Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-14
A Treasure of the War.

N%-'N-
Pine mountains, was continually on the
front with band ofscouts. We penetra-
ted the Y Yankee lines time after time, but
always to return TO headquarters with
the same report. Sherman mad one of the
grandest armies in the world, and he was
in such strength that he could fight John
stOn in front aud flank him at the same
time.
One day, when scouting between Mari
eta and the EtOwah river, the Federal
cavalry passed and cut of my retreat by
the highways, and for six or seven hours
l was obliged to sscrete myself in thick
ct, IL was in lea ftH. this hiding place
that l came across a dog which was
doubtless owned in the near vicinity, but
had been frightened Into the woods by the
skirmishIng. He took to me kindly, and
had logged my heels for half an hour
when he quickly leaped aside and began
paving the ground at the foot OF large
beech. i halted for moment and saw
that the earth was fresh, as If grave had
been dug. 1t was but natural to con-
cIude that some one had been shot near
by, and that his comrades had given him
burial.
Upon closely examining the tree l
found the tresh-cut initials, sd. 5. g."
They were not where one would have
looked for them, but within three feet of
the ground. l had no doubt whatever
that dead man rested there, and picked
up stick and drove the dog away under
the impression that he was hungry and
determined to get at the body. 1 sue
ceeded after a couple of days in getting
back into the Confederate lines, and the
incident did not occur to me for long
years.
One summers day in 1870, while was
going from Rome to Gainesville, | formed
the acquaintance of a stranger who gave
his name as Charles Gains, and who claim
ed to be q Nirginian. He said he was
looking for improved land, and had been
advised to locate near Marietta. This
story was straight enough, except that l
did not believe he was a Virginian. He
hadn't the look nor the dialect, and when
| came to quiz him about certain lOca-
lions around Richmond he soon became
confused.
was then detective in the employ of
several railroad lines, and 1t was only nat
ural for me to ask myself why this man
had lied to me. l took pains to let him
know that l was willing TO answer all his
questions, and directly he began asking
about the section of country between
Marietta and the Etowan. He wanted TO
know the value of land: If much forest had
been cleared since the war; if there had
been any finds Of treasure around Mariet-
ia, and various other things. He worked
the answers out of me without seeming TO
be more than generally interested, and
while l was somehow suspicious OF him,
| could not exactly determine on what to
place my finger But ne had lied. Why
| 1 kept asking myself this question, but
could not answer it.
Hehad a ticket to Gainesville, and be-
fore we reached that place had made up
my mind to go on with him to Marietta.
What decided me was this: He sat on the
outside OF the seat, and passenger going
| to the water cooler knocked his hat oil.
/ Itrested for moment in the aisle, and l
| plainly read the name Boston" inside in
/ gilt letters. The name of the maker was
/ above il, but l could not catch it, No hat
sold in Richmond would bear the name OF
/ Boston. Where did he get it? By and by
! made q careful examination of his boots.
! He never bought them south of Ohio.
! decided the same in regard to his CLOTH
! ing. He was trying to deceive me. What
! object could he have in view?
When we reached Marietta both of us
went to the same hotel. Thought he be.
gan to fight shy of me and took pains to
keep out of his way. During the evening
be asked several towns people in regard
to the country north OF Marietta, and en-.
gagged of livery man a saddle-horse for
next day. / did heap of thinking that
night over the strangers case, but when
| morning came L was none the wiser for
| it. His horse was brought around after
breakfast, and be rode of l was tempted
to get another and follow him, but by
what right? What had he done or what
was he going to do? went up to my room
on an errand, not yet decided whether 70
90 or to stay, and in the hallway my foot
struck a memorandum book. carried il
into my room. and the first thing my eye
caught was the name inside the cover,
George Paige" 1t was a well-Worn
book, and nearly full OF entries. Most OIL
them seemed to relate to trips between
Boston and Providence, but near the back
end l found one reading:
about ten miles north of Marietta
Ga; turn to right where highway bends
| to left; 20 into the woods about ten rods
| look for twin beech tree with initials ID.
5. g. cut low down."
MY heart gave jump. That was the
spot where the Yankee cavalry run me
into hiding, and those were the initials
had seen on the treei Had this stranger
come down to unearth a skeleton! l was
wondering over the matter, when l heard
the clatter of hOofs and knew that he had
returned. He had discovered the loss OF
his book. Now, then, 1 did what you may
call mean trick. ! pocketed the book.
got down stairs without being seen, and
went to the nearest justice and demanded
a warrant for the arrest Of George Paige
for robbery. Before be had ceased looking
for his lost memorandum a constable made
him prisoner. Meanwhile l had engaged
a horse and wagon, borrowed an empty
tea chest and spade, and, as Paige went
to Jail drove out oft0wn. wanted TO un.
earth that skeleton myself.
1t was six years since l had left it, but
had but little difficulty in finding the
grave. although the beech tree had been
cut down. IndeedlI walked almost straight
to it, and though the initials were indis.
tinct, they we're there as witnesses. In
half an hour l had unearthed the
corpse" He, or 1t, consisted OF a rotten
coffee sack wrapped around a moldy blue
blouse, and inside the blouse were three
gold watches, 1920 In gold, $1203 in
greenbacks, half dozen gold rings, fine
diamond pin, two gold bracelets, a gold.
lined cup, full set Of cameo jewelry, a
solid silver back comb. and about four
pounds of silver spoons and forks, the
whole hnd being worth 70 me nearly
$4,000.
The stun had been deposited there by
two or three or perhaps half dozen fora.
gers, and much oft had been stolen from
the dead on the battle fields.
When the treasure mad been secured |
drove on to Cartersvllle, and from thence
sent the horse back and telegraphed "a
Paige my regrets NJ his situation, as had
discovered my mistake in accusing him
He was held a day or two and discharged