The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-18

Casb Oh mistaken 1Qepblby. AS eooA az
the native was released from custody he
went to his preserver and declared that
he was one of the rajah's soldiers VINO
removed the treasure. 1t was buried III
the rufus. he said, and when the WORK
had bsen finished the rajah had given
the the party several bottles of wine to
drink to his health. This wine was
poisoned. Every man who par OF 1t,
exoept this one, died within two hours.
He had partaksn sparingly of 1t, but
was made very i'll, and had simulated
death to escape the rajah's dagger.
When the cold blooded ruler departed,
leaving the dead to be devoured by beasts
of prey, the sole survivor orawled 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 offered % per cent to finders
of treasure, and the officer and native
proceeded to Jepyore and made up par.
ty In due time they reached the ruins,
but only to find the treasure was gone.
The native pointed out the spot where it
had been concealed, and there was no
doubt of his veracity, but some one had
removed the wealth. AS it had been
taken away during the war it was most
useless to hope for clew, although the
native declared he would devote the re-
mainder of his days of following the
matter up.
1t was three years before anything
further was learned of the Rajah's treas
ures. Then native who was confined
in prison at Lucknow for theft told
story which subsequently, reached the
ears Of the government officials. During
the last six months of the mutiny the
regiment to which he belonged was en-
oamped for some days near the old ruins.
By that time most of the natives began
to realize that ultimately English rule
must be restoi ed, and this man and five
Others decided to desert their colors and
make their way to the east. Believing
they would be pursued if they started off
across the country, they secreted them-
selves among the ruins until their COM
rades marched away. In removing some
OF the debris for their own concealment
they came across the treasure, which
was in teakwood and iron boxes. Here
was u ransom of q king in the world to
be divided among six natives. not one of
whom had ever been possessed of 25 at
once in his life. but yet ayarice at once
entered into their hearts of them all. In
making division of the spoils they
quarrelled, and within five minutes 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
it on their persons, even if they could
find purchasers in those turbulent times.
When the neighborhood was clear of
| troops, the treasure was carried, on post
of nine miles toward the Ganges and re-
buried in "a thioket. The three mon then
started for Delhi each having q few of
the gems with him, but within q week
they were captured by mutineers, and
two Of them shot down. The third
| manag sd to escape. When the mutiny
was thing of thu past he was at Luck
treasure, when he committed a robbery
and was sentenced to gaol for year.
The government lost no time in invss-
tigating this story. The prisoner retold
it to officials. and was promised a par
don 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 remained. The despoilers
had in turn been despoiled. 1t was a
year before another clew was found, and
| then it came through a woman. She
was the wife of ryor farmer and from
| hiding place in the thioket had seen
the three soldiers bury the boxes and
baskets. Assisted by her husband she
dug up the treasure and reburied 1t in
one Of the cultivated fields. Her hus-
band was killed in battle and at the
close of the war, when bands of natives
were riding about and pIunderin9 right
and left, her hut was one day visited by
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 it, They de-
cided to convey 1t down the Ganges by
boat 1t was taken to the river on horses
by night, but instead of purchasing q
craft they seized one by force and MUIR
dered the crew OF three men. This cart
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 plumber, it was month before
the government obtained any reliable in
formation concerning 1t.
Then it 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 her were
Lost. Every seaport was watched and
every dealer in eems notified, but it was
months before any new developments
took place. Then looking
native offered some diamonds and ru-
bies for sale in Bombay and was arrest
ed. He had on his person about go, 900
worth of unsst gems. For several
weeks he refused any explanation, but
at length confessed that he was the
leader of the gang who obtained mo
treasure from the woman. After pas
sing Allahabad they started to divide
the treasure. AS all were grasping and
avaricious quarrel arose, and in the
height of this the boat ran upon a snag
and received such damages that she soon
l