Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-28
EASTERN SHORE.
xoar ABOUT rHs REPORTED rrsD or
MONTY.
fAe Alleged Fortunate Man Interviewed
Something Concerning the History
OF the Farm.



,corr.spondence Of the Richmoud Dispa'ch.l
OSASoocK, February %, 1883.
The reported discovery OF hidden
treasure on the famous old Hack farm
on Nandua creek has excited so much
interest here that the dispatch CORE.
spondent visited yesterday the scene OF
the reported End and had an interview
with young Lorenzo Mears and his VEN
cradle father. who for number of years
mast have lived as tenants on this farm.
IN reply 70 the question as to
The amount OF money found they
both said that only few Old
coins had been picked up in the gerden
by Augustus Doughty, who married
sister of young Lorenzo Mears, but the
young man at the same time remarked,
with q significant twinkle in his eye, that
II he had discovered so large q treasure
as had been reported he would not be
fool enough to talk about it. One of the
coins found was seen. II IS an old span
;sh coin. strnck off in 1854 Old English
and Mexican coins are said to have
been fornd at the same time, aud
tbis bas caused some to believe
that the money found may have been
mart of tho treasure buried by Captain
Kidd. Blackboard, or some Of the other
pirates that rendeZyoused In the waters
of the Eastern Shore and preyed on mer-
chant ships trading with the Spanish
colonies in the West Indies. Mexico, and
South America during the latter part OF
the seventeenth and the first part OF the
eighteenth century. These pirates are
known 10 have buried much Of their Ill
gotten gains along the sheltered shores
NJ the salt water creeks of the Eastern
Shore. then covered with dense growth
OF mines and myrtle bushes. The inter
esting history of the place as preserved
Inv tradition and in old family records
would seem, however, to point TO dit
ferent explanation of the buried trea-
sure which for more than two centuries
has been believed to be buried some
where on the place. According to these
the farm on which the money is reported
10 have been found was originally taken
mn and settled by Devereux Browne, a
wealthy and eccentric Englishman who
came to Accomack from the Bermuda
islands about $780, bringing with him an
immense treasure of money and large
number of African slaves. In accordance
with local custom long preva-
lent here he buried his money
in the ground. and his slaves thinking
tLev knew where it was, murdered him
and hid his body in the woods Ihen
crime was detected and all those en-
eaged in the murder were executed
beng the first persons ever hung on the
Eastern Shore. DiGgent search was
made for the treasure. but none could b(
foupd. The farm then passed TO the
Hack family, the legal heirs of the origi
nal owner, In whose hands 1t remained
for five generations. The last owner
of this name was Peter j. Hack
who still lives in the neighboring vii
LACE of Pungoteague. The Hack farm
is one of the largest and prettiest OF
the picturesque Nandua creek. L
was for many years the seat o
refinement and a generous hospitality
All the waters in the vicinity bear Indlat
names. and the famous Qleen of Pungo
teague, who once ruled over large
tribe of Eastern Shore Indians. held hel
sylvan court only short distance below
the old Hack mansion. where large heap
of ovster-shels and extensive lme-banki
NAV still be seen. Not far of, on Deco
hammock creek. is the old burying- grounC
Of the Pungoteague Indians, where the
bones of warriors may now be seen pro
truding from the steep bank, which 1
fast washing away by the strong curren
in that creek. Some of these bo
dies were buried in massive coffin
bewn out OF solid logs of wood
Nearly two centuries had passed sine
the death of Devereux Browne, tn
original owner, aud the stories about tn
hidden treasure had almost been forgot
ten when some mysterious strangers ap
reared at the place and offered Dir
Peter Hack, the then proprietor, S2,OO
for the privilege of making excavation
about the yard and farm Ia search OF tn
reported treasure. This Mr.. Hack re
fused. but finally agreed to let then
conduct the excavations with the under
standing that he was to have $3.50 10
the damage done his property ant
one half the treasure i'll case any wer
found. The strangers commence
work at once, and spent several month
IN digging about the yard and along Ia
winding shores of the NGndua. The
found several brick vaults three or fou
feet below the surface of the ground
but none of these contained any tres
sure The search was finally abandoned
and the strangers went away. The ev
dences of these excavations are still Wis
BILE about the yard and along the cree
shore. One of these strange visitors ]
known to have been Welsh-the wealth
-four merchant of Alexandria-who
said TO have he'd accurate charts of tn
place and to have possessed much INFO
nation concerning the. former history
the locality. Allthese facts are well attes
ed by tradition and local family records
but fbelieve have never before foundthe
way into the public prints, and woui
probably never have done so but for ia
reported finding OF some of the ol
buried treasure, which has combine
with other things to make the old Hac
farm one of the most noted and inte
estipg on the Eastern Shore OF Virginr
IL ali the incidents of the locality coul
be collected and put into shape by ii
hand of literary artist they would for
story more thrilling and dramatic tina
many works of fiction and romance.
KAILIAs.
FiFTiETH CONGRESS.