Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-23
A HIDDEN TREASURE.

One dismal, rainy evening in the fall Of
1857 wayfarer entered a country inn In In
diana and secured lodgings for the night.
He was sailor, he said, and was on his way
to a town twenty miles distant, where he had
relatives. He was a stout built, rugged look
ing fellow, but next morning he was found
dead in his bed The above facts were clearly
established, but certain other fact could
only be surmised Word was sent to the
dead mans relatives, the coroner took charge
of the remains, and all personal effects were
turned over with the remains The de-
ceased had few dollars in money and few
trinkets, but the relatives at once claimed
that he had been robbed of valuable papers.
The proprietor of the inn was veritable
Yankee, including a hawk bill nose and the
legendary twang, and his vito was his coun-
terpart. He was known TO be sharper than
steel in horse trade, and he never put out a
dollar that he did not get big interest; but
no one believed he had rihed the dead mans
baggage. When the relatives were asked
about the nature of the alleged valuable
papers they refused to answer, and this eva
sion threw doubts on their allegation In a
few weeks the affair blew over, and IN about
three months the landlord and wife began to
feel lonesome for the hills Of old New Hamp-
shire This was an excuse for offering all
their property for sale, and SIX months after
the death of the stranger Ia the hotel the
place passed into other hands.
The next scene opened in New Orleans. l
was then employed by Blank & Blank,
wreckers, as general manager OF the bust
ness. We had three vessels, steam pumps,
divers, and all other necessary apparatus l
was called into the private office one day,
and there found Jonas Stebbins, the hook
nosed Yankee who had sold out his hotel in
Indiana He had something to say, but he
hestated to say it. 1t was half an hour be-
fore we could bring him to the point, and
then only after the three of us had placed
our hands on small Bible, which Stebbins
had thoughtfully provided for, and sworn
never to reveal his secret. Then he brought
forth two letters and map, and we saw that
another buried treasure crank had struck the
CITY. Such incidents were not uncommon.
In the five years l had been manager We had
encountered a full dozen of these cranks, and
on two occasions the firm had lost heavily by
entering into partnerships which failed TO
pan out. As soon as Mr. Stebbins unfolded
himself he got the cold shoulder, but he
would not take it that way.
Look here" he said, as he tilted his chair
back, ''do you take me for foolW
"Wen, partly"
''Do you think / want partnership in it,"
Don't your
ssNot by a iugful! l want to hire schooner
and crew and divers by the week for SO many
weeks. All are to be under my orders, and
am to have all that's found Partnership!
No, sir-eel What's your lowest figures"
He had shown us a roughly drawn map Of
the Bahama Islands, one executed with pen
and ink by some sailor He wanted a schooner
to proceed to one OF the islands. All the APP
paratus he wanted was grapnels and divers.
He might want us three weeks, but probably
not over two 1t was finally agreed that he
should hire by the day. He beat us down
So on the figure named, and an iron clad
agreement was drawn up and signed, and he
counted out 81 600 in gold. A sum sufficient
TO pay us for three weeks was deposited with
4 banker, and we at once began preparations
for the trip. 1t had been stipulated that
Mrs. Stebbins was to go along, and We had a
stateroom fitted up for her.
This was the first time any treasure hunter
lad put down his own money for an expedi-
ion. and we could not doubt that Mr. Steb-
pins had what seemed TO him straight clew.
L was not our business to throw cold water
IN his plans, even though we were firmly
that he would return empty
landed. The firm decided that / should go
tut in charge of operations, and a couple OF /
laws after the contract was signed We were
IF for the Gulf. l expected the Stebbinses |
% be nervous and frustrated, but there was
lot sign of it. They were as cool as if /
,oing on visit to a relative. As we were
coing down the river, l said to him: "Now
hat the contract is signed and we are under
way, suppose you had as soon tell me about .
our treasures" +
s'Wau. neo,n he drawled; "you might leave
he schooner somewhere and try to cut in
head of me, OF we may be wrecked before
We get there I think you are honest and
traigbt, but l can't give you the exact loca-
ion.n
''No, indeed, we can't" added Mrs. Steb-
ins.
You see, it has taken every dollar we
ould rake and scrape, and if we don't get
hat treasure we'll be busted"
But you seem to be certain of getting itn
''Oh, yes!" they replied in chorus.
''Is the amount larger
They looked at each other moment, and
hen Mrs Stebbins replied:
'Jonas, l think we can safely tell him
ONE few things, for he seems to wish us
Tel"
Eyes, guess So"
well, then. we expect to get about $780,
Do, more or less. in gold and silver"
YES, that's about the fgger," added Steb-
ms, land as we are both getting along in
ears it Will come in handy. If you had
lat much money, Mr. Marvin, would you
w farm or move into a cityF'
They seemed so firmly convinced of the
zistence of the treasure that l felt it my
uty to warn them of possible disappoint-
lent.
Eyes, we might possibly fail, but faint at
u likely he replied 1--WE amt the sort of
eople to put up our last dollar on an uncer-
Unity"
mo, Jonas. we amt" added the wife.
"Was this treasure deposited years agof' I
;ked
"Yes, good many years ago"
ION lands"
They looked from me to each other, and
uiled in knowing way. Because 7 con-
nued, there can't be q rod of any OF the
ahanas, nor bay, nor cove on the shores,
1t what has been explored over and over"
Exactly" replied Stebbins. as be arose to
il over the rail If anybody has found
e treasure then we shan't get it,"
"Of course we shan't," replied the wife, and
at closed the conversation.
Neither one OF them had been to sea before.
id while We were running down the Florida ,
asst both were terribly ssasick. They were ,
ound again as we came up with the cape,
,wever, and when the captain asked Steb-