The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-11-24

Gold ut locktown.
1t would likely be Il surprising thins
to many people should they awake som,
morning to learn that gold had been
discovered in some of the hills of Hun
terdon, that a yeritable Klondike golt
field stretched ont right in front o
our own homes All things are pos.
sible, and this may be one of them. \
perfectly reliable citizen of Fleming
ton tells us the following story:
Some forty wears ago an old gentle
man named Bearder, who lived at that
time on what was known as The
Bearder Homestead, Just back OF
Locktown, decided to dig a we'll He
dug downa depth of feet, and not find
ing any indication of water he ahand-
oned it and began to dig in another
place some distance away from the
first 1t happened that his little
grandson. Willie Nanorman. lad of
$ or 9 Years, was visiting nj the old
homestead at the time, he having come
ont from his home in New York day
or two before the second we'll was be
Gun. The boy was Watching his grand
father dig one day, and presently his
eye detected some glittering objects in
the stones that were being thrown out.
He picked up number of these stones
and asked his grandfather what
the shiny objects were. He was told
that they were Fools Gold" lsul-
rhate of iron. but the boy put several
pieces Of the rock into his pockets and
when he went home he took them with
him
Willie Nanormm grew into young
manhood, and he learned the trade of
mHehinist When hewas about u years
of age he secured good situation in
Easion. Ia. In packing his trunk to
make ready fer his new home he found
lying at the bottom of il the very
stones with their glittering objects
imbedded in them that he had picked
up ON the old Bearder homestead Mt
Locktown more than fifteen years
before He resolved to find ont what
those bright objects really were, and
therefore carried the stones to cole
brated assaNer in New York city. After
n thorough test and examination the
assayer pronounced the glttering
objects in the stones 10 be pure gold.
Mr.. Nanorman said nothing, but went
to his work Mt Easton, resolving III his
own mind that al the first opportunity
he would 90 to the old homestead ON
an exploring visit,
Finally the opportunity came and he
went, But, oh, what changes Time
Ind wrought since his boyhood His
grandparents had been gathered to
their fathers. their homestead had
passed into other hands, aud the old
house had been torn down and new
one erected ON another site. He could
sea rcely locate the spot whore the old
house had stood. for the rank growth
of bramble, and he could not find the
well at all, nor did diligent inquiry
among the neighhors help him any.
The wells had probably been filled up
as worthless long years before.
Aud SO William Nanorman returned
to Easton and the years rolled on But
he did not dismiss the subject from
his mind He had hopes some dizzy of
owning TINT old homestead, when he
would hunt for the gold that he firmly
believed was hidden beneath its sur
face But ii was not to be Two years
ago William Nanomnn sickened and
died
This is briefly the story, and we
print il in good faith To be sure, it
is old but rs Shakespeare said of
Cleopatra Age cannot wither her
nor custom stale her infinite variety, 50
so with tales of gold. The subject
never loses its interest Accident may
some day uncover golden treasure nj
Locktown Dcmocfdt IdrcFfiSer.