The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-08-16
SOME FAMOUS FINDS.


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Zhe wonderfu1 Treasures Unsafthed
I'm spain, Gsrmsny and Rrssia-
The recovery Of the Spanish galioon
wrecked on Hispaniola, Of which the
bullion was secured by some English
spectators in 1857, has cost later genera
fions dearly. The Duke OF Albemarle,
Governor Of Jamaica, received 10000,
the royal share was $4,000, gentlemen
who had adventured R1O0 took Rs,0O0 to
R1O,0O0 Innumerable have been the dis
astrous enterprises which this success
promoted. Within the last few years we
saw a company formed to recover
Napoleon's army chest, sunk with the
vessel that contained it, at the battle Of
Abukir.
Perhaps the most interesting find, saw
ing those wondrous tombs in South Rus
sia, was the " treasure OF Gunrrazar,"
discovered in 1853. Some peasants trav-,
cling near Toledo noticed objects Of gold
and jewel work washed partly out OF the
ground by heavy rains. They broke them
TO pieces and divided them. Happily an
intelligent man heard the story in time,
bought up every fragment, pieced them
ali together and fed to Paris, where he
sold the lot to the Musee Cluny.
The objects proved to be eleven crowns
mostly "votive n--of Gothic monarch
who ruled Spain during the seventh cen-
tury. OF the owner in two cases there Is
no doubt at all, for they bear his name in
letters Of gold hanging by gold chains
from the circles, with jewel pendant
from each letter. One bears the simple
inscription, "Suinthila," who reigned
from 621 TO 631 A. d.. the other, =" Rec
cesvinthus rex offerret." His date was
649-672 A. d. Two, il not more, are
queens crowns.
One, the largest, has thirty big sapphires
and thirty pearls OF great size; below it
hangs cross set with large sapphires
and pearls, which, again, has jeweled
pendants. But we must not describe
infinitely objects which are, perhaps, bet
ter known, to antiquarans at least, than
any pieces OF goldsmiths' work existing.
"The treasure OF Hildesheim I" also is
priceless. 1t was found by soldiers Dig
ging trench for siege practice near the
town OF that name In 1860. We cannot
doubt that this glorious trouvaille was
the camp equipage" OF some very rich
traveller, probably Roman general
though conjecture has boundless field for
specializing how it could find its way to
Hildesheim, which the Roman armies
never reached.
There are stewpans, pots, plates, .
botterie de cuisine complete, all OF silver,
exquisite in form and in ornament; the
legs, SO to call them, Of table, stands for
lamps, and other things indefnable, all
silver and all lovely; a complete dinnerser-
vice, plates, dishes, cups, goblets Of
beautiful Greek work, in silver, with gold
wreaths and attachments. One might
say in truth that the goldsmith's art
could not go beyond the grace and rich-
ness Of these articles-many OF which are
ascribed to the first century A. D.-had
not the Russian finds surpassed them.
The Hildesheim treasure is at Berlin;
the Russian at the Winter Palace. That,
In truth, is glorious beyond imagining.
OF one piece NJ. Theirs declared, in rap
ture, that nation would be justified in
making war on the car for possession Of
1t. This is the Nikopol vase" Volumes
have been written and libraries will be
written on these marvels. Therefore we
do not dwell upon them. They have been
recovered from tumuh in the neighbor-
hood of the ancient Greek colonies on the
Black Sea.-Chicago Times.