The sun., 1897-05-09
AFTER BURIED GOLD.
a Maine Man with n Divininx Rod Thinks He
Gan Locate II Old Maiiett's Farm.

SPRINGFIELD. Me-, May AS soon as the
frost comes out OF the ground enough to permit
men to work with spades and pickaxes, n party
will start from this village and explore the old
Mallett farm for buried gold Frank Davis
OF Linneus has been here for week.
using his divining rod different parts
of the farm, and has found spots where,
he is sure. somo kind Of valuable metal
is concealed. Though Davis is a skilled
manipulator OF the witch hazel wand. hav-
ing located dozens OF hidden springs OF liv-
ing water without making single mis-
take. he cannot tell whether the metal
is gold or silver but he is inclined think it is
gold. Whenever he walks over one OF the
lected spots with the witch hazel held alo.t in
his hands the rod bends down violently and
holds there without culver, though it is con.
tinually shaking and wabbling about when held
above great streams OF water. For these rea-
the digger who will try his skill upon the Nal
lett farm.
gold dates back to the closing years of the war.
At that time Malett WAS one OF the richest men
farming and stock raising as well as FROM sell
ing supplies to the crews Of lumbermcn. Though
a b enen Maet was u. i'm ardent o
agitator nor a politic but he was OPP
posed to the war and firmly believed the
burg and before the battle of Gettysburg
armies. old man Maiiett took $4,000 to bangor
and exchanged his greenbacks for $1,000 in
gold paving a heavy preInium for the sake OF
the storekeepCf OH his way home and called in
several nei1 bnrs TO see his purchase. The last
pairing he held in October, 1858 when he
brought out three bags of eagles and half
eagles and poured them upon Il table in the
presence OF about thirty neighbors.
That's enough to see me through and bury
me-, said the old man with chuckle Gold Is
good. no matter which side wins. I'm going To
hide il where nobody but myself can Ind it. and
then let them take my farm and contiscate all
I've got il they want 10 do So They can't get
hold OF my money while live"
The Price OF gold keg S for s9s e@
nn1 e a. eF rn h nd @ s st s%
ment bonds II he had wished; but nobody ever
heard him say he regretted the act or wished TO
driving yoke OF steers home from the black
smith -hophe fell from the sled and a runner
After the funeral his Two surviving children
made long hunt for the missing gold, but
been put. During the next three or four yearsa
good part OF the farm was p!Oughcd up and thor
Oughly searched for the treasure with no better
results. Al the end OF ten years the mnprohi-
able quest was abandoned. Since then Malletts
daughter. who lived on the farm, has died. and
his son has moved to another county. while the
splaCc has been sold TO strangers. The story of
Malett and his buried gold WAS nearly forgot
ten when Davis came here 10 locate well on
Though not specialist IN mineraIogy, Davis
believed he could tnd hidden money as well as
new hazel stick. he feels sure he has found
something ont OF the common.
At present The ground Is soft and very wet
for twenty inches on the surface. below which
are ten inches OF hard frost. When this
thaws out; which will be about May 20. the dig
gers will begin work Davis says the rod indi-
Gates that the treasure Is buried about six feet
under ground, and he believes that the former
diggcrs would have found 1t II they had dug far
enough.