The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-29
BURIED TREASURE
POLICEMAN DISCOVERS FAMILIES
DIGGING IN PANHANDLE WOODS.
Norwood Farmers Who Have Listened
to Pipe stories About Indians
-Fruitless Search.

Some place in indianapolis, according to
the pipe dreams which some people love TO
indulge in. lies a buried treasure. Living in
this city are several men. now quite old,
who claim to have heard from their fathers
that about a hundred years ago three In
dams came TO this place to make search for
this same treasure, but were unable to find
1t before being driven away. These natives
of the forest had rough plans, maps traced
on bark, which they had received in some
mysterious way, and which were believed
to furnish the clew to the hidden wealth.
From the maps the Indians learned that Ii
had been buried in what is now known as
the Panhandle woods, which is part of the
railroad company's property in Woodside.
There is also another tale Of how two In
dams came here and began a search for an
other hidden treasure, which they secured
after much digging on private proArty q
mile or more east of WOodside. When thu
owner of the place saw what was going on
he endeavored. with the aid of a gun, to
drive the trespassers away. Two rifles in
the hands of the Indians. 80 the story ran,
persuaded him to acquiesce in the proceed
iLgs.
Charles Anthrum. a well-to-do farmer liv-
ing near Norwood, has long listened TO these
tales and became so imbued with the idea
of finding the wealth that he undertook a
systematic investigation OF the matter.
After much time and trouble he was so con-
WINGED of the truth of the stories concerning
the buried treasure in Woodside NAT ne
purchased a mineral rod and a magnetic dip
needle to aid him in the search. With him
were associated Charles Griffith, of Nor
$500. - m - - ,otal piftpnnn fun
produce peddlers of this city. The mineral
rod is 4 mirer's instrument used for the
location of metals. and consists of two long
pieces of whalebone and a glass tube about
an inch in diameter and four inches long.
The tube is filled with filings of copper,
silver and gold. The whalebone strips are
fastened to one end Of the tube and TO the
other is fastened a magnetized point. Inc
instrument is held in the hands, and IL there
be within a reasonable distance any metals
having properties which attract the roo the
point leans toward their location Inc olp
needle is used TO determine the depth or d
located deposit. The prospectors started out
some weeks ago after the receipt OF the IN
and for several days tramped the
woods in search of deposits Finally, De-
coming discouraged with their useless ell,
forts east of the city, they went west, ana
for a number Of days tramped the WOODS
there.
POINTED TO METEORIC ROCK.
III Ill DClQ bhC " oA0 o
much surprised to feel it pull to the side. he
alleges. This was the first satisfactory
working of the rod the men had witnessed
and the tip was followed. The rod led them
to a certain spot where it turned downward.
Marking the spot, they started at another
point and again they were led to the same
place. Then the dip needle was used and
the object Of their hopes and desires was
found to be buried only ten feet. Spades.
shovels, crowbars and other tools for ex-
cavation were procured. and after much
hard work a stone about five inches in diam
eter was removed and taken some distance
away. After this the Instruments, instead
of pointing TO the hole where the stone had
been found. pointed to the stone. winch MAS
believed TO be of meteoric origin. This
stone is now in the Statehouse awaiting the
return and examination of the state geolo-
gist. So much encouraged were the men
that further search went on, but without
success until a man named Cook. living In
Woodside, sent for Anthrum and told him or
a dream he had. The dream was OF the
awakening, he could not recall the exact 10
cation. However, he believed it could be
determined, and so thought Anthrum. Here
sistance said Anthrum. The party started
forth one night about two weeks ago. Grit
fifth says the first bearings were taken about
a half mile east of Woodside. Their first
effort gave them a clew and the point
turned westward. The instruments led
tnem 10 a large DtcCn tree III liS 4 a
woods. about fifty feet north Of Southeast
ern avenue. Starting at various places
Anthrum says they were each time led TO
this same tree where the instrument would
| point downward. On the tree were various
marks, which the imagination of the men
pictured as blaZes made by the Indians to
mark the spot. The matter was kept quiet.
THE DIGGING SATURDAY.
Last Saturday night the men. with their
families. drove in buggies to the place and
oopop,apoaI diooin~ They had nno small
| lantern which was carried TO and fro. Pa
trolman Mefford, of that district. saw the
light, and as he has had much trouble with
tramps he thought some of them had con-
gregated at the place. He lost no time in
| reaching there and was then advised Of the
nature Of the 'diggings." The men took
| turns at handling the spade. and 1T was
not long until the required depth which, by
the needle, was shown TO be fve rect was
reached. Another trial with the needle in,
dlcated that they had gone too deep and
also that the treasure was directly under
the tree. Then a little tunneling was done.
Then more trials with the rod and needle.
| and more tunneling. Finally about 2 o'clock
the work stopped, the hole was filled up and
the party went home.
were on a trail and had actually dug a hole
six or eight feet deep. One OF the witnesses
to this, though not advised OF their object,
they had gone did some digging for him
self, and took from the hole gold OF the
value Of $1,000, according to Griffith. He
said that this man. when he first came to
the "diggings" was obliged to borrow a
horse and wagon in which to ride. but he
later appeared on the streets with as fine a
turnout as could be purchased here. Neither
the location of the valuable find nor the
name of the. lucky man could be learned.
! The news of the search for treasure in
Woodside in some way reached town ana a
number of curious people went out TO wit
wait they were disappointed. as were the
searcherS. and left.