The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24

How So ] asked. You've %. .
pretty good prize here, az all events
" But it can't be gold he continues
Ny dear Harris. the thing isn't gold
Look here. Ward 1 cried. III give
YOU $50 for il If YOU like But don't tsks
IL; you're a chum Of mine. and the mag
is worth at least double
ION this he broke out abusing himself
for an idiot, fool and know not VIII.
else ! begged him to tell me the cause
Of all this lamentation. and to be QUICK
about h., since the advance must -
sounding directly. And then. in hurried
words. he told me the following extraor.
binary story:
"On entering the palace gates he led hiz
three companies away toward the north
and they got well into the interior of the
grounds, into part quite unlooted Pres
emily as they marched they arrived at a
little lake, with a small out high island in
the center Of il. on top of which was
built very large temple. he thought this
would be good spot to begin looting and
burning. Several bridges connected the
island with the shore: and, crossing these.
he and his men entered the great temple.
Around the walls of the place, ranged in
tiers like plants in a dollhouse, We're 5No
images Of Gautama, all exactly alike.
While the men were setting light into the
building. which was OF carved wood he
made a slash at one of these idols with
MS IulWdEr OF nGIAte SWORD, ana the Keen
blade shaved OF an ear. Ward picked this
up. and took it to the Subadar of No. 1
Company. a. smart native named Nutha
Singh, asking what metal it could be that
was so soft as to be cut by a stroke Of
his sword. The man at once answered.
1t is gold Upon this Ward cut of the
ears of several more images and found
them all precisely alike. Then Nutha
Singh shook his head.
" No, Sabid,' said he, we must be
wrong. In what book was it ever written
that there were 500 gold coins of this
size? Impossiblei Yet would / give one
of them to your servant to carry and we
will find out what it can be- Ward then
told his orderly to bring one of the idols
with him. and the flames now blazing up
strong and fierce, they were forced to re-
tire. Having concluded this remarkable
story my friend again fell to bewailing his
folly.
but I stayed not to heed him. had
learned as much as l wanted to know.
and swiftly as my legs would carry me.
/ ran to where Gen. Sir John Michel.
commanding the division, was surrounded
by his staff.
"'GeneraI," I said. saluting him, may
/ say a few words with you in private?
" Certainly he answered; and rode a
little apart from the others.
9" I have to ask a great favor. sir. You
have seen enough of me to know would
do nothing rash. Leave me here all night
with my wing of the Fifteenth Sikhs, and
l will be back in camp at Picking to-mor-
row morning
what do you want to do?' said he.
cycling me doubtfully.
~ have just heard of an immense
treasure, sir
He looked at me incredulously, slowly
wagging his heasl. and said: I can't do
it Harris / should like to oblige you.
but 1 can't do it, Then he added: But
/ tell you what 1 will do. Go and fall in
now, and march back to Picking, and in
the morning I'll send you away with
your wing as a foraging part. How will
that suit you?
Nothing could be better, sir an
light to work by and the fires will be near
" burnt out / saluted and hurrying
back, mounted my horse just as the col
umn began to swing forward in quick
step on the march back.
I'VE arrived at the camp in time for
mess that night. While we were linger-
ing over the wine comparing notes on
our days experiences, the order book
was brought round by the orderly ser
geant The general order Nor the follow
ing day was that the whole force was TO
parade at dawn and march away down
country!
"I do not wish to start off any youths
of adventurous disposition, or elderly
gentlemen with a strong taste for treas
ure hunting, in quest of those 499 golden
| images; but have very little doubt in
my mind that they are still lying buried
and blackened under the ruins of that
island temple in the Summer Palace"