The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-13
THE w HEN
MURRELL'S HIDDEN MONEY.
A Party of Georgans Digging for Buried
Treasure Under the Direction Of Negro.

MACON. Ga, Aug. 1.-THE people OF Twiggs
county arc greatly excited over an attempt to
recover soras OF John Murrels hidden treasures
A man in Macon recently had . dream, which
worried him so riuch that he decided to have it
interpreted He heard of q negro living in
Montgomery. Ala. who could interpret puzzline
dreams. anG he was sent for. A few days ago
ne appeared. on the place Of Mr.. John Stokes,
farmer of Twires, and held long conversation
with him. and this is the result.
The negro had evidently interpreted the dream
Of the Macon man. and IL was o dream OF
money. The interpreter had with him an in.
strument which rssembled q small candlestick.
The base Is silver dollar, to which il attached
q silver rod, on the top of which spins large
needle, suggesting q compass. With this in
strumsnt ne proposed to Mr. Stokes to locate
spot on his land where $75, 900 in gold WAS
buried BY the famous John A. Murren. He
proposed that o party OF men be formed to dig
for the treasure. he to receive $1,000 for his
share. the other three negroes who were to as
sist him IN digging $1,000 each, and Mr.. Stokes
to have the rest He said that his instrument
had never failed him and that the treasure was
there.
Mr.. Stokes laughed, but the neRro's earnest
meas decided him to humor the man. The agree
ment was duly drawn up and the three negroes
engaged we're Dick Stephens. Smith Calhoun
and Barrett WALL The dream interpreter pro-
ceeded with his instrument to designate the spot
whore the digging should begin tho next day.
On the edge of Mr.. Stokes field, at the foot of
ridge just back OF the Harry Salomon place the
needle of the instrument. heretofore passive.
began to swing around End point in certain di-
recron- A stake was driven down as indicated.
Another point made and another stake was
driven. and so on until square Of ten feet was
staked- The instrument was placed 10 the CEN
far roff q and fha rSaHfa md
slowly.
This work was to begin early next day. The
negro told Stokes that the nearer they sp-
preached the treasure the faster the needle
would spin. He also SAID that when they began
digging the buzzsrds would collect In the near
sest trees and great quantities Of blowing flies
would make their appearance.
Bright and early next morning the party went
TO work. The instrument behaved the negro
said it would, and the buzzards and blowing flies
made their appearance. IL Mr.. Stokes and the
negroes had any doubts as to the dream man 8
ability to point out the spot. or that the money
was buried there. all such doubts were removed
that morning The deeper shey went into the
ground the faster spun the needle and the more
flies appeared. Such news as the finding OF great
buried treasure soon spread over the settlement,
and numbers CT people went out to see how the
work was progressing. According to arrange
mept not . word was spoken by the workers.
Every thing was dsne By sisps. Not one Of the
party was allowed TO use tobacco during the
work. and it was also agreed that one of the par
ty should now and then drop on his knees aud
pray.
No attention Was paid 90 people who gathered
around them for curiosity, and their strange ac-
tions, coupled with the fact that so large sum
of money in gold is to be found. has caused the
people to stop work and 60 to Mr.. Stokess place.
It is said that some Of the people built rough
shelters and camped out to be on hand
when the treasure Is reached. Yesterday morn
ing the digeers were still at work and had gone
down into the earth fifteen feet. The needle is
spinning around rapidly. the buzzards are
perched in the neghboring trees and the blow
ing dies there In swarms.