Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-11
TREASURE TROVE.
A Romantic story of Conyict's Buried
Gold.

A Huntingdon pa letter says: Porter
township. this county, Is in fever OF eX-
citement over the finding of buried trea-
sure. consisting of gold nuggets worth
81. e66. by Warden Hoyt. of the state penl-
tontiary at Canon City, Colorado. The
warden got a tip Of the hidden wealth
from a life convict but recently dead
About fifteen years ago James Hoover, a
resident Of Franklin county, IN tins state,
IN order TO avenge p wrong done to his SIS
ter by a physician of that county, shot and
Killed the latter. Before he could be ap-
pretended he fed, finally locating at one
of the numerous mining camps IN Colo
RADIO. There he met man named George
Simpson. of Ohio, and the two, after
joining fortunes. finally struck II rich.
When they had amassed a considerable
fortune in gold dust and nuggets Simpson
fell i'll, and during MS sickness Hoover, his
partner, deeamped with all their wealth.
Fearing to remain longer in that part Of the
country Hoover decided to come East again
and brave the chances of being arrested
Hearing that his parents had moved from
Franklin county to near McCOnnellstOWn.
in this county, he came here in search Of
them. His search, however, proved
unavailing. aud as nothing could be
learned Of his parents no left the
neiChborlood Of McConnellstown and
started north in the direction Of Alexan-
dria twelve miles distant. When halt this
distance had been covered Hoover became
very weary with the weight of his treasure,
and, stopping by the wayslde on the farm
of Michael L. Brennenan, he hid his gold
nuggets under the roots of a white-Oak
tree. He then made q careful draft of the
surrounding country, entering into the
minufcst details. and after famillarlzing
himself with the surroundings he resumed
his Journey.
Hoover's frutloss search for his parents
continued until the latter part of the year
1873. when he returned to Colorado with
ont taking with him the gold nuggets
which ne had buried on the Brenneman
farm. On his second visit 10 Colorado he
encountered Simpson. his former partner,
whom he had robbed. and at first sight
both opened fire on each other, resulting
in the killing of Simpson. For this Hoover
was arrested. tried, and sent TO the State
pcnitentiaTy at Canon City for life. After
serving ten years there be died last month
Besides the draft of the place where
be had hidden the gold in this country
eleven years previously. Hoover left an au-
photography and q Will in which he be-
qucathed to Warden Hoyt, of the Canon
City ponitentiary and TO his own father
should the latter be found. all his posses
siOus. which consisted principally OF his
buried gold nuggets. Armed with the ne
Cc~-hrN papers, NaLutu nONi chulc Fast,
found HOover's father in a remote part of
Franklin county, and week ago the two
arrived in this city in search of the hidden
treasure Going to McConnellstown they
followed up the route taken ten years ago
by James Hoover. and by careful inquiry
located IN a general way the place where
the gold was hidden. On Tuesday of this
week they reached the house of Michael T..
Brenneman. and upon exhibiting to him
the draft of the ground found to their joy
that their search was about to be rewarded.
for Farmer Brenneman instantly recognized
the draft as a diagram of his property.
Leaving Mr.. Brenneman, as he says,
stupefed by their startling recital, Warden
HOyt and the old man Hoover repaired TO
the foot of the white-Oak tree along the
roadside, and there. beneath its over
Topping roots. but little covered by the soil,
they unearthed the golden treasure which
eleven years before James Hoover, the
fugitive, had hidden.