The San Francisco call., 1896-03-29
Mediums Had Vainly Invoked
the Spirits to Recover
the Treasure.
HIS SECRET DIED WITH HIM
Braved Death Rather Than Surrender
the Metal-Sequel to an Early.
Day Romance.

several weeks reports have been in circula-
ton here that two charcoal burners in
Alpine Valley had unearthed a large
amount of treasure. The laborers sud-
denly quit work and began to consume
large quantities of red wine and otherwise
enjoy themselves. During one of these
periods of inebriety the men exhibited a
lot of gold coin and a quantity of gold
nuggets to rancher in Alpine Valley.
The exhibition of so much wealth by the
heretofore poverty coal-makers
excited lively curiosity among the resi-
dents of that section, and the fact that the
two men had been at work on the John
son place" went far to confirm the reports
of the treasure-trove. BY NJ. w. Tarwater,
who has resided in Alpine Valley for up
ward OF thirty years, the reports OF the find
are confirmed.
The story of buried wealth on the John
son place has excited the cupidity of ooz-
ems of people in that vicinity and caused
many hard days digging. More than
thirty years ago an old miner named john
son came to Alpine Valley in search of
health and quiet place to end hls days.
He had plenty of gold dust and money,
and soon purchased a ranch of 160 acres,
on which he erected comfortable house
and otherwise improved the place. Shortly
after settling IN the valley the old man re-
ceived legacy of over $4,000 in gold by the
death of a brother In the East, and having
no confidence in banks the old gentleman
hid the money with his gold dust in a safe
place.
The fact that much money was hidden
upon the ranch was generally known to
the neighbors, and one night Johnson was
aroused from his bed by several masked
men who demanded, upon pain of instant
death, to know where the money was hid
den. The miners answer was round of
shots from his pistol, and during the con-
fusion that followed he escaped to the
shelter of neighboring ravine. He car
rieo a bullet wound in the left shoulder.
Here he was shortly afterward found and
removed to the hospital in Santa Rosa.
Johnson fingered between life and death
for several months, but finally recovered
sufficiently to be moved to the residence of
Milton Greenlee in Alpine Valley who
then owned a ranch adjoining the 'John-
son place" Greatly enfeebled by con-
sumption and living constantly in fear of
robbers the old man refused to even visit
his own place alone and soon became
looked upon as mem Der of the GreeElee
family. He often said that since the death
OF his brother he had no living relatives
and declared his intention of leaving all of
his property to John Greenlee, the six
months-old son of his host. He delivered
to Mr.. Greenlee a Photographic will, in
which little John Greenlee was named as
sole heir. The will particularly described
the ranch and stock owned by Johnson,
but said nothing OF the money. On being
asked as to the whereabouts of the buried
gold the Old man said it was so we'll hidden
that no one but himself could find it, but
he promised to reveal the cache to Green
lee as soon as his health would permit
visit to the ranch.
Cherishing the delusion that he would
ultimately recover from the dread disease
that was rapidly hurrying him to the grave,
the aged miner kept postponing the prom
ised revelation until his strength was en-
tirely gone and he at last knew that he was
on his deathbed. He then vainly tried to
describe to Greenlee where the money was
hidden. He said that it was among the
roots of certain madrone tree and told
how the adjoining trees were marked.
After Johnson's death, Greenlee took
possession of the ranch in the name of his
son, and commenced systematic hunt fol
the money. Failing, after 4 long search
to find any traces of the gold, the services
of two spirit m mediums from San Francisco
were enlisted and their advice strictly fol.
lowed.
One of the mediums went into trance
and among the visions that foated through
his inspired brain was a picture OF the old
man and three cans of gold at the foot OF 6
tree This tree was dug out bodily by the
roots and the ground torn up for a rod OF
more around it without reward. The
mediums soon afterward left for San Fran.
cisco, and Greenlee, believing that they
bad found the money, abandoned any
further search.
l. Johnson's will, which was never pro.
bated, is still in the possession of the
Greenlee family. the ranch having been
sold without the formality of a court or
der. From daughter OF Milton Greenlee,
residing in this city, it is learned that John
Greenlee, to whom the property was left,
is now living in Calstoga and is about 81
years of age. 1t is also learned that the
young man has already retained Santa
Rosa lawyer and will invoke the aid OF the
courts to not only recover the money
found by the charcoal burners but also TO
try and recover possession OF the ranch.
sold during his minority.
1t Is said that there were three of the
coal-burners who prohted by the find, and
that one of them was wise enough to leave
for sunny Italy last week, where. under
his own vine and fig tree, he can enjoy his
suddenly acquired wealth without lear of
American courts or heirs.
NEWS OF SAN JOSE.