The sun., 1886-12-16
BURIED TREASURE.
A Cuban Refugee Hides Fortune
In q New York Park.
Lie Checksred Career After His Flight and
,ubscQuent Return to Havana-A Ro-
mantio story Whose Truth Is vouched
For by . Reputable Firm.
: IN. T. World.1

IN. 7. World.1
The attempts from time to time to locate
the spot where Captain Kidd buried his i'll.
gottsn gains, and the unearthing Of acre
after acre of real estate with the hope OF
coming across the treasure chest of the IL
lustrious pirate, il familiar to all. The
scene Of the search Tor gold is likely to be
transferred to Central Park with the pub.
lcation OF the following romantic story.
A firm Of reputable lawyers in Broadway
will vouch for the truth Of this story:
At the end OF the year 1879 or 1880 Senoa
Don Juan Alvarez (the name is fictitious,
rs the attorneys for the family deem it ju-
dicious to withhold the real name un.
ell the mystery is cleared up), a de-
scendant of one Of the oldest and
noblest families Of Spain, then living in
Havana, was the leader OF one OF the rev
olutionary parties Of Cuba. Its chief aim
was to overthrow Spanish dominion and to
make the island Of Cuba independent OF
the mother country. A well-conceived
revolutionary movement was being quietly
prepared when Alvarez, betrayed at the
last moment by q confederate to the Span
ish police, was forced to fly for his life
With the assistance Of his political friends
he managed to leave the island disguised
as a steward on board Of an outgoing
pleasure yacht belonging to an English
nobleman. As soon as his fight became
known ali his fortune and real estate were
oonfiscated by the police.
Alvarez was OF a philosophical nature
and felt but little disheartencd at this mis-
fortune. He remained on board the yacht
whose owner was ignorant of the rank and
title of his steward, for many months,
travelling around the world, whom, finally.
tired of his new life, he left the English
lord when the yacht touched at Alexan-
dria, Egypt, and there obtained the posi-
tion Of intendant to q rich Turkish mer-
chant In this capacity he remained as
satisfied as ever, when q new incident oc-
Cured in his eventful career
Arabi-Bey made his coup d'stot; the En-
g'ish bombarded Alexandria, which, be-
fore its surrender, was pillaged by the ma
tives. During the rillage Alvarez's life
vas spared, but his master. the Turkish
merchant was killed, his house ransackei
and every obj ,ct of value contained in it
stolen. When the English re-entered the
town and order was again restored Al
varez found himself safe but penniless;
his earnings, which he had accumulated
since ne left Havana, having been stolen,
together with the merchants money.
Alvarez remembered that the merchant,
ut the beginning of the bombarlment,
had gone down to the cellar and remained
there a long time. Tho idea suggested to
him was that the merchant, who was very
wealthy. might have hidden q part of his
fortune in the cellar. Watching his op-
portunity. Alvarez went down to the Gel.
lar, and, after searching found tin box
containing gold pieces and notes of the
Bank of England, which, all together,
were worth, in American SPoney, about
one hundred and thirty thousand dollars.
This he appropriated, knowing that the
merchant had no relatives, and then, be-
ing again the owner of a fortune, his mind
tu ned to his own country, to Havana,
where, before leaving, he had left q young
senorita to whom he was engaged.
He left for London and from there took
passage for New York. Arriving in this
city, he Immediately made arrangements
TO go to Havana. His fortune he had un-
til then carried in a belt around his waist,
Tut on the eve Of his departure for Havana
be thought it imprudent to carry SO much
money to a country from which he had
gone as fugitive; and where, il recog-
nized, although now somewhat changed in
appearance, he would undoubtedly be ar
re ted He knew from experience that il
this was done his money would be confis
cael. Distrustful by nature, and not
knowing soul in New York, he went to
the only public place he knew-Central
Park-.nd there buried his fortune, which
amounted to S110 600.
The next day Alvarez sailed for Cuba
where, as be had feared, he was recog
nized, arrested and the money he hac
about him, nearly So 600, confscated. Ths
| ransom at $50, 900.
The young girl to whom he had been en-
gagged learned of his return, and visitet
him several times in the prison. He re-
lated to her his adven lures, and they con
cluded the best thing for them to do wa
for her to go to New York, with the neces
| sary instructions, to unearth the money
| buried in the park, bring it to Cuba, pa,
| his ransom, and together they would leav
| the country with the remainder Of thei
| fortune. But, as she know nothing abou
| New York or, in fact a word of English
| Alvarez resolved to write TO q gentleman
| well known in this city and whose reputa
tion is equally as we'll known in Havana
| and ask him to escort her during her sta
In this city, promising for his trouble lit
| eral remuneration.
This was done AMI shortly thereafter
favorable rep,y came from the respons
lie New York citizen. In the correspond
| hnx~ <hn II
| which was shown the reporter, though tn
fact Of the money he buried was stated. n
| mention or clue was given as to the spo,
Alvarez evidently not caring to II
trust the secret to any one excer
the young lady. All arrangements wer
made for the young lady's departure an
her reception in this city, when Aware,
who had contracted a malignant diseas
In Egypt, aud whose treatment in the G,
ban prison was almost barbarous, die
suddenly before he could reveal to hi
sweetheart the hiding place of his fortun'
After his death q thorough search WI
made among his effects in the hope {
finding soms information. which migf
lead to the discovery of the money.
trunk, which had been seized by the Cuba
rolice, contained several plans and dil
grams supposed to have some reference
the hiding place in Central Park. tn
fact coming to the ears Of a few Of Alv'
rez's friends, a sufficient amount Of mono
was paid to purchase the trunk and
fuller explanation of the drawings n
vealed them to be plan Of the fortifcs
tions about Havana. All further attemp
proving futile. tbs hop, Of ever securin
the money was abandonel ], and in all lik
lihood will always remain so
In concluding this strange story of Alv'
rez's wealth. it might be we'll to state tn,
the park police have been given strict o
ders to arrest any one seen entering Il
Dark with rick or shovel.
In Need Of New Laws.