Smyrna times., 1888-10-31
Digging for Gold.


Six years ago a young man residing in
Wilmington went to Slaughter Beach
and thence to Hog Island, point on
the shore two miles south, where he
made an industrious search of several
days for hidden treasure. He had
been reading dime novels, and one
night after concluding Larboard-eyed
Bill or the Pirate of the Southern
Seas" he had a vivid dream. In his
fancy he saw Captain Kidd steal
around Cape HeniOpen, past the silent
town OF Lewes without taking on pi-
!ot, up the Bay to the point rejoicing
IN the classic name of Hog Island
Here boat was lowered, which by the
uncertain light of a ghOstly Young
moon shining throug riffs in the Clouds
| OF mosquitoes that hung over the
marsh, made three trips to the shore
Each time the boat was loaded to the
gunwale with Spanish doubloons and
JeWelry. A hole was dug forty strides
from large persimmon tree, the treas
ure deposited in iron chests, and all
the pirates took the awful blood oath
treasure.
AT this interesting point in his
dream, our hero was called TO 90 ON
duty, for he is brakeman on the Del
aware Railroad. He determined to
search for the treasure, and getting q
leave of absence, went to SIaug5tor
De9ch ana Hog Island. Armed with
PICK ana shovel, and revolver to de-
IehG MS wealth, he was ready to begin
WORK lie found a persimmon tree
with cross cut in the bark but not
tllI then did he realize that his dream
mad failed to give the direction from
the tree where the millions were bur-
led' lie measured forty strides from
the tree, all the time wondering whetb-
er Captain Kidd took long or short
strides. The first few carloads of
earth revealed no iron chests. and not
even bit of teak wood but remem-
Oerlhg That treasure is only obtained
oy eHort, our hero continued work
ana aug a great trench around the
Persimmon tree, forty PAGES distant
from 1t. Three days work revealed
hOGnlnS and the search was abandoned
LUIS summer, after six wears of wait
ing, our hero had another dream which
was repetition of the first. save that
the spot forty PAGES distant from the
Tree would be indicated bv the fnrtbast
shadow Of the tree at 10 O'clock ~
on the day when the moon was full
nope was renewed again in the breast
oI t1e dreamer. Recently he had gath
ered many points on the proper and
pfOhtaOle methods of searching for
treasure; and so in consideration of
9zO each, he sold to two Of his fellows
one-halt interest in the prospect and
[eIaIcl all his dreams and expectations |
On Friday Of last week the Marty of |
three went to Greenwood. where tho
iather of one of the young men resides
taxing a team they drove mvstcrions.
~ to Hog Island by wav of Slan0btor
Beach. There they displayed sharn
IRON rods FOR sounding the earth and
borrowed shovel. But the moon did |
no' SHINE oA Fril.y night. and the
treasure was not located. SATURDAY. tbo
weather was more propitious. The
moon shone and the party located the
spot at 10 o'clock. It was monnd
about ten feet in diameter and two feet
lIgh' AN IRON rod thrust into it was
stopped at depth of six feet by some
nara substance. Then there was ex-
'itement. Coats were thrown off. shov.
;'s were put in use, and while the sand
new ana the sweat rolled, many an air
'astle was built. At the very witching
lour OF midnight, when no signs of life
we're seen except the winking lamps in
ne hight houses along tho coast. and
lothlng was heard except the gentle
nurmur of the wavelets ripplin0 ON
ne pebbles of the shore. the sh0vele
produced GT a sudden and startling sound.
hey had struck pile of shells and
-nGian pottery, the last records of the
Island. az 1Aos
Sir. Edward Reynolds, of Slaughter
3each, will attest the truth of this
tory. Peninsular NelUs.