The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-01
The Wandering Treasure

| ing with the events of his remarkable cares
For years he was deservediy one OF the
most prominent figures in the politics of his
state But there Is one thing for which he
has received an overdue amour, OF credit;
and that is IN the preservation Of the pub
&c school fund OF the state during the war.
Tho history OF that celebrated fund briefly
Is as follows:
Peabody donations and other public non-
eys amounting 20 81. $1,000 was the fund
When The Bank OF Tennessee was organiz-
ed this amount was turned into bank stock
and formed the nuSles Of the bank capital
For use OF this fund the state required the
bank 20 pay annually 10000. The bank
consisted OF one mother-bsnk IN Nashville.
with :hree branches in each of the other
three divisions OF the state-eas,. middle
and west-and each branch had as pro
ratio OF capital or stock.
Two years before the war Jesse Brown
was elected cashier Of the branch bank .,
Trenton, IN west Tennessee and proved IN
every way a most exemplary official. A
quiet. slender man he was with an unob-
strusiye manner: but under that quiet de-
neanor was depth OF resolution and in
1
ring times that followed. but which were
never found wanting A warm personal
| friend OF Andrew Johnson. he was ever
a close observer OF public affairs. and later
| on he was offered The nomination for gov
ernor but declined II, because he could no,
| indorss The proposed platform.
|
Such was the man in the Trenton bank
When Nashville was evacuated General
Beauregard. realizing the peril threatening
| the state banks, ordered the removal OF the
bank moneys and the state archieves 70 a
place of safety. Governor Harris concur
red In the order. and so the cashiers packed
up the contents of their vaults and started
10 seek safety. After various wanderings
and escapes and changes of program the
cashiers OF the three western branches me.
| al Athens. Ga Here the other two cash
iers turned over their part Of the treasure
30 Mr.. Brown and returned home. carrying
with them the necessary memoranda TO
| show what had become OF their charge.
| From place 10 place Mr.. Brown went with
| his precious cargo. striving 20 preserve IT
from the hands OF the enemy. When dan
ger threatened one hiding place he would
| possible the heavy boxes were loaded on
| cars and thus transported; but at times
| wagons were the only vehicles available
and in these the treasure was wh.sked
away at the approach OF the federal forces.
In the towns where stops were made
room was always hired and the boxes and
kegs were counted and deposited there.
And there Jesse Brown kept his watch by
day and by night spread his bed upon the
boxes. Often he and his negro body ser
want were the only guards the treasure
had. For while one OF the sub-officials.
Shepherd by name. was his companion
Shepherd. looking at the mattress spread
over the valuable boxes. laughingly re-
marked that he and Mr.. Brown. though
fugitives. were the only people in the coun-
try who slept on bed of gold!
Two weeks before the surrender OF Lee all
the Tennessee bank treasure was concealed
at Augusta, Ca. the cashiers in charge and
scme of the state officers having worked
their way to that point Here was held
a conference 10 decided what TO do when
Thomas took possession OF the city. One
after another the cashiers and officials were
called away or feeling themselves In inn
minent peril. went away for safety. No
one ventured to go home. for Tennessee
was in the hands OF the federals and price
was upon Governor Harris head. OF all
the men in charge OF the bank effects,
Jesse Brown was the only one who offered
TO 90 back 10 Nashville and deliver them
Up TO the existing government authorities
Wild stories have foated through the
press as 10 have Governor Harris-with
price on mis- head-boldly entered Brown
lows presence and threw the bag OF gold
Cthe school fund.- upon his excelency's
table with fierce words of scorn and then
walked scathless away. Another legend
has him flying through the country with
the money in a belt abou; his waist. defy
ing everybody who crossed his path. Botl
of these stories are prepos,erous when the
bulk.ness OF the treasure is remembered.
re could not have carried In his hands /
what IL required a wagon 10 haul
The fact f.. Governor Harris never had 1
charge OF the school fund during the whole /
OF its wanderings. and he had nothing 1
whatever 20 do with its return 20 the state 1
authorities. With q price upon his head. !
It behooyed HIM 10 keep out Of Brownlows 1
reach. II ne was ever 20 serve MS state Or
family again: ana 50 when Jesse Brown .
volunteered 10 take the treasure home Gov I
ernor Harris was far away on the road 70 1
Mexico and safety.
After The conference. In Augusta the other
bank officials scattered. and thus Jesse
Brown was left IN control OF al the assets
Of the Bank Of Tennessee then stored IN the
vaults in Augusta. which city vas In the
hands Of the federal general. Thomas With
nothing Csc left him 10 do. Mr. Brown. /
rspresen ting the people o, Tennessee. made
formal surrender 10 General Upton. gho.
the United States govern
-nert. received and recelptsd FOR the s&rre.
Even to this cay Mr.. Brown speaks IN he
vsrrgest praise OF General Upton both as
a. solder szla a man The treasure was ,a.k
be- sent dtsc: 20 Nashville. and Mr. Browf<
y a. furnished uith transportation and a
nliits-y guard 20 carry e back Standing
in ne car door he counted and checked OF
lo-fv boxes % treasure AMI he state a.
-hieves Then the car was securely locks5
ana the key put into his hands Leaving
~ fsaeral officer ard guard n charge %
ne car. Mr. Broxn fastened on sasai -
Nashville and Offered re key. Win fuH
,s-ticuIars from Up;cu 70 BToEHl3~. But
he governor refused % receive the key by
sell. and 50 Nr. Brown waited lie sfFfvz.
= re train Those brief dzSs were ne
lniy ones re had spss; cut OF s-zaf ami
oUch q ne treasure since u had ben -. !
: rs care When ne train cane s> went /
With Governor Br0~nlo1 20 Ire essof. ard
landing IN the car 5C0r. ne sszsn cssckse
n TIE boxes ard rolls. snt received proper
IcxacEfe5gsras from re sovs-ne-. And Z
zen for tns 1-st tine "a months - cozat5 :
1een WITHOUT Anxiety Ths s1sznt q &