The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-01-12
HIDDEN GOLD.
THE SEARCH FOR CAPTAIN
KIDD'S BURIED WEALTH.
A Party OF Men Digging in a Con.
necticut Cave-PIoughing up
New Jersey Ground in the
Fruitless Search.

in the cave. Some years ago, a report
was started that gold was hidden in the
eve-probably part of the mysterious
wealth that Captain Kidd buried-and
on several occasions spades and pick
nes have been brought into play, the
work generally being done in the night
time. A year or so ago a number of men
visited this cave night after night, ex.
cavating dirt, which they drew up in
baskets and threw out of the mouth of
the cave. They finally withdrew, leav-
ing their tools behind them, but whether
they carried away any treasure is not
Known. The members of the party just
formed evidently think their predeces-
prs did not take it all.
Over in New Jersey there is a rise of
ground called Money Hill, on the bank
Of the Shark river. Money Hill got its
pame from an early belief that Captain
Kidd made it bank of deposit. In
isct, it is quite certain that he did. A
good many people have dug into Money
Hill; few years ago two sailors came
there, dug hole. and went away again.
ut is said" they left rusty iron box by
the side of the hole. and that some
ncient coins we're found near the water
ide, where they re-entered their boat.
That was fever flesh and blood could
not resist. The entire neighborhood was
roused, and Money Hill and the whole
north bank of the Shark river was prod
ded with spades. But no more iron
boxes filed with ancient coin were
hund. But did that settle the mattera
Not at all. Last month the disease
roke out again, as virulent as ever, and
number of men went to work to I'M
arth treasure from the side of Money
Hill. If they discovered any chests of
spanish dollars they kept the matter
scret.
A search is now going on for an i'm
nense lot of private treasure buried on
Turneffe Gays, off British Honduras.
IOhn B. Peck, former journalist Of
Washington, is the man who leads in the
uterprise. A few years ago he came into
losession of information that pointed
the sinking of a small pirate vessel,
vst filled with gold, on Turneffe, which
"a coral key. Peck obtained conces-
ion to dig for the millions, agreeing to
ny the government ten per cent. of all
be treasure he found. Since then he has
bade two expeditions to the spot, on
Eae of which his ship was wrecked, and
n the other he broke his tools and re-
Hned to this country for more. He
ls succeeded in getting people to put
p money for the expenses of these AL
entures, they to be repaid out of the
uried gold-when 1t is got. This Peck
1T New York for the trip early last
aonth.
Two years ago a resident of Nan
aeket was digging in his cellar for
nter, but he missed that, as did Dow of
BOWS Flat, and struck gold instead, or
nd that he did. 1t was an iron chest
lied with Spanish doubloons. The en-
ne island was IN blaze of
rcitement, and many, if not all
ae cellars in the place were
hg over, though no more iron chests
're upheaved, nor did any more Span
70 doubloons clink on the laborers' steel
hides. About the same time digger
T industriOusly upheaving the soil
nspoint off Mount Desert in the belief
aat Captain Kidd had strayed that far
''rth to hide the vast accumulation Of
F'ld and silver that he had taken from
e treasure ships ofall nations-that is,
nations that had treasure ships.
This bloody old piratical Englishman,
10 was finally legally put to death for
" crimes, has led many men on FOOLS
e'snd. For a hundred years people
ave been digging at different points be-
'sen Delaware Bay and Rhode Island,
'sarch of buried treasure. The labor
upended in this direction would, at a
war day, buy all the gold and silver
W goods and ships that Captain Kidd
eaole. lisa mere superstition that
ever buried anything. The $4,000
20 and silver he carried into Boston
ESPECIALLY all he could command, for
Aangman's moose was already dang
slnst above his head, and he would
arally do whatever he could to pro-