Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-10
CONFEDERATE GOLD.
STRANGE STORY ABOUT
ITS DISPOSITION.
Seized by Masked Men and Dis
tributed Among Them
Mystic Midnight Scene

such information. 1 have had in my
possession for long time some silver
Mexican dollars of 1860, which were
part of the coin conducted out OF Rich
mond.. knew how they were obtained,
but desired further knowledge in regard
to the whole matter for the reasons
herein TO be assigned.
There were In the Confederate service
during the late war two brothers former
ly OF Richmond. Though quite young
they knew something of military tactics,
for as boys they had been drilled out In
front of the Jefferson Davis Mansion by
Professor Lanck, a graduate OF the Viz
ginia Military Institute and the military
instructor in the academy OF the Rev. j.
Amber Weed. and also at the University
OF the State OF Missouri by Professor
Edward +. Fristoe, another virginia
Military Institute graduate.
IN THE NAVY.
The younger one, II. Taylor Minor,
Jr., entered the Confederate army and
drove baggnge-wagon out Of Memphis
to cover his design. He proved at Port
Hudson and at the battle OF Jackson to
be an excellent artillerist. At his urgent
request he was transferred TO the navy
and after due preparation at Drewry s
Bluff became passed midshipman and
was sent down to Savannah. Ga. where
he gained great distinction in
the capture OF the Water Witchs
Having recovered from his wound.
he resumed his duties and the
night of the evacuation was in Rich
mond, but was in the hospital and not
really convalescent. Still he reported
for duty with the Naval Brigade and
went out with it IN guard of the specie
train. When he reached North Caro-
lima his disease forced him TO succumb,
and he was very kindly treated by a
gentleman named McGhee. He was
not parolled at the time OF Johnston's
surrender and intended to make his way
to Kirby Smith, but was captured by a
party of Federal soldiers. who ag-
grieved him exceedingly by taking from
him a very fine Springfield sword, the
only prize he had retained for the cap
ture OF the Water Witch. He help to
guard the Confederate gold and silver
as long as no was able, but did not get
any Of it, in which respect alone his
elder brother was more fortunate.
ALL WAS OVER.
This elder, Hervey Otey Minor. re-
NAMED in the army and was for good
conduct promoted by Secretary-of- War
Seldom and General Gilmour from the
ranks to a lieutenancy of engineers. he
was with Johnston's army, but did not
take any parole, and. being mounted on
a mule, started off for Kirby Smith, and
actually got in safety as far as Auburn,
Ala, VIXEN he learned that "all was
over" He got some of the Confederate
gold and silver and brought ii home.
Captain Parker speaks of distribution
which was made amongst the officers and
soldiers, but he does not know what be-
came of the bulk Of the funds.
Lieutenant Hervey Otey Minor has
gone to his final reward (as has his
brother), but left paper in print from
the New York Sun, with some dddendo
in his own handwriting. would like
to know what foundation there is, if any,
for the statements made by the CORE
spondent of the New York Sun.
The printed matter referred to is as
follows
HOW PILE DIsAPPBABKD.
"ABBEvILLE, s. c., November o.
On cold, drizzly day in February.
1865, a train drew up OF the depot here
with mysterious car attached. With
it came several agents, who busted
themselves in hiring teams for the trans
portation of the contents OF this car.
Abbeville is about twenty miles from
the Savannah river, which divides South
Carolina from Georgia, and is the ter
minus of the branch Of the Columbia
and Greenville railroad that runs of
about twelve miles from Hodges Depot
TO this village. Consequently the only
way to reach the Georgia frontier is by
horse power.
"By 10 O'Clock that night enough
horse teams were secured, and they be-
gan loading from the mysterious car.
The goods rolled out were in stout little
kegs of phenomenal weight, and though
the packages were small they taxed the
strength OF the able-bodied negroes de-
tailed for the work. At length the load
ing was accomplished, and amid the
flash of lanterns and the cracks OF
whips and the cries Of drivers the long
line of teams pulled out OF the muddy
railroad yard up the steep, sloppy hill,
through the village streets. where Gu
rious crowds had gathered to watch then
pass, and disappeared in the darkness
on the winding snake road that leads
to Georgia.
WEIRD SCENE.
"When the teams had gone abou
ten miles forty or fifty masked mer
rushed upon the astonished drivers anC
caretakers, held them mute under thu
muzzIes OF pistols and proceeded to I'M
load the wagons Of their stout httl'
kegs. A cloth was spread upon the
ground, and around it assembled tn
ring. with fiickerng torches held aloft
while delft hands stove in the heads o
the kegs and poured their contents int
a single heap. 1t was gold-bright
yellow, glittering gold'pieces b.
/ The thousand The hungry eye
! behind the masks cleaned Will
reflected avarice. 1t was weird, mysti'
scene, like page from some Arabian
romance. The abysmal silence OF TIT
| forest, broken only by the rearing ant
plunging OF the affrighted mules, tn
shrivelling ring of light varying as tint
| torches were moved to and fro, the sur
rounding gloom, the anxious faces Q
/ the negro drivers gazing with startles
ewes and gaping lips upon this fantastic
spectacle, the eager circle OF masks, am
/ last, the solid pile of sovereigns, tn
centre of the wholc--all formed PIANO
rama which those who saw will neve
forget
with all possible haste the none.
was divided up between the maske'
men, and in fifteen minutes they wer'
gone. So was the gold. Nothing re
NAMED but the empty kegs and emps.
wagons, and the care-takers 0
this last remnant Of the Confederat
| Treasury sent the teams back =
4 -<<xx r.