The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05
ANOTHER LOST FORTUNE.
Efforts to Find Three Millions Mis-
laid i'm London.
London Mail.


A quaint advertisement appeared in the
London papers a few days ago, offering
$1,000 for information leading to the re-
eovery of vast fortune alleged to have
Deen LETT by German merchant, who died
In London interstate at the beginning of this
century.
Our representative has obtained from
some of the survivors of the merchants
family living in the neighborhood of Ham
burg the following romantic story which led
to the insertion of the advertisement:
tion, was born in the parish of Steinbeck
not far from Hamburg, in the middle of the
last century. Some time about 177O, on an
what purpose is not known, he had an en-
counter with a forester, whom he killed
and was consequently compelled to fly the
country. He emigrated to Africa. married
the daughter of a rich native chiefsain and
after amassfng considerable wealth made
ms way back to Europe, and established
hlmself, under an assumed name, in Lon
don as a sugar refiner Early in this CEN
fury Such paid a secret visit to has home
his youth. WIN a iiieiiu u
To this friend he related how prosperous
ms circumstances were. and after his de-
ms G rseiatIves. During the troublous years
Of 1Se6-18l4 when the Elbe was blockaded
py the English and Hamburg in the hands
penetrated from abroad. Shortly after the
peace of Paris. however, information
reached steinbeck that Suck had died in
three Decentralization pounds.
Ih1s was corroborated by a ships captain
who, in 1920, sought out the heirs and in
formed them that the inheritance was wait
ing to be claimed. The family who had
been respectable farmers, having become
Impoverished by the long blockadeS and
wars, could not collect money enough to
take the necessary steps to obtain it, and
the authorities were too busy to interest
themselves in private matters The few
aged members of the family who still live
say also that they distinctly remember hear
ing their elders talk of letter arriving at
Stelnbeck presumably from the British au-
thorities on the subject of the Inheritance
Ihls letter had to be refused as the rela-
yves, yves were not in a position to pay the
Steinbeck like all the country round
Hamburg, was then Danish territory and
some or the old people got it into their
heads that the Danish government knew
more of the inheritance that they care to
acknowledge.
Inquiries have more than once been set
on foot to try and find the exact where
apouts or the treasure. which is generally
supposed to be in the hands of the British
Court of Chancery. but the descendants
who are all in obscure circumstances have
evidently not gone the right way to work
more system and a splendid opportunity Of
fers for any one interested in unravelng
mysteries
Suck is reported to have shown his graf
ltude to the country of his adoption by pre-
senting 100000 to ST Paurs Cathedral
There should be no difficulty in ascertaining
whether s'9-h a donation was made, and il
TINS were the case, it would be an impor-
tant clew.
All the facts narrated above were dis
tlnctly in the recollection of the older men,
pers or the family when the last inquiries
were lnstigated fourteen years ago, and,
tnough most OF these persons have since
died 1.-THE tradition is still fresh in the minds
or the present generation.