The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-13
cAmDEN's BIG HIDDEN TREASURE
Dying Confession of the Soldier Who Hid it
-OriginaI Documents Describing the
ocation Brought to Light.
1The State. 10th. I

The story of large amount OF hid
den treasure buried during the late war
by Yankee soldiers near Camden has
! oft been told in the newspapers through
out the land, but accurate Information
as to the locality has been wanting and
all diggings have resulted in finding
nothing. Now, however, the original
papers in the case have come to light,
and The State has received them from
Solicitor P. H. Nelson.
The story runs that Seargt. Rhodes,
Yankee soldier during the war, to-
gether with some comrades, got the
money from along the line OF march
: and buried it in the old churchyard
mentioned below, and that Rhodes sub
sequently, thinking he could secure it
all, took it up, put it in a sack which
he threw across a horse and carried it
to another spot, where he buried it. He
valued it at 100000. The fortunes of
war left Rhodes far away, and seeing
he was going to die, he made out u
statement as to its location, and sent it
to J. H. Gibbon, in charge of the United
| States mint at Charlotte, \. G.. BY
Mr.. Gibbon it was sent to Col. VIM. f.
/ Johnston at Camden, accompanied by
the following:
L. S. Bk. MINT, y. CAROLINA,
CHARLOTTE, s Jany, 1866.
Col. VIM. Z. Johnston, Camden, S. e.
DEAR SIR: In order to decide the
question of the concealed treasure near
Hanging Rock Church requested that
the proper directions should be pro-
vided. l enclose copy of them-and
hope you will be able to institute sue
cessful search-tno' I think the state
ment indistinct. saw your Senator
Gen. kershaw a few weeks since in
Columbia S G. and think he would in-
terest himself in the enquiry.
He told me he knew Hanging Rock
Church from the graveyard ofwhich it
is supposed the property was removed
by the wounded soldiers.
Ifnow discovered, think the trea-
sure will prove to have been brought
from distance and to belong to distinct
parties who have been robbed along
the line of march of the invading
army.
cannot doubt the kind intention Of
the person who communicates this
information with the hope of being able
to return the property to its original
owners.
Will you do me the favor to let me
know the result of the inquiry orsearch
and believe me very respectfully, your
obedient servant, j. H. GIBBoN.
P. SIN case Of success would it not
be we'll to advertise descriptions of the
articles and call upon claimants for
sufficient proof
The dying statement of the sergeant
is as follows:
TRUE COPY.
Near Col. Shotwell's or BardwelPs
plantation S. C.-cross Lynch's Creek
at Hanging Rock-below the old mill
take the foot path up over the hill
and follow it until you come to the
swamp and when opposite the Pitch |
Pine Tree-on the right hand side of
the patch-go on twelve (12) PAGES |
south of the tree-to sugar Tree.
Fall east as the arrow marks on the |
tree indicate-and measure eleven (1l)
paces-then 60 north five (5l PAGES
and Oh the west side of thorn bush is |
the spot. There is large gravel rock |
same buried on tie surface.
HERMAN r. RHODES,
Sergt. GO. L., 18th hy. '. '. l..
These papers are now made public in
the manner stated and it is only neces-
sary to add that search has been made
in the locality mentioned according to
the Instructions and still the treasure
has not been found.
Since the above was written it is
found, by reference to The State of
June S, that reference was made to the
documents ahSlthe amount is
given az Sl63,0O0. This report also
gives rumor that the spot had been
found by two Yankees named Rhodes
and Swaggert, the former brother of
the Rhodes now mentioned, about this
time, and they had secured and made
off with the money. The report as to
this finding is very vague, however. I
Subsequent reports gave Mr.. Swag;,
CARTS denial of this latter story and
Shows that the treasure is still in Cam
den.