New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-06
COIN HUNTERS.
LEGENDS OF CAPTAIN KIDD'S TREASURE
ALONG SHARK RIVER
FRIGHTENED BY eHosrLY sHIp-oxB OF THE

| Plymouth, England TO rid tile sea OF some OF tG
pirates which infested 1t, he and his TO the
conclusion that 1t better TO be the hunted than
the hunters. They probably arrived at this unique
determination from observing the with which the
fastnying schooners OF the buccaneers evaded them
| and from catching glimpscs Of the many golden
doubloons In the pockets OF the black bowed. red
handkerchieed gentry who cuts boats the high
| They chose between small pay and hard fighting
seal police and unlimited aud fat merchantmen
| prizes sea-robbers. They turned pirates IL Is
said that Kidd objected to the turncoat plan at first
but IL remains fact that he became very daring
| leader afterward and industriously killed crews and
robbed ships until he, the wolf, was hung for lamb
by British orders for the small matter OF killing
By hitting him over the head with bucket.
But while the shone the scene Of Captain
Kdd's deeds Of piratical vaor he and his made
hay. He popularity supposed 10 have buried treas
ur in several hundred places along the Atlantic Coast
although there has been only recorded ind Of the
treasure, which that OF BcIomont Governor Of the
colony on Gardeners Island.
Money Hill is a small promontory iuttng out into
Shark River. No houses are near 1t. and the ap-
proaches TO 1t by land guarded by tangled masses
Of briar reinforced by thick growth OF scrub oak.
Three miles to the eastward be seen The shngled
roofs Of Avonby and BeImar, lying among the
trees either side OF shark River Inlet SO lonely Is
Money Hill that even the Joyous owner of clans TO
bake and the hilarious possessor Of bottled beer seldom
invades It's quiet, and the little cedars grow their blue
berries without danger from the grasping white hand
OF the summer girl But here Is where the native OF
the pines, the man who knoweth not the razor
grammar, nor the almighty dollar, held high carnival
with pick and shovel. Living in the sands, with only
the huckleberries and pine for company, his soul
was filled with eagerness the story that a
had told his greatgrandfather who had passed II down
the generations until IL arrived TO harrow the erstwhle
happy possessor Of small watermelon patch and corn
stalks that could be counted. The stories say that
used to Sec in the days long ago. when the inlet
was broad, deep bay, low black schooner standing
of and on at the mouth Of the inlet. At nigtall she
would run into the river, but at daybreak she would
disappear. fisherman once, returning to his home
at night along lonely path which wound through the
woods near Money Hill, startled by seeing a
schooner at anchor few hundred yards from the shore
and boat full OF men coming toward the beach. The
.errorstncken young ancestor Of Of the present
families OF the pines threw himself the ground and
prayed very earnestly for in those days ships would
venture into The lonely inlet at dead OF night except
pirates. he thought for they were the only ones sup
posed to know the channel except the few fishermen
He saw dozen bead eyed and brawny men, with heads
covered with red caps Chamber from the boat BY the
aid OF feeble glare from lantern, some Of them began
to dig. Others handed huge boxes from the boat which
appeared from their motions TO be heavy Flat on the
ground, the shivering fisherman watched them as they
worked, with the dim light gmmering their siivered
buckles belt and shoe, and making the red OF their
garments look like blood. He tried to crawl away
noselessly, for he suffering from powerful tIem-
bling, that shook his frame, but, alas, the usual twg
snapped under him. As he glanced his shoulder
he saw twenty pairs of fierce dark eyes turned In his
direction He gulped his heart back into its place
bounded wildly down the path. As he afterward gray
haired and infrm sat in the chimney corner he told
his grandchildren that there followed him curses in six
different languages down the forest pathway.
Then came the time Of the treasure finders. Wild
umors have swept over the pines at different times
Of certain families growing suddenly and mysterlousy
wealthy They were said to use very old fashioned
coins in buying. Old Indians were supposed TO have
purchased untold whskey and tremendous amounts Of
tobacco with queer looking money The name OF
Captain Kidd became a household word, and it was
the universal belief that he had buried fabulous
amounts on Money Hill. One history OF the time
Of the Revolution soemnly asserts that one old In
dian, being refused trust at tavern for drink Of
his beloved fre-water Immediately repaired to Money
Hill and discovered Captain Kidd's treasure He there
upon purchased such large and magnificent spree at
the tavern that the kind white urged him TO con-
fde in them and at once relieved him from the
responsibility of caring for much money.
Stories such these flew and do still ny
among the timbers at barn.rals-
ings and around the smoked hams Of
the grocery-stores They sound in the ears OF the
sand FOUNDER and make him smile with blissful an
tcipation. 1t becomes his ambition 10 dig and find
treasure Let his wife dream of dress with
beads on 1t, or of wheelbarrOw with gold handles
and he bitches up his trousers shoulders his spade and
sets out for Money Hill. Let him the new moon
his shoulder (some prefer the right some the lef
and he does likewise. They have tried dvining rods
and all manner Of uncanny spells. They have gen.
orally chosen the weird hour Of winters midnight
In which 10 overturn the frozen earth on the HILL
Every truly ambitious resident of the pines possesses
dream book and is startling TO find how few times
one can dream without dreaming Of something that
points to the sudden acquisition of wealth according 10
the books. Some have been known always to sleep
with new potatoes under their pillows One man,
they claim. regularly retips 10 rest with fall
of pumpkin seeds They believe that by Of the
potatoes and pumpkin seeds they will one day be in
spired and will know at once where to go for the
coveted Spanish dollars and gems Of the famous Kidd
Not more than two years ago welknown Wash
ngOn contractor land ii is fair TO suppose that Wash
ingtOn contractors Of liberal education ard
knowledge OF the world headed party that dug
all day on the hin.
A man and his son found three pins on the road 10
the postO1ice. They then went TO Money Hill ard
dug for hours without rest. II is worthy Of
mention that the lazy Of the villages thereupOn
refused TO find pins.
one party OF diggers had an alleged adventure that
sadly discouraged other people who had aptitudes for
digging This party went 20 the hill 20 dig in the
dead OF plight II cold. moonless night In
December, the lay thick upon the ground, and
the oaks in the bottom land below the hill, bare
Df leaves like undraped figures, shivered In. the
freezing wind. The pines the hilltop moaned and
threw their arms wildly about when Winter blew his
cold piercing breath upOL chem. The party proceeded
TO the top OF the HILL and By the pickering Eight Of
small candle lantern threw the snow 10 one side
and began 10 dig In the frozen earth, intersperang
their work with muCh stamping Of feet rubbing OF
noses and swinging II arms. 10 keep their blood IN
rapid circulation. They talked IN low whispers, for
each one felt and frightened. They east
many looks behind them, and started with terror
when a hoot-owl raised his slow SOLEMN call In the
tree above them. Their dim light went out and they
nudded together and listened. Then they heard the
long horrid grating sound Of chains rumbhng and
,wfll TO their ears Casting their eyes out
he river they saw a dark shadowy ship com
nc 10 anchor opposite the hill, and. As they
watched hde0us beads appeared over the buiwarks
and peered into each ones eyes. lhat
49, wild retrnrf frnmi Money Illll. Torn and