Wichita eagle., 1889-04-30
pai1S eagle
HIDDEN WEALTH.
The Secret Disclosed by the Diary
Of an Old Soldier.
An Eccentric Man Dies In Poverty, Leav-
Ing Hidden Hoard Of Wealth-Scores
of Men Engaged In Hunting
the Treasure Trove.
Up, srsburg Cw. va) Cor. Cincinnati En-
qufrer.l

CPs srsburg Cw. va) Cor. Cincinnati En-
1 entleman who has just arrived from
an gerland "trip TO Southwestern Virginia
tolr me the following story, which emu
lates, II IL does not equal, that Of Captain
Kids hidden wealth. The story Is told in
his own words:
''After several weary days Of travel by
railroad, boats, wagons and tramp con-
Veyance, / arrived at the settlement bear.
ing the name of Abingdon. 1t is a quiet
little hamlet, far away up In the mount
aims Of South western Virginia The
houses are mostly built of wooden mate
rial, some frame, and some of them of the
same material and style of architecture
adopted by the earlier settlers of this coun-
try-4og cabins, the simplest, cheapest and
most convenient of all houses. Terra firm
the floor, aotches or pegs the stairs, while
section chopped out of log In one end
leaves q vacuum which, reminding one of
a port-hole in an abandoned, half-dflapi-
dated old fort serves bota as window
and ventilator. The stout, hearty occu-
pants attested the hygienic blessings Of
this style Of abode.
~ was boCdunc bA4S OS0uShAui tlsstO fol-
ley and the neiguboring mountain cur
tanned the treasure trove of John CrismO,
and the excitement which prevailed over
the discovery OF his diary, that went so
far out Of my way.
John Cri mo was young, hearty man
a. the cine OF tns trouble with Mexico in
AS, and when the declaration of war first
SOU I'd in New York State be enrolled his
nal rs volun teer. He served as brave
soldier during the war, and was one of the
first of our triumphant army to march
through the streets that once echoed TO the
tread CT the Aztec and the voice of the
Montezumas. Before he left be became en-
gagged to beautiful young lady Of his
neighborhood, and the wedding was to
have taken place on his return from the
tented field. Buoysnt with hope he
marched to war, and never heard a word
from home until his return, and then be
received the sad intelligence that bis loved
one who was to be the light and life of his
future, had died. He visited her resting
place for few moments, and then disap
peared forever from the place that had
known him during his early life. He went
to Pennsylvania, and from there to Ohio
where, under an assumed name, he lived
the life of a misanthrope
When the war of the rebellion broke
out he went East, and at Harrisburg en-.
lisi I'd in one of the Pennsylvania cavalry
regiments.
the mountains Of Virginia the
regiment to which Crismo belonged
was encamped for a time on top of
a mountain tsst overlooked valley about
a mile wide 0cd three miles long The
whole valley. with its fields, streams,
plantations, buildings and droves Of cattle
belonged to an eccentric, rich old bachelor,
James Grierson. Grierson was believed TO
be one of the richest and most misery
planters in the South- His whole farm was
devoted to stock-raising, which industry,
with he assistance of thirty slaves, was
carried on most successfully. Grierson
was reported 30 have an immense amount
of money, in gold and silver, hidden some
VIII 9 on the farm. Crismo learned of this
fac fro4 one OF Grierson's slaves, whom
he bad agreed to free, and this slave, an
old negro man, agreed to show him where
tr money was hidden. During the Sec
oasd night of the stay Of the cavalry Girls
m and the negro went to the farm, and
G negro showed him whore the money
Y hidden, behind the barn, underground
"a 1t two feet They dug up the money,
which was principally in gold and packed
away IN small bags Crismo loaded his
horse and that of the negro and took
it up the mountain in the direction
of the camp. When few hum
DIR, yards distant from the camp
he dered the negro to go on into camp
an to remain there while he bid the
M 'ey. After the departure of the negro
Or mo led the horses OF iato the woods
and hid the money in a place which he
marked, intending TO return after the war
and get it, Before the war ended, Grismo
became an invalid, and after his discharge
he wandered about over the country, par
tally dsmented, never even apply ing for
pension He finally worked his way into
Texas, where he remained on large ranch
in Pecos County until he died few years
ago. Not until after his death was his real
identity discovered In an old diary which
he had always kept about ais person was
found the above account with a statement
that the amount of gold hidden away was
not less than $50. 060 in IS, SIC, SIS and $50
pieces. With the story OF the capture"
as be called it, of the gold, was an accom-
panying draft something like this: