Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-07-04
HIDDEN TREASURES.
circumstances Under Which Some
Have Been Discovered.
a Fortune In a Tea-Kettle- How Column
bus Anchor Was Found "A Lucky
Russian Peasant-Big Mug
gcts of Gold.


Russian Peasant-Big Mug
gots of Gold.
Among the many discoveries of hid
den treasure which have been chroni-
cled from time to time one OF the
most curious occurred number of
yeas ago in tho little burgh of
Fortrose, in Scotland. In raising the
clay floor of a very old house, for the
purpose of replacing it with some
thing more modern in conception, the
soil below was penetrated for some
little depth, and the spout of what
appeared to be a tea-kettle was ex-
posed. On uncovering the vessel it
was found to be of tarnished copper,
some ten or twelve inches in height,
and OF tho peculiar shape OF the water
ever or flagon used by Scottish
families in the fourteenth or fifteenth
centuries. The top was closed with
lid formed Of piece of lead three-
fourths Of an inch in thickness and APP
parently soldered to the fagon. The
vessel was remarkably heavy, and on
removing the lead it was found to be
completely filled with old silver coins.
There wero over one thousand in
number, and were all of the time Of
King Robert Ill, of Scotland, who
reigned from 1890 to 1906 They
were very thin, as was the general
character Of the silver of that date,
and somewhat larger than an English
shilling in size.
One of the most important and ex-
tensive discoveries of this kind was
that made u few years since by a
Russian peasant with an unpronounc-
able name in the village of Starogor-
sikh The peasant lived upon land
forming part of the estate of Prince
Ostersky, whose ancestors were plum
dered and expelled from their posses
sions by the Tartars, and in all
probability the treasure discovered
was secreted at that period. The
peasant was at work not less than ten
years in searching for the hidden
valuables, but the circumstances which
first instigated his search are moi
stated. He was rewarded, however,
by finding, besides numerous preciou:
articles and manuscripts, twelve large
boxes filled with very ancient coins o.
fine gold. The total value of the
find is given at 10000 600 roubles
two-thirds of which went to the State
and one-third to the lucky finder
making his share about $3,000,000
A very singular discovery, OF an en-
tirely different character, is thus re
corded. In 1869 an Arab boy, con
vert to Christianity, was taken pris
oncr by the Algerines, and sent tt
Algiers, where, refusing to abjurC
Christianity, he was thrown into thu
mold in which block of concrete wa
about TO be cast, and the block wa
aftcrward built into the wall of fort
In the year 1858 the fort was disman
tied and the Arabs bones were fount
in the block. the position of whici
had been noted by an ancient chroni
cler. A cast now in the Algiers Mu
scum was taken of the cavity in which
the martyrs features and even tn
texture of his garments are perfect,
preserved. His bones were placed in
marble tomb in the cathedral.
A very odd discovery was ono
made in Newburgh, N. Y, cemetery
While clearing up the grounds it be
came necessary to cut down larg
willow tree, which measured at it
base nearly five feet in diameter
When the men were ready to take tn
tree away it was found advisable t
cut tho stump in pieces, on account
its great size aud weight They there
fore sawed into it, and after cuttin
about fifteen inches from the surface
at a point some three feet from tn
ground, the saw grated across some
thing hard. Not expecting to fin
any thing but wood so far in the tire
they made several more strokes, an
stopped only when they discovere
that the sawdust was composed 9
fine, white powder--in short, marbl
dust The workmen then split tn
stump, using powder and axe, unit
they reached the curiosity, whic
nroved TO be marble foot-stone, l
the very heart of the tree. The fibe
or grain of the wood had grow
around it, and evidently had been to
noyerful for the stone, for it had bee
broken in two pieces, and the to
leaned considerably out of place.
snite of the utmost care, so firmly wa
;timbedded that it was found imposs
ble 10 remove it without breaking
and the memento was consequent
not preserved
A curious discovery was mad
.hout ten years ago in tree nes
,sta. Ga. A civil engineer wa
in running and locating th
'ot of land below the cit,
istance n deed drawn U
Ge and tweLty-one yeal
section Of the deed