The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-05
DRAMATIC STORY OF
ILL-FATED MILLIONS
Vast Indian Treasure That Literally
Defies Discovery.
LIKE A PAGE TORN FROM FICTION
Hidden Store Of Gold and Precious
Stones in India That Has Eluded
Capture for Forty Expedi.
tiOns End in Death.
From the London Mail.

Every now ana tNeU we near Vi eA-
petitions starting in search OF treasures
lost or hidden in various parts OF the
world, India being the most favored. II
somewhat vague. destination of such
parties. Most people will remember
an endeavor being made not long ago,
under the direction Of the British gov
ernment, to wrest from the waters Of
the Ganges a vast treasure that has
been missing since the time of Indian
mutiny. For this search there was
more justification than many we hear
of, but after four months of ceaseless
exertions it had to be given up in de-
spair. That the treasure Is hidden some
where in India il undouted; portions of
1t have been traced at one time or an
other, but there Is still enough left to
make its finder--should II ever be found
"a millionaire many times over
Six or seven years previous to the
outbreak of the Indian mutiny the rajah
of the province of Gwalior was de-
throned for treason to the English. He
had long been a ruler over one of the
largest provinces of India. and was
known to be one of the wealthiest in
the empire. He had an army of 1000
men. a herd of 200 elephants, and lived
in q style no European monarch could
approach. While protesting to be
friendly, he was continually plotting
against British rule, and when this was
discovered steps were taken to curtail
his powers. His army was reduced to a
body guard OF 100 men; his right to is
sue edicts and make local laws was
abrogated; English civil officers were
stationed here and there to collect the
taxes. until at length the rajah held
only his empty title. He bowed to the
terms imposed, but became one Of the
bitterest foes the government had to
deal with. and was first and foremost
In bringing about the mutiny. The date
of the outbreak was known by the de-
posed rajah weeks in advance; it was
even said that he fixed the date him
self. At any rate. he was SO well pre-
pared that his troops We're almost the
first in the field. Although his army
had been disbanded for three or four
years, he had secretly purchased and
stored away large quantities of equip
ment, and for two months previous to
the outbreak, II was afterward learned,
ne was secretly enlisting and arming
his subjects.
FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS.
Two weeks before the uprising the
rajah made preparations to secure the
safety Of his vast treasure. In his pal
ace. thirty miles from Gwalior, he
had secret chamber, in which the
wealth of his family had been stored
for three generations. No European
had ever set foot in the palace, but 1t
was currently reported that the value
of the gems and jewels, many of which
had ben handed down from his great
grandfather, aggregated s15.0OO,OOO. One
day the rajah left his palace with an
escort of ten of his oldest and most
trusted soldiers. and each soldier had
charge of pack horse. carrying share
Of the treasure. His band Travelled to
the northwest for three days, and then
halted amid the ruins Of an ancient city
between the town of Jeypore and the
river ganges. This, Of course, was only
learned years after. At the end of five
days the rajah returned to his palace,
accompanied only by a servant, who
had acted as cook. But almost imme-
diately this servant was locked In a
dungeon on some pretext,and was never
seen again. No one dared to ask what
had become Of him or the soldiers, and
those who suspected wisely kept their
thoughts to themselves, we'll knowing
what would follow a word of gossip
Two months after the rajah had TAX
en- the field against the English at the
head Of a thousand men, he was killed
in battle. A month later his palace was
captured. When the treasure room was
entered. a great find was expected: but
II was empty. From some of the SER
wants 1t was learned how and when
the wealth had been removed, but the
government was too busy quelling the
mutiny to search for 1t just then.
When peace came party in charge OF
an official was started out to search for
the rajah's treasure. BY this time not
q soldier or servant who knew anything
of the matter could be found. All that
could be discovered was that the party
had gone toward the northwest. After
several days search the treasure hunt
ers came upon the ruins, and the spot
commencing itself as a likely hiding
place they began work. Their opera
tions had to be spread over fully q
square half mile of standing and fallen
walls, with trees and bushes and vines
growing In the greatest profusion, con-
tanning quite thousand safe spots in
which to hide treasure. The party
which numbered four Englishmen and
sixty natives, went to work, however
and 1t was five months before they gave
up the hunt, and the leaders reported
to the government that 1t would take
a thousand men fully two years to clear
away the debris.
HOW TREASURE WAS HIDDEN.
Not long after a native was arrested
at Delhi, charged with the murder OF
two European women at the outbreak
OF the mutiny. When he was placed on
trial an English ensign came forwa rd
to testify on his behalf, proving that
II was a case of mistaken identity. AS
soon as the native was released from
custody he went to his preserver and
declared that he was one of the raiah's
soldiers who removed the treasure. II
was buried in the ruins. he said, and
when the work had been finished the
rajah had given the party several bot
ties Of wine to drink to his health. This
wine was poisoned. Every man who
partook of 1t. except this one, died with.
In two hours. He had partaken spar.
ingly Of II. but was made very i'll, and
had simulated death to escape the ra.
jah's dagger. When the cold-blooded
ruler departed, leaving the dead to be
devoured by beasts Of prey, the sole
survivor crawled away. and after time
recovered and made good his escape
He fought against the English to the
last. but was ready to divide the hidden
treasure with the man who had saved
his life. At that time the government
onered rs per cent. to finders Of treas
ure, and the officer and native pro.
CeedPd to IpXnnre a nd made I'm n M ri =,