The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-11
A FORTUNE UNDER A TREE.
An Old Negro Who Is Blind the Only
One Who Knows It's Location.

An Old Negro Who Is Blind the Only
One Who Knows Its Location.
WAYCRoss. GA, Dec. 10.-There Is said
70 be a mine OF wealth buried under the
trunk Of tree In the Big Hurricane creek
tn this county. The exact location Of this
treasure ia Unknown. except to an old negro
who is blind. This old negro has told the
story to hundreds OF people and they say he
firmly believes in his story. Old Uncle Ike
WilltaHIs, the negro referred to, is a cripple,
and has not walked for many years. The
story is familiar to the farmers of the upper
part Of Ware county. Many efforts have
befsn made to explore the region of the
tLeasure without avail It Is believed by
Iome people that Uncle Ike knows where
she place Is, and will not tell them; but Is
waiting to get well of his rheumatism so he
can go there and secure 10 all for himself
The following is the story briefly told by
the old negro: "Befo' de war my old massa
died, and den his son John bes nav massa.
When de war sot In Massa John SEE ter me,
SEE he. 'Ike, come erlong wild me ter de Big
Herrlcane, and fotch dis heah box It was
none er my bizness what was in der box, so
des walk erlong wild de box kinder tucked
erway under my arm, and We sailed inter
de Big Herricane dat night er bout pitch.
Den massa, seq, seq he, Ike, des grabble er
hole under dat dar gum tree and dig it deep
er huff 20 bury all de yankees Igrabbled
or way wild my hands and wild sticks till he
said ter stop. Den massa seq, seq he, Open
de box, Ike When | opened ub it was
acairt De box was full ub shinin' yaller
gold. Den massa tole me ter nail it up er
gin, and put 1t in de hole. l kivered it up
and den ! takes er good look er round me
and sees how de place looks aud put my ole
clay pipe what had or long stem IN de dirt
on top or de box wild de stem stickin out er
de ground. Den Massa John sot out ter
fight de yankees. ] was taken wild de rheu-
matiz and cooden walk er step, den gifts
kinder blin' and arter a while gifts sho nufP
bin. Massa John was kilt in de war and l
uebber see him err gin. wants ter go ter
dat spot er gin and git er peep at my ole pipe
stem and den l will git de money 'kase its
right under de pipe stem. nebber was ter
dat place erfo' and as is blin' cooden find
de way dar eff Good walk. De gum tree is
near de run ub de creek and dar amt mud
der SIGH a gum tree in de state. Use been
offered or heap ub money by de white folks
ter sho' 'em de way ter de gum tree, but l
cooden tell 'em 'kese 1 cooden see de route
dat night. Massa John seq erfo' he went ter
de war dat ole massa had er
heap ub gold, and dat dar was
thousands ub dollars IN de box. | alters
wanted ter git er hold ub dat money. 1t
wood make er man outer me ter git sioh er
rich pile ub money as dat 1t is de rheu-
matiz, and my eyes is done gone blin'; dat's
what keeps de gold out er my pockets. If
Good tell yer whar IL is wi'dout er doubt,
wood do ID. IL Good gle half ub IT. Some
body tole me ter go wild 'em in er Vaughn
and sho's 'em de way and dey wood pay
me. A nudder white Teller whispered ter
me dat when dem fellers found de gold day
wood kill me and take all ub de gold and
run erway wild it. OATS de reason ub de
gold lynn dar widout bein' dom ub some
good. II Ibis ter get ter walk erg'in
will find my way dar wild sr cane. can't
see or wink"