Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-11-02
GOLD BUGS
Hire Nine Men and Hunt for a
Pot Of Treasure.
An Old Story Comedies With Their
Theory.

Queer things, like trouble, never come
siugly. Close on to the queer moves Of A.
P. A. comes a report from Skunk of a gold
finding scheme, that tends to elevate the
opinion of many in hidden power-mesmer-
ism, etc.
It seems three weeks ago three men,
claiming to hail from Cincinnati. put in ap-
pearance at Skunk, over in Harrison town
ship, and hired nine men in the capacity Of
diggers. They at once began work on the
bank of the creek running through the
SpenQler farm.
An effort was made to keep their Inten-
tions secret but the professor" the Oldest
of the trio, became talkativs and told all he
knew which Is here submitted for what it is
worth:
Their business is that of professional
treasurer hunters and which they have fol-
lowed for years with fatterning results.
They possess what is called a mineral rod''
which is triangular in shape, nickel plated,
and hollow, the center containing chemicals.
The property Of this mechanism is to pos
sess marvellous affinity for gold or silver
80 much so al to be strongly susceptible
to the minerals at distance Of five miles no
matter how deep the same are buried.
When "scent' is struck, that is, when the
rod is in line. the apex swings around and
points down the line. A prominent citizen
of Shupk informs US that with his utmost
strength he could not prevent the rod from
whirling when the line was struck.
With this seemingly Supernatural rod they
have been doing" the country West of here
having been in Paulding county all summer.
Recently they have not been successful but
have made considerable in other parts, hav-
ing
Found q Pot of Gold
in Virginia hidden during the war by Un-
ion soldier.
A cline was struck when the boundary
between Damascus ard Harrison township
was reached and, on following it up, a spot on
the Spengler farm was attained bordering
the creek above mentioned. Having un.
| limited confidence in the rod, men were en-
gagged and have been busy for three weeks.
When last seen they had removed their la
bors to the Elizabeth Ritter farm adjacent.
There mode of work is to dig back from
the bank distance of some 15 feet, when il
signs fail, they continue on farther down oil
up as the Judgment or rather intuition of the
man with the rod dictates.
With the arrival of these men on theil
queer errand
A Remark able Coincidence
is noted.
Away back in the first half Of. this century
Levi Spengler, who died few years age
and who was one of the best known citizens
of Henry county, incurred the implacablt
enmity of band of red men living in coun
try adjacent to his farm. The cause of thif
enmity, SO the story goes, was owing tc
Lewis refusal at one time to feed them.
Doubtless he had good reason for such re-
fusal but the bronzed men swore vengeance
planned cause they were fearful of killing
him themselves, but made overtures to
number of white men, offering many in
ducements. Spengler was well liked ant
they could find none to do their bidding
Finally they offered to tell where a pot Of
gold was hidden and even approached tn,
son, Milton Speugler, with a propositiau tt
murder his father.
There the story ends, and it has always
been believed by those interested that the po
of treasure stilllies hidden in the vicinity o.
where now stands the cluster of house
known as Skunk.
If it is. the general hope is that the ''Pro
fessor" and his partners will profit thereby
but no doubt they are being led great sons
and dance by devilishly inspired rod-tht
production of crack Drained alchemist.