Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-12-03
BURIED TREASURE.
Tho Finder of a Pot OF Money, But
Profitcd Little by His
Discovery.

y
II never told you about the buried
treasure I found, did IT, said an old
resident as he leaned back in his chair
rehectively. 1T was a long time ago,
but / remember it as if it were yester-
day. was sitting in my Office one aft
ernoon about half asleep when an old
Mexican interrupted my thoughts with
a seryile 'Buenas tardes, senor.'
II looked around half expecting to
see seller of lottery tickets, but was
mistaken. The man before me was very
ancient in appearance. Deep wrinkles
were in his face and his hair was snowy
white. His clothing was neat and
clean, and he seemed to have the man
ner Of an hasendado peon. And SO it
proved. 4
upon my invitation lie came in, sat
down, not, however, without a number
of profuse apologies. Then he told his
story. He remembered me, he said, on
account Of visit 1 had made into the
interior Of Oaxaca several years before.
l had given him peso for guiding me a
part of the way through the mountains.
He had never forgotten how kind had
been to him. After singing my praises
for time he got to the pith Of his tale.
He knew where there was a buried
treasure. Yes, he remembered that
many, many years ago it had been
buried during the wars. He did not
dare touch it himself, as it was guarded
by spirits, but the senior could get it, he
thought. If SO, the senior might be will
ing to give him part Of it for the in
forma ton.
At first / didn't take much stock in
the story. but gradually, under the in
huence Of the old mans impressive and
apparently truthful statement, began
to get interested. His story was long
and rambling, but the point insisted
upon was that the treasure was there
beyond the shadow Of a doubt AS had
business that necessitated my visiting
that part of the country in which ne
said the treasure was located, l agreed
finally to take the old mapsalong. So,
few days after, l found myself on
horseback at Oaxaca, with the Mexican
as my guide.
When we started out to find the
treasure the old man suddenly got a
scared streak on him and refused to
give me full directions. lie would not
lead me to the spot, but hung behind
and spoke seldom. Senior will have to
find it himself. do not know where it
is, but and he would hesitate mo-
ment, it might be in this direction
Then he would point in Il certain direc-
ton. kept going in this direction for
some time. Finally I got discouraged
and had notion to turn back.
Perhaps the senior might turn to
the right and go over that hill,' the
old man then said. I turned and kept
on until we came to q broad field. Here
I stopped.
The treasure might be in field
near hill, under a big stone,' returned
he again. No more would he say l
then rode around the field, looking for
q stone. I soon found one near q big
tree. The stone was too heavy to move.
so called on the old man to help me.
Not bit Of it. The senior can do as
he pleases,' he said. soon found, how
ever, that the stone, although very
large, was balanced on another, so that
could move it. A little digging under
one side soon brought to light box
which, when broken open, showed q
large amount Of gold and silver coins
Sure enough, the old man was right. I
put them in a sack, hoisted them on my
horse and came back on foot to town
Now, here Is where made my mis-.
take. AS the coins were ancient, was
afraid to dispose Of them, as onc-haIi
Of buried treasure, you know, goes
to the owner Of the land on which it IS
found. I sounded an old Mexican who
was sort of banker, and he agreed 10
dispose of the coins for a small percent
age. After he got the money. though
he changed his mind and kept about
three-fourths, under the threat of ex.
posing ne. The result was got about
S1,5Oo out of the deal, one-third Of which
I gave to the old man. Mexican Two
Republics.