Marble Hill press., 1895-01-03

was a sport by nature and gam
bier by cultivation, and during one
of the orgies after the downfall OF.
the Aztecs he succeeded in gaining
the largest share of the wealth from
his companions by sharp practices.
Fearing harm at their hands when
they returned to their sober senses,
he procured two horses and, ac,
companied by a faithful servants
disappeared in the night. A few
days later he returned with the
story that he had been kidnapped
by the natives and robbed. Years
passed and the nobleman was hur.
ried away to Spain. To his family
he confded the story of his treas
ure with charts, maps, compasses
of distance from certain unchanging
landmarks. Fifty years later the
search was begun, abandoned, then
taken up again. and thus the cen
turies rolled by.
1t remained to the good fortune
of Sparenti to recover the treasure,
E8iled from his native country by
some political offense he determin-
ed to find spot that suited his
fancy and establish a kingdom o.
his own. Through great Difficulty
he made his way to Mexico and
with guides began an expedition il.
the mountains. A year later he
was on the banks ofthe Mississippi
with retinue Of possibly fifty
men. The treasure was in his pos
session, but the spirit Of explora-
ton and adventure burned strong
within him. Constructing rd
boats they began the ascent. of the
stream. Landing where New Mad
rid now stands they tied up for the
night. Stealthily the night crept
on, and their dreams were doubtless
of their far away southern homes
In their sense of security no senti-
nels were placed out, and as pale
tints of crimson began to streak the
eastern sky they were aroused from
their slumbers by hideous ys!ls
only to fall victims to the So IN go
tomahawk or bludgeons. But ono
man was left to tell the story 10 his
people. The stores were captured.
the treasure was found, and then
the Indians started inland. Little
river was reached, and on account
of its weight it was confded to the
care of the medicine men of the
maraading band, who deposited il
in a cave on or near the banks. of
this stream, supposed to be about
fifteen miles to the northwest of the
hills upon which Bloomfield now
stands.
Wilson was we'll known here, and
everywhere bore the name ofaChoc,
taw Wilson" on account of bis long
residence with that tribe and his
dealings with them. On one occa
Tsion he saved the life of chief's 4
son by receiving bullet in his own
body that was intended for the In.
, dian. This gave him somuch pres.
tige that to him was conided the
story of the Spanish murder 'ot
Sparenti and his companions and
and the capture and hiding of the
! treasure. Various excursions hat
been made here by them to locatt
: and carry the treasure off, but the
cave where it was concealed was
never found. This was Wilson,
life work. A few years ago he dis
| covered what he conceived to bt
the cave and found the skeletons o.
: several Indians who had lost thei,
, lives in the venture. Besides this
he brought in several specimens o
gold-bearing quartz. His explora
tion of the cave consumed, at inter
walls, several months, but his laber,
were never rewarded with the fruits
, of his search.
/ Several years ago an expedition
of Spaniards made their wav int,
, this country and after several day.
of search they lett-not, however
; until they left the story Of Sparant
, 'snd the hidden treasure, TDei
search was mostly confined to iii,
region around New Madrid. Th'
two stories were used by Wilson al
a basis upon which to operate. Ii
! was a queer character, bat one o
J the most reserved and intelligen
men that ever lived in this sectiol
!. Of the state. He was well verse,
! in mlneralogy and many Of the sci
enccs--altogether a good, reputable
citizen.
A trainload OF corn for Nebraska
n -. ~ A -