition and begin active
operations in search of the supposed
treasure