Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-16

for a clew, but the native declared he
would devote the remainder of his days to
following the matter up.
1t was three years before anything more
was learned of the rajah's treasure. Then
a native who was confined in prison at
Lucknow for theft told "A story which later
on reached the cars Of government officials.
During the last six months of the war the
regiment to which he belonged was en-
camped for some days near the old ruins.
Nearly all the natives had come to realize
that the English rule would soon be re-
stored, and this man and Ave comrades de-
cided to desert their colors and make their
way to the east. Believing they would be
pursued if they started off across the coun-
try, they secreted themselves among the
ruins until their comrades marched away.
They clambered over walls and stone
heaps and crept amid vines and bushes
until reaching the center of the ruins and
finding a hiding place. In removing some
of the debris for their own convenience
they came across the treasure, which was
in teak wood and iron boxes.
Here was the ransom of the greatest
king in the world to be divided among six
soldiers, not one of whom had ever been
possessed of $25 at once in his life, but yet
the devil Of avarice soon entered into all
hearts. In making a division of the spoils
they quarreled, and within five minutes
of the first hot words three Of them lay
dead. The three survivors were content
that their shares had doubled, but the
question was what to do with the treasure.
They could carry only a few handfuls Of
it away IN their persons, even if they
could find purchasers in those turbulent
times. After remaining in seclusion for
two weeks and at a time when the neigh
borhood was clear of troops the treasure
was carried a distance Of nine miles to-
ward the Ganges and reburied in a thicket.
The three men then started for Delhi, each
having a few of the gems with him, but
within a week they were captured by mu-
timers and two of them shot down. The
third was saved by influence and joined
the troops and served to the end of the
war. He was ut Lucknow enlisting a
party to go after the treasure when he
committed a robbery and was sentenced to
Jail for a year.
The government lost no time in investi-
eating this story. The prisoner retold ii
to officials and added such detail as made
it plain that he was telling the truth. He
was promised a pardon and 10 per cent of
the value Of the treasure for acting as
guide, and he led a party straight to the
spot. The hole where the treasure had
been buried was speedily found, but of the
gems and jewels not one remained. The
despoilers had in turn been despoiled.
1t was a year before another clew was
found, and then it came through a woman.
She was the wife Of a ryot, or farmer, and
from a hiding place In the thioket had seen
the three soldiers bury the boxes and cas-.
kets. Her husband was in the rebel army,
and after a few weeks, finding the soldiers
did not return for their booty, she dug it
up and reburied it in one of the cultivated
fields. Her husband was killed In battle,
and at the close of the war, when bands Of
natives were riding about and %plundering
right and left, her hut was one day visited
by a band of six scoundrels who threatened
her life. Being greatly terrified by their
actions, she told them of the treasure, and
they were speedily in possession of it.
They decided to convey it down the
Gauges by boat. 1t was taken to the river
Oh horses by night, but instead Of pur-
chasing a craft they seized one by force
and murdered the crew of three men. This
craft, with the six robbers on board, was
seen by various parties during the next
four days, but it was a month later before
the government got track Of it. Every
effort wa then made to discover what had
become of the men and their plumber.
1t was found that the boat had reached
Allahabad, where two men went ashore to
| purchase supplies, and she was again seen
by various parties 30 miles below the city.
Then all traces Of her were lost. Every
seaport was watched and every dealer in
gems notified, but it was months before
any new developments took place. Then
a villainous looking native offered some
diamonds and rubies for sale in Bombay
and was arrested. He had on his person
about $50, 600 worth of unset gems. For
several weeks he refused any explanations,
but at length confessed that he was the
leader of the gang who got the treasure
from the woman.
After passing Allahabsd they started to
divide the treasure. As all were grasping
and avaricious a quarrel arose, and in the
height Of this quarrel the boat ran upon a
snag and received such damages that she
soon filled and went down. Five Of the
men and all the treasure except that found
on this man went to the bottom in 40 feet
of water. The fellow %stubbornly refused
to name the locality or to go with a party,
and after a few weeks died in prison Of
fever. A dozen different parties searched
for the wreck at much trouble and ex-
pense, but it had been covered by mud or
sand and could not be found. OF the vast
treasures Of the rebel rajah, computed on
good authority at from ST., 900, 900 to
$50, 900, 900, the trifiing amount found on
the robber was alone recovered. Only last
year a party under orders Of the govern.
ment made a new attempt to discover the
wreck, but after q search of four months
gave it up in despair.