The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-09
A BURIED TREASURE.
is THIS THE TRUTH OR is 1T
FICTION
A Salem Merchant Receives a Letter
from Spain That Should be Veri-
fed Before the Dirt Digging
Sets In-Marvelous Story.

Sets In-Marvelous Story.
Is there a vast fortune of 500 600
francs in French bank notes hidden
away in some secluded dell in the
vicinity OF Winston-Salem2
This is question which is agitating
the minds of several gentlemen in this
community just now.
A prominent citizen Of Salem has
just received letter purporting to be
from one ex Captain Juan Basanta, d
Cuban Republican, now in prison at
Barcelona, Spain, in which he conf1des
to the Salem gentleman that about
six months ago while IN Winston
Salem he hid away the sum of money
named above in a strong iron box and
prepared complete topographic plan
OF the spot. This was done with the
aid OF metric ribbon. He also
enumerated on a separate sheet all
the particulars necessary for the loca
tion of the spot.
This plan, the ribbon and the par
ticulars he placed in a secret compart-
ment in strong trunk which he has
safely deposited"
Captain Basanta proposes to reveal
the hiding place to the gentleman and
give him one third of the fortune pro-
vided he will become guardian Of his
teens, who is now in college at Toledo.
Spain, during the Captains term of Is
years imprisonment, upon which he is
soon to enter. The Salem gentleman
must first advance the money to pay
the voyage of Miss Basanta and the
Captains confident to Salem. The
present address of the latter he is to
LOT HI 1, h. alo
tleman is to receive in very
few days. There is also a balance
due at the college at Toledo which
the Salem man must pay before the
girl will be released by the school au-
thorities. Under the terms of the pro-
position he is to take Miss Basanta
into his home here in Salem and look
after her education and training as he
would his own daughter.
Capt. Basanta says that the reason
he has selected this gentleman to
undertake the great trust is that
many Americans have recommended
him in the very highest terms The
letter is cOuched in thrilling and
confidence begetting language and
withal has semblance of plausa-
bility.
In explaining how he came by so
vast fortune the Captain says that
u d
certain Spanish horse regiment but
was secretly member OF a Republi-
can faction plotting for the overthrow
OF the Spanish Government. He Sc
cured orders from bae chief OF the
faction to desert and carry with him
400 600 francs Then in the company's
Golfers. The Republicans gave him
an additional 100, 600 francs and sent
him to America to solicit arms and
nr 4 IF,vAc f.f La.
the Republican band in Spain had
been annihilated and he is therefore
now the sole owner of the Vast for
tune
1t was when passing through Sa- |
lem six months ago on his mission of |
begging arms that he received news of |
very serious illness of his daughter
She was all that was left him In this |
world and he resolved to hasten to her |
start with so enormous sum of |
money, hence his resolve to secrete it. |
in this locality before starting on the |
journey. He reached Toledo safe and |
found his dauk hter convalescing; but |
just as he started to escape to a land |
Of safety Spanish detectives seized him |
and he now languishes in prison and |
must continue so for Is years.
Capt. Basanta promises the Salem |
gentleman that he will in few days |
send statement from the governor |
Of the Barceloni prison which will give |
all the particulars in regard to the |
Jaw suit against him. In this letter |
he will also disclose the address of |
mis- confident, VINO it is necessary shall !
DE in Salem before the fortune can be /
In the meantime the Salem gentle
man is awaiting developments in de
,idedly dubious frame of mind.