The record-union., 1891-02-15
TEE BURIED TREASURE.
How the MiSer of Maitland Dell
Secreted His Wealth.
AN Incident of the Fenian Raid-The
Burial of the Boot Full of Gold, Sill
yer and Bank Notes-Kow the Lost
Treasure was Found.

burial of the Boot Full of Gold, Sill
yer and Bank Notes-Eow the Lost
Treasure was Found.
Everyone has heard of and many will
remember, what is spoken of as the
Fenian Raid" although it never actually
amounted to anything. We all know
how the Fenians rose up in New York
State especially, and, arming themselves,
set out with the intention of taking Can
ada. Uncle Sam allowed them to arm
themselves; allowed them to go to Buffalo,
N Y; even allowed them to enter Canada
If they choose to do scatter they had all
been disarmed. In response to dis
patches from the Canadian Government
at Ottawa, Uncle Sam was on hand as the
Fenians were about to cross the line, and
emphatically refused to allow an armed
man to enter Canada.
The why's and wherefores of the Fenian
organization, and what they expected 10
accomplish in Canada. has nothing 10 do
with this narrative, which has TO relate
only an incident arising out Of the fear of
the rumored raid at that time, and the
spice OF romance connected with 1t.
Times of war, revolution and rebellion
have ever been fruitful of romantic Incl
dents, and scenes of carnage and slaugh-
ter have ever formed the most popular
and successful basis for the story-tellers
of all time, and the majority of such
stories have as a rule q large percentage
of reality and actual fact in their conpo-
sition, as has this tale. Real names OF
the people and places concerned with
this narrative, with some exceptions, are
represented by fictitious ones, as some of
the people concerned are still living in
that locality.
III was just at sundOwn, at the close Of q
long, warm day, that the Inhabitants OF
the rural neighborhood of Maitland Dell
were startled by the rumor being circu-
lated that large body of
THE MUCH-TALKED-oF FENIANS
Were to land the following day at an out
of-the-way port on Lake Huron. This
lake port was distant from Maitland Dell
only about fifteen miles. and the latter
place being on the direct route from the
lake port, the inhabitants Were naturally
much excited at the prospect of an en-
counter with the marauders.
The men of the surrounding farms at
once repaired by common consent to the
premises of the reeve" of the township,
TO consider what was to be done. II was
a memorable night in the annals of that
country place. a hundred men, young
and old, stalwart and feeble, from the
bronzed and robust heads of families to
the trembling and bent old grandfathers.
tempering the heated arguments Of the
young by their sage and maturer jGdg-
mentS and wiser counsels. The women
of that place had never heard or dreamed
OF 'woman's rights" so they stood out
side the group Of men and listened
eagerly. Doesn't that seem long, long
ago. reader?)
The earnest speech of one brawny
farmer, healthy, manly man, was
burst of natural eloqu ence, about the
protection of their homes and families: a
noble speech, yet wirhal, comical, when
one considers how little necessity there
was for protection. 1t was resolved that
they leave for the port the following
morning TO oppose the landing of the
FenianS. Each was to arm himself as
best he could. They then dispersed to
their homes.
Probably no one in the Dell expert
enced more alarm than did old John
Ralma, the miser of Maitland Dells. and
from appearances it would seem he had
less cause for such a feeling than his
neighbors, in that he possessed neither
home, family or friends. He had a
miserable shanty built of logs upon the
corner of an isolated farm. which cost
him nothing for rent or repairs. Where
he came from no one ever knew. He ap-
peared in their midst and remained with
them, doing odd jobs about the farms
His speciality was doing all the butcher
ing of the Dell, and besides his pay for so
doing, the hearts, livers, etc., of the ami
mails he killed were his perquisites He
was Scotch, as well as all his neighbors.
and his one aim in life seemed to be the
accumulation of ''Siller" He possessed
rifle, and in killing an OK or COW in
yariably shot them, and always managed
to secure the bullet again after it had done
it's work, to be used again, and save lead.
as he nodded his own bullets His wrath
was terrible when q bullet could not be
found again.
People supposed he had some money
laid away, but had no idea how much he
possessed. Had they seen him hasten to
his hut on the first intimation of the
Fenians, and, barring his oak door be-
hind him-the only opening in the hovel
go cautiously to his bare fireplace and
lift flat stone from the hearth. thew
would have thought that he possessed
something of value, indeed. Laying the
stone on one side, he drew out fiat Sheet
of heavy tin or sheet-iron. Laying that
aside also, he reached down in the hole
again, and this time drew forth heavy
box of some metal, and placed it with
some difficulty upon bench. Setting a
candle near it, after glancing outside to
see that no one was near his hut, he drew
oE q AoW oOcOl anu ostb oOW DGlOTc Ills
BOX OF TREASURE.
Producing a curious old kew. he fum
bled awhile on the lock, when with a
Sigh grating noise he raised the lid. A
gloating smile spread over his thin old
face as he lovingly careSsed the shining
mass of gold and silver The smile faded,
and Il look of terror shaped itself upon
his countenance as he thought how his
savings might be wrested from him on
the morrow if he did not hide it away
more securely. He remained some min
utes in deep thought, when a CLEAN of
satisfaction shone in his hard old eyes, as
feasible plan suggested itself.
He went to an old chest, or ''kist,'' as
he would have denominated it, in which
he kept his scanty wardrobe. Everything
was under lock and key, and boited to
the floor. He took therefrom one of a
new pair of long, rough cowhide boots,
that reached to his knee. That is 'snew''
for him. He had only had them three
years. Locking the chest again, he went
back to his treasure-box Assuring him
self that the boot he held was perfectly
sound, he began to gently and syste1nat-
ically place the
HEAPS OF SHINING COIN
First in the toe of the big boot. then
built it upward until it reached nearly
halfway up the leg. Then wrapping
bundle OF bank notes in layers OF sheep
S>li, iic ll1tou III the Oh the leg
nearly to the top, and his treasure-his
Idol-was all compactly slowed away.
Taking a stout needle and awl, with
regular shoemalSer's waxed thread, he
neatly and securely sewed the leg to-
gether at the top. Itwas done, and the boot
full OF money stood unsupported upon
the floor.
1t was now late, and but a dim. misty
moonlight shone over the landscape.
Passing short stick through the ears of
the boot. old John managed to get it over