Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-05-08
BURIED GOLD FOUND.
A Tenant of an Old Mansion I'm,
earths Over 100000.

A Tenant of an Old Mansion I'm,
earths Over 100000.
Wuen old John Stump died in the early
part Of the present century at his home at
Stafford, ten miles north of Havre de Grace,
Md, his heirs were surprised that they did
not find piles of glittering gold slowed away
f, in the little iron safe in which 1t was thought
that he had been heaping thousands for years.
Instead they found bundles of mortgages,
Deeds promissory notes and other papers
which certified his fortune to be 100000
forgot their disappointment in not discover
ing the bags Of gold. When, twenty-five
years ago, the house came into the possession
of Mr.. Stumps granddaughter, Mrs. Smith
son, Of Cecil county, the story of the buried
treasure existed in the neighborhood merely
as tradition.
A few years ago Mrs. Smithson handed the
old homestead over to the care of tenant
named Wilson He was told by his neigh>
bors of the tradition about the buried gold.
He was to practical to give credence to the
stories, but they had different effect uGon
Mr.. Wilson's brother, Alexander, who spent
his time pursuing the old books and papers
which he found stored away in the garrett
Two or three weeks ago, while Mr.. Wilson
was looking through ponderous old book he
found slip of paper which indicated the
locality of the hidden TIRE asure.
Two days later big hole was seen by
neighbor in the garden of the old Stump
farm. At the bottom of the excavation was
cavity from which oox about eighteen
inches square was removed. Farmer Wilson's
wife, to whom the discovery of the goll had
been relate !, had become so over-burdened
with the secret that she had to get another
woman to help her keep it. And the lucky
discovery which the Wilson family intended
should be kept secret has now bee )me pub
lie property, They feared that the heirs OF
Mr.. Stump would claim the money and that
they nigh be deprived of their suddenly &C.
auired wealth. Mrs. Wilson said that the
amount dug up was $3.50, 900 in old, but it is
generally believed by thoss who have made
estimates of the contents of the box that
about $50, 90 was found and certainly not
more than SIS, O0O At any rate the Wilson
family is comfortably fixed and the object Of
their neighbors envy.
The slip of paper is al said to explain
why Mr.. Stump buried his money. In 1872
British fl et entered the Chesapeake Bay.
and, after burning the capitol building at
Washington, sailed for Baltimore. While
Gen. Ross prepared to attack that city he
sent attachments northwaTd along the west>
ern shore OF the Chesapeake to burn the
towus and private residences A portion OF
this town was reducel to ashes and several
dwellings on the outskirts were sacked and
burned. Among these was the house Of Ad-
miral Rodgers, of the United States Navy
His silver was taken, but just before the war
was over the Admiral captured a British
ship, on which he had found his stolen silver.
Governor Trazen led the militia against the
invaders. Old j ohn Stump, who was then
much enfeebled by age, learned that stories
of his fabulous wealth had reached the ears
nf the British at Have de Grace and that
they contemplated an attack upon his house
to rob him of his gold. To save his money
he buried it. The intended attack was never
made and it is supposed that Mr.. Stump was
satisfied to have his treasure remain where
he had concealed it, and that he died before
he concluded to resurrect it, It is also
thought that ne feared sudden death and
to leave some knowledge behind him Of the
buried money he placed the slip of paper IN
the book.