The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-11
A SEARCH THAT FAILED.
The WItch's Amulet Did Not Charm
the Gold.
From the New York Worid.


From the New York World.
The streak of bad luck which has at
tended Bill Fisher of Asbury Park, in his
search for pot of gold, which he believes
is buried among the Jersey pines, near
Barnegat Bay, still clings to him. II was
right with him on Tuesday night, when,
with several companions, he made he
roic attempt to dig up the coveted gold.
The World on Monday told of Bill
Fishers dream of the buried treasure; his
visit to a fortune teller, who finds vic
Tins in founder Bradley's little kingdom,
and his attempt to secure the treasure.
1t also told how Bill Fishers horse was
killed by lightning at the spot where the
gold is believed to be buried. Fisher was
positive that the fates were unkind to
him because he failed to follow the for
tune teler's instructions to get freshly
cut dogs tail before going after the gold.
Whatever virtue freshly cut dogs tail
might possess Fisher could not determine,
but the sudden death of his horse conVinc-
ed him that that dogs tail must be had.
After many refusals from various per-
sons to part with their dogs, or the lat
ter's coveted appendages, Bill Fisher
found an old darkey, who, for two drinks
of Jersey lightning and Is cents waived
all claim to a worthless yellow cur. Bill
killed the dog and cut off its tail.
Then he paid another visit TO the for
tune teller and secured further instruc-
lions. In exchange for several hard-earn-
ed dollars this female seer gave Bill
Fisher a sealed letter with orders to act
on its contents Tuesday night. This let
ter told him that at twenty minutes be-
fore g o'clock on Tuesday night the prec-
ious moment of his life would be reached.
A long rigamarole which followed said in
substance that with several selected com
panions he must proceed to the lucky spot
| where the treasure was buried, borrowing
| the necessary tools to dig II up with, and
| that after getting with 200 yards of the
| spot not a word must be spoken, otherwise
| the spell would be broken. II anything
was to be said 1t must be written.
"II do 1t this time, or die, said Bill
| to the fortune teller, and off he posted to
pick his companions. He asked Mike
Darwin, Nels Fisher, George Hicks and
| George Howard. Howard is florist and
is known to all the summer visitors from
Asbury Park to Seabright.
Backed up by his friends and armed
with the dogs tail, lucky ring and an
| old pewter spoon-head which the witch
had given him, Bill Fisher started OFT
on Tuesday night at twenty minutes be-
| fore for a second try at the treas
ure On the way to the spot the party
| stopped at Blumfield Fishers place, to
| borrow a spade. Go out in the lawn
and get it," said Blum from window.
Cant do it," said Bill, you'll hev
| to give it to me by your own hand; the
| fortune-teller said So"
| The spade was finally obtained per in
structions, and on went the party to
| Alonzo Van Notes house, where they had
a long argument with Alonzo, who could
! not see why he should be routed out OF
| bed to hand a shovel to neighbor who
| was perfectly able to get it himself.
| by gum, boys it's warm, amt it?"
| said Bill as the party arrived at a barbed-
wire fence about 200 yards from the treas
| lIre spot. With chattering teeth, his COM
panions said it was. 1t was agreed that
once inside the fence not a word was 10
| be spoken.
1t was just about this time that the
eclipse of the moon began 1t was little
| that Bill Fisher and those with him knew
of eclipses and standing there among
the still pines, with the uncanny appear
ance of everything and the moving shad-
ows of themselves much enlarged, the
men began TO quake and wish themselves
| somewhere else.
IF the devil himself comes up I'm go
ing in for that gold' said Bill.
The reference to the evil one was I'M
timely, for each man was picturing to him.
self that individual, they crawled
| through the wires. At this juncture a
| startled rabbit rushed almost from under
the feet of the party and made a great
| rustling as he scampered away through
| the fallen leaves. Five worse scared men
| never cleared themselves from a barbed-
wire fence regardless of torn clothes and
scratches than did Bill Fishers party.
AS they punched up on the other side
of the fence the perspiration stood in
great meads on their faces.
In an instant Bill was on his knees,
| digging like a maniac with his fingers,
and in a minute or so he brought up an
old, rusty ploughshare. Disguised. he
threw it away, and then Mike Denim
took a turn at digging. The others 81
lently set about building a fire, for it
was then midnight, and cold. There was
| a big fine snake asleep a few feet from
the fire With his head in the air ana
kissing like a steam valve, his snakeship
wriggled away. passing close to Mike Der
Minis face. The apparation was too much
for his nerves.
ooh. my God, the devils got mer'
shrieked Mike, all unmindful of his pledge
to keep silent.
tives. AS soon as West Virginia swings
Then, with a succession of yells thar
would have done credit to a Comanche
he rushed away from the spot.
"Drat your exclaimed Bill Fisher.
you've broke the spell and we won't
get the gold
He spoke to the trees only, however.
for Mikes unearthly yell had stamped
ed the other members of the party They
were well outside the fence, considerably
tattered and torn as a result of their
agility, but feeling safer. Bill Joined them
and began to abuse them for speaking.
who could a-helped it with all them
goblins and snakes hoppin' round?" said
Denim.
Canon Tristram's famous collection