Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-30
THE CENTURY CO., N. Y.
BURIED WEALTH.
Wounded Soldiers Who Hid Thei
Money and Vnlunbles.

Wounded Soldiers Who Hid Their
Money and Vnlunbles.
From the Kansas City Star.
An old confederate veteran who had been
an attentive listener to the strange story
of the gray-hared heroes of Buena Vista
felt moved by it to occupy their attention
concerning an affair of much more interest,
to Missourians at least.
After the battle of Lexington, Mo-, :"
said the ex-confederate, Gen. Price took
possession of very large building in the
city, which had evidently been constructed
Tor female college or seminary. Into
this building our sick and wounded were
crowded, and 1 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 detained in such
inactive business but a short time and
feeling sure that the army would cross the
river and carry the war into northea st
Missouri, 1 rode to the hospital, rather glad
of an opportunity to be in town for a few
days. Gen. Price at once commenced a
hurried retreat toward the exhausted fields
of south Missouri, and the barren hills of
Arkansas. Some two weeks after the army
had retired the warden of the hospital
whose name, as ] remember it, was either
Garner or Gardner. came around about
midnight and volunteered the rather start
ling information that about 1000 Kansas
jayhawkers were within a few miles of the
city. and he doubted whether they would
show any respect for our hospital flag. This
rather soldierly-looking, gray-haired old
man was followed by a negro, with a bright
new coffee pot full of whisky, and in obe-
dience to a nod or wink from the warden
he frequently poured little of the liquid
in cup and offered 1t to a wounded SOL
der or hospital nurse. The warden ad-
vised the wounded. and, in fact. the whole
hospital corps. to throw all their arms
N n hnr limo h as In, ,~tI1
permit them to be concealed for a few
days. The boys appeared perfectly willing
to act upon the suggestion. and the wound
ed at once laid on the floor by the side of
their cots everything that they possessed
of any value. The old warden. followed by
myself and two or three other soldiers
passed around through the hospital and
gathered everything up and placed the stuff
In pillow cases, using bed tick for the
guns. pistols and swords.
There were several very fine swords.
remember one In particular, that belonged
to a young man from ST. Louis The hilt
fairly glittered with brilliants, and the
poor young fellow cried when he handed it
to u.s. saying that the sword had been car
ried by his grandfather in the old wars
waged by Napoleon There were at least
bushei of pistols and nearly half that
quantity of watches. rings. lockets and
pocketbooks. One wounded soldier who be-
longed to Rains brigade took belt from
his waist which. he said. contained 81 500.
Another officer. in handing over a heavy
pockethook simply remarked, There is
good deal of money in that Never was
piece of business of such Importance con-
Quoted with such carelessness and lack of
all system. No questions were asked and
no names taken or attached to the articles.
Everything. without regard to value or
ownership. was thrown into the pillow
cases or bed tick and carried hurriedly out
Of the hospital. The old man, who was
evidently honest and actuated by the best
intentions, led the way. We did not go
very far. am sure We stopped in little
valley or ravine not more than 400 yards
from the hospital Here we dug a hole
about two feet deep In the earth. and, after
wrapping the pillow cases and bed tick in
a blanket we consigned everything
swords. pistols. watches and money-into
the excavation and covered all with dirt
and carefully replaced the green turf. The
enemy never appeared. and few days
after the scare every man who was able to
walk or ride left the hospital and set out
to Join the army, leaving the citizens of
Lexington to care for the wounded. Now,
1 am just as certain of the fact" added
the old soldier, with great earnestness, las
l am that the stars shine, that not one
single man connected with that affair ever
went back to the spot where we buried all
of that stuff. The wounded soldier who
gave up the belt containing 81 800 died, and
l afterward saw the old warden and two
others who were connected with the fool
ishness In Prices army.
After reaching the street in front of the
hospital we turned to the right with our
backs to the river. and some 200 or 800
yards further on we turned to the left, and
1t was in the first little vale or ravine that
we encountered that the stuff was buried.
l am very sure that we buried several hun
dred dollars and considerable quantity of
valuable jewelry in that hole on that fright
full night, and for thrty-six years 1t has
often been a matter of wonder with me as
to whether or not any one has ever STUN
bled upon the stun. I believe I could walk
straight to the spot, but. strangely enough,
1t never once occurred to me to go there
though / have often needed money"