The record-union., 1891-05-16
Special to the REcoRp-uNror.

Special to the RECoRD-UNToN.
TRUCKEE, May 15.-Truckee is feverish
with excitement over the discovery of a
portion of the treasure buried by the
Donner party in 1S46-47. There is not a
doubt about the authenticity of the find
or the identity of the money.
McGlashan's history of the Donner
party, in speaking of the second relief
party, says: 'Reed's party encamped
the first night near the upper end of Don
ner Lake. They had scarcely travelled
three miles upon starting from the
Graves cabin. Mrs. Graves had taken
with her a considerable sum of money.
This money had been ingeniously con-
cealed in augur holes bored in cleats
nailed to the bed of the wagon. These
cleats, w. c. Graves says, were ostensi-
bly, placed in the wagon-bed to support a
table carried in the back part of the
wagon. On the underside of these cleats,
however, were the augur holes, carefully
filled with coin. The sum is variously
stated at from $500 to $500.
"At the camping-groundn near the upper
end of DOnner Lake one of the relief
party jokingly proposed to another to
play game Of euchre, to see who should
have Mrs. Graves money. Next morn
ing Mrs. Graves remained when the party
started, and concealed her money. All
that is known is that she buried it be-
hind a large rock on the north side of
Bonner Lake. So tar as is known this
money has never been recovered, but
still lies hidden where it was placed by
Mrs. Graves"
The history proceeds to recount the
death of Mrs. Graves from cold and
starvation three days afterwards. She
buried the money on the morning of
March 8, lS47, and it was found yesterday
afternoon by Edward Reynolds.
Stewart Mckay employed Amos Lane,
keeper of livery stable, to take him to
the upper end of Donner Lake yesterday
afternoon. A commercial traveller by the
name of HuntSman went as far as John
sons Resort with them, and then took a
boat and went out on the lake fishing
This left an empty seat in the wagon at
starting, and Lane asked his friend Rey-
nolds to go along.
Reynolds is a stranger in Truckee, hav-
ing come from Sierra Valley last Tuesday.
He is a miner, and instead of going fish
ing, he went up on the side of the hill to
look for quartz.
Meantime Lane and Mckay had driven
on toward the head of the lake. Rey-
nolds' attention was accidentally called
to some dark-looking pieces of money
lying in plain sight on the top of the
ground. STOPPING down he picked up
ten ancient-looking dollars, and upon
scratching slightly in the earth uncov-
cred a large quantity of silver. Not
knowing the nature or extent Of the de-
posit he prudently covered it up. and
when Lane returned reported that he had
found the buried treasure, and offered to
take Lane in with him.
1t was resolved to drive back to
Truckee with Mckay and the drummer
without disclosing the secret, and to re-
turn after dark and dig up the money.
Their anxiety finally overcame their dis
cretion, however, and about O'Clock they
started back to get the plant, taking with
them pick, shovel and two barley sacks
to hold the coin.
They found the silver scattered over
quite surface of ground, and by the side
of the stone, in the place where Reynolds s
had uncovered the main deposit they
found hatful of coins. Darkness COM
ing on, they returned to town.
On examining the money closely it was
all found to be ancient, and all more or
less blackened, stained or oxidized, ac-
cording to the position in which it was
found. Suspecting that they had found
some of the Bonner party money, they
Glashan into the secret. They had found
Sl46 i'll silver, and a number of pieces
were of more recent date than 1S45.
This morning they returned to the lake
taking Stewart Mckay, c.. f. McGlashan
and Mrs. Nora McGlashan along as wit
nesses and experts. In one hour the
party found 50. Several pieces were
firmly imbedded in the earth, while
others lay loosely on the surface. A large
pine tree had been felled directly across
the original plant, and it is evident that
when the saw logs made from the tree
were snaked away they tore up the
ground and carried the money along
with them for a number of feet.
Logs and wood have been cut all around
the spot, and probably thousand men
have passed over the money since the
days when the railroad was built.
The place is in plain sight from the
wagon road, about 400 feet from the mar
gin of the central part OF the lake, oppo-
site the fishing resort of Johnson.
When it was learned that the money
was widely scattered and that it would
take days and perhaps weeks to find it all ,
Messrs. Lane and Reynolds erected a
tent over the spot and had it inclosed
with a fence. Guards are stationed on
the ground to protect the buried treasure
it still contains.
Some authorities place the amount of
money buried by the Donner party at
$4,000, and searching parties are already
being organized to make q systematic
hunt for the long hidden coin. From
present indications the hills on the north
side of Donner Lake will be covered with
treasure hunters tomorrow.
Reynolds and Lane will have the
money on exhibition at their tent while
continuing their part of the search.
The money they found would delight
the heart of numismatist. There are
old, antiquated coins OF all dates prior to
1S45, and of the most obsolete and forgot
ten marking. Coins from France, Spain,
Bolivia, the Argentine Republic, and a
number of other foreign countries be-
sides. A very rare collection of Ameri-
can pieces are included in the treasure
trove. AS relics of the Donner party the
find is very valuable, one hundred dol
lars having been offered for one of the
pieces. A Truckee hotel-keeper offered
ten dollars day to have the coins placed
on exhibition at his hotel. No arrange
ments will be made regarding the dispo-
sition of the money until it is known
how much can befound.