The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-28

scented a pistol in the face of the amazed
old priest, and asked him II he had any
gold coin. The affrighted man supposed
that the soldiers intended to Kill him OIL
the spot, and he instantly fell upon his
knees at the feet of the terrible Ameri-
canos and begged them in piteous tones
TO spare his life, declaring that he would
give them every dollar that could be found
in the church. They told him to get up
and get the gold at once. The terrorized
old priest gave the hobbers $4,000 In gold
coin, declaring that 1t was all that he pos
sessed. He impored them to spare the
sacred vessels of the altar and church, and
strangely enough, they needed his request
Neither OF these young men, as one OF
them afterward stated, had ever before
seen so much as 500 in gold at one time
When they got the buckskin sacks in their
hands which the priest had told them con-
tanned $1,000 they felt themselves rich be-
yond the widest dream that had ever dis
turbed their brains. They instantly re-
turned to camp hardly realizing that they
had committed a crime for which they
were liable to be court-martialed and shot,
but, fearing trouble In some shape, they
buried every piece Of the gold and sol
EMMY compacted between themselves
never to whisper word concerning the
affair to any living mortal. They were
foolish enough to think that the matter
was beyond all discovery, never dreaming
that the old priest would venture into the
American camp. They were destined to
sore disappointment, for upon opening
their eyes the next morning the very first
scene that presented Itself to them was
of the most profound interest
They saw the old priest passing slowly
through the American camp, accompanied
by Lieut.. Chrittenden, who was a mem
Der OF Gen. Taylor's staff. Later In the
day the old priest identified both of the
1e -
rested and placed under guard. Gen. Tay-
lor deemed the matter of such Importance
that he called to see the accused young
men, and after asking them a few very
pertinent questions he left them to pass the
next twenty-four hours under the very dis
turbing reflection that the commander Of
the army intended to have them both shot
the next morning at sunrise unless they
instantly confessed to the robbery and re-
turned every dollar of the gold to the law
tul owner. On the next day Gen. Tay-
Tor had weightier affairs to occupy his at
tention. Santa Annals army filed through
the mountain passes, and the great battle
or Buena Vista was fought While the
terrible conflict was raging 1t occurred to
Jones and Strayhorn that they might do
something thai would either cause them
to lose or save their lives. Taking advan-
tage of the confusion in camp them escap-
ed from the guards and Joined the line of
battle, where both of them fought with
such conspicuous gallantry that they at
tracted the attention of many line officers
At night, when the hurrahs and songs of
victory were resounding over the hills of
Buena Vista these two young rascals, both
of whom were slightly wounded, returned
to the guard house..
The story of their desperate courage in
battle, of their wounds and of their vol
untary return to the guards reached the
ears of the commanding general and he
sent Chrittenden to tell them that if they
would return the gold to the old priest
they would be permitted to rejoin their
company. They declared that the priest
was mistaken, and dramatically turning
their empty pockets and shaking them
before the officers, they solemnly swore
that they did not possess dollar on EARTH
but doubtless mentally added that they
had 10000 in the earth. They maintained
the truth of their story with such earn
estness that many officers believed them,
and doubtless Gen. Taylor himself had
some doubts on the subject, for he sent
them back to New Orleans to be tried
Strayhorn died of a fever a few days af-
ter reaching the Crescent City. About a
year after the close of the war Jones
reached the house of noted character in
Texas by the name of Crease Smith, who
lived on the Colorado river. Smith had
been soldier at Buena Vista, and he no
sooner saw Jones than he recognized him.
While resting at Smiths house Jones
sickened of a fever and died, but before he
passed away he sent for his old comrade
and made a clean breast Of the whole af-
fair. 1.-The gold" said the dying man. lis
buried on the field of Buena Vista, and
since II will serve no mans purpose for it
to remain hid In the earth, IL you have
mind to go after 1t will tell you where
| II is.'
Mr.. Smith was very anxious to go after
$4,000 In gold, and he listened attentively
to the dying words OF his guest Jones
said that he was on his road to the field
Of Buena Vista when overtaken by sick
ness. THE gold" he said. was buried
at the root of a large pecan tree just
| thirty steps south of Walnut Springs
Smith hardly waited to see his old COM
rade decently buried before he set out
| for Mexico. When he returned to Texas
some months later, he told his friends
| that the trees had all been cut down on
the old battlefield, and since there were
several springs in the vicinity he found
to his utter establishment that he could
not locate the one that the Americans had
called Walnut Springs. He said that he
had dug around hundreds of trees, but
| that he finally became discouraged and
| gave up the search. He told the truth
| He certainly did not succeed in finding
! the gold, but every old veteran who is
| familiar with the facts firmly believe that
there is at this time $4,000 In gold con-
cealed not far beneath the green sward Of
| the famous field OF Buena Vista.
An old confederate veteran who had
been an attentive listener TO the strange
| story of the gray-haired heroes OF Buena
| Vista felt moved by II to occupy their
attention concerning an affair OF much
more interest, 10 Missourians at least
After the battle OF Lexington. Mo, ="
said the ex-confederate, Gen. Price took
! possession Of a very large building In the
city. which had evidently been construct
ed for a female college or seminary. Into
this building our sick and wounded were
| crowded, and was detailed by Gen. Tom
| Harris Of Hannibal to take charge OF a
large room in this hospital occupied by
the sick and wounded belonging to his
brigade. Thinking that would be de-
| tained In such inactive business but a
| short time, and feeling sure that the army
would cross the river and carry the war
into Northeast Missouri, I rode 10 the
hospital, rather glad OF an opportunity
| to be In town for few days Cen Price
az once commenced a hurried retreat to-
ward the exhausted fields OF South Mis-
souri, and the barren hills OF Arkansas.
Some two weeks after the army had re-
i