St. Paul daily globe., 1890-08-15
BIG FIND OF COIN.
Rich Discovery of Two Germans
in an Old House.


CLEVELAND, o.. Aug. 14.-Meager
particulars of find of gold and silver
coin on farm near Tiffin, Hancock
county, were published recently, but it
is only within few days that accurate
information concerning it has been re-
ceived. This is due to the fact that
suit is pending in regard to the owner
ship of the treasure, and the two Ger
mans who found it were unwilling to
say anything which might compromise
their cases. The treasure was found
by Michael Scheff, an old German who
was working for Jacob Schmucker, and
his story, which is now given to the
public for the first time. reads like a
tale of pirates treasure or a second edl-
tion of ''Arabian Nights"
Scheff says he had been working for
Jacob Schmucker, who had purchased
an eighty-acre farm three and one-half
miles southwest of Tiffin. On the farm
was brick house which had been built
fifty years or more ago, and which until
last spring had been occupied by ten
ants. Near the house and under con-
Meeting roof was an old Dutch oven,
between. When Mr.. Schmucker pur-
chased the farm the tenants vacated the
house, and Mr.. Schumacher was pre-
pairing to move in.
The house was almost overrun with
rats, and Mr.. Schmucker and his son
and Mr.. Scheff went there Saturday,
April 5, to eXterminate as many OF the
rodents as possible prior to moving in.
They had been diligent in their Slaugh
ter and killed large number OF the
pests.
About 4 O'Clock in the afternoon
Scheff chased rat into a hole in the
corner of the hallway. He ran to the
hole and tore up a brick in the pave
ment, and found underneath silver
coin of small denomination. He re-
ported to Mr.. Schmucker that he had
found money, and that gentleman
laughingly told him he could have half
of all he found, never dreaming that so
much treasure was soon to be unearthed.
Scheff then tore up more bricks and
threw out some of the dirt, which was
found to contain more coins. Soon
regular rats nest OF silver was discOv-
cred. The coins were mostly Mexican,
French and Spanish, and of different
denominations, ranging from fve-cent
piece to dollar in value, there being
many five-franc pieces. There were
enough of them to fill three peck meas
ures, and they were hastily poured into
a wheat sack and hidden. 1t was then
resolved to dig under the house, and
Scheff went back into the hall several
feet to start trench and get under the
house in that way.
He dug up the pavement and sunk his
spade into the ground and struck some
thing hard the first time. He dug down
to it and found it to be a large coffee
pot Having removed the dirt from
around it, he grasped the handle to pull
it out, when the handle came off, bring
ing with it the lid and scattering gold
coins around in profnsion. The coffee
pot was full of yellow money, mostly
American, and in denominations of 81,
$3.50, $5, $40 and $40, and as bright as if
it had just come from the mint.
Scheff's breath was taken away. He
gasped moment and then yelled for
Schmucker. That worthy no sooner
saw the treasure than he took charge of
it, pouring it into sack after first CIV
ing Scheff two $40 gold pieces.
Schmucker's son afterward gave him
French forty-franc piece, worth be-
tween 81 and So.
After they had sifted all the ground
thereabout Scheff took mattock and
tore up the floor of the room over the
place where the rathole went under the
house, and here they found more silver
scattered all about doubtless by the
| rats.
The most startling part of Scheff's
story is yet to come. Digging up the
ground here under this old room the
two men found human bones, and there
| is little doubt dark crime was buried
with the treasure so many years ago,
doubtless, that the mystery of the gold
is unfathomable now.
| Mr.. Scheff does not know the value
| of the treasure, as Schmucker took
charge of all of it without waiting to
| count it in Scheff's presence, but he es-
| timated it at from 900 to $50, 200. He
| is angry because Schmucker refused to
| divide with him, as he had promised.
and has retained prominent Tiffin at
| tOrney and entered suit against
Scbmucker for $4,000.
Ira Cadwallader, son Of former
owner Of the property, has also brought
suit to recover the money. claiming
that it was buried years ago by his
| mother in the early days of the Western
| reserve. Cadwallader got out writ of
attachment some weeks ago and tried
to secure the treasure. When the sher-
| iff visited the Sehmucker place he found
| Un6 SACK OF silver COIN. d1t6r long
search, carefully buried in the onion
bed in the garden. Its contents were
appraised at 81, 1O0 by the court. The
gold coin could not be found, however,
and the frugal Geaman and his wife
had evidently hidden it with great care.
Cadwallader's chain of evidence is said
to be very incomplete, and their is little
likelihood of his winning the suit. Mr..
Scheff, however, is very confident OF
his case, and has done very little work
since finding the treasure. expecting
that his share of it would be enough to
| keep him in luxury the rest of his days.
Among the coins in Mr.. Schetf's posses
| sion are four silver pieces dated 1911,
1912 and 1913, and none Of the silver
coins found by the sheriff was of later
date than 1885. .,