The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-05
devote the remainder Of his days to fol
ouyt N q the n, after uD f..

the ears OF the government officials
During the last six months Of the NUT
my the regiment to which he belonged
was encamped for some days near the
old ruins. BY that time most OF the
natives began to realize that ultimate
ly English rule must be restored. and
this man and five others decided to de-
sert their colors and make their way to
the east. Believing they would be pur-
sued II they started off across the coun'
try, they secreted themselves among
the ruins until their comrades marched
away. In removing some of the debris
for their own concealment they came
across the treasure. which was in teak
wood and iron boxes. Here was ram
som of king in the world to be di-
vided among six natives, not one of
whom had ever been possessed of e5
at once in his life, but yet avarice at
once entered into the hearts of them
all. In making a division of the spoiIs
they quarrelled, and within five min
utes of the first hot words three of them
lay dead The three survivors were
content that their shares were doubled,
but they could do little with their booty.
They could only carry away few
handsful of 1t on their persons. even if
they could find purchasers in those tur.
| bulent times. When the neighborhood
was clear of troops. the treasure was
carried, on post horses stolen for the
purpose, a distance of nine miles TO-
| ward the Ganges and reburied in a
thicket. The three men then started
| for Delhi, each having a few of the
| gems with him, but within week they
were captured by mutineers, and two
| of them were shot down. The third
| managed to escape. When the mutiny
| was a thing of the past he was at
! Lucknow, enlisting party to go after
the treasure, when he committed rob-
berry and was sentenced to goal for a
| year.
AN INVESTIGATION.
| The government lost no time in in
vestigating this story. The prisoner
retold it to officials, and was promised
a pardon and 10 per cent Of the value
of any treasure. found for acting as
guide. and he led party straight to
the spot The hole where the treasure
had been buried was speedily found,
but of the gems and jewels not one re-
mained. The despoilers had in turn
been despoiled. 1t was year before
another clew was found, and then 1t
came through woman. She was the
wife of ryot, or farmer and from q
hiding place in the thicket had seen the
three soldiers bury the boxes and cask-
cts. Assisted by her husband she dug
up the treasure and reburied it in one of
the cultivated fields. Her husband
was killed in battle. and at the close of
the war, when bands Of natives were
riding about and plundering right and
left, her hut was one day visited by a
band of six scoundrels who demanded
money. In order to save her life she
told them Of the treasure, and they were
| speedily in possession of 1t. They de-
cided to convey 1t down the Ganges by
boat. 1t was taken to the river on
horses by night. but instead of pur.
chasing a craft, they seized one by
force and murdered the crew of three
men. This craft with the six robbers
on board, was seen by various people
during the following days. and though
every effort was made to discover what
had become of the men and their plum
der, 1t was a month before the govern
ment obtained any reliable information
concerning it.
Then 1t was learned that the boat
had reached Allahabad. where two men
had gone ashore to purchase supplies
and she was again seen thirty miles
below the city. Then all traces of hei
were lost. Every seaport was watched
and every dealer in gems notified. but
1t was months b, fore any new develop
ments took place. Then villainous-
looking native offered some diamonds
and rubies for sale in Bombay and was
arrested. He had on his person about
$4,000 worth Of unset gems. For severa
weeks he refused any explanation, but
at length confessed that he was this
leader of the gang who obtained the
treasure from the woman. After pass.
ing Allahabad they started to divide the
treasure. AS all were grasping and
avaricious a quarrel arose. and in the
heighth of this the boat ran upon q
snag and received such damages that
she soon filled and went down. Five
of the men and all the treasure except
that found on this man went to the bot.
tom in forty feet of water The fellow
stubbornly refused to name the locality
or to go with party, and after few
weeks died in prison of fever A dozen
different parties searched for the wreck
at much trouble and expense, but II
had apparently been covered by mud OF
sand and could not be found. OF the
vast treasures of the rebel rajah, com.
puted on good authority at from $4,000.
900 to f500O,00O. the trihing amount
found on the robber was alone recov.
cred.
AS already stated, the government
made new attempt to discover the
wreck not long ago, but was again un.
successful.
One gives sigh when one thinks thai
such vast treasure has so successfuny
eluded capture for over forty years; anc
1t seems likely to remain lost forever.