The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-08-04
A See rch for Pirate Gold.

On a raw and gusty winters night,
at the close of the last century, an old
sailor lay dying in a New England fish
ing village. Having missed his natural
exit in the arms of the sea, he rroftcd
to indulge in some deathbed utterances
Three young men, named respectively
Maginnis, Smith and Vaughn. were there
to hearken at his words. 1t is not known,
neither does the event explain, whether
the dying tar bore them gratitude or
grudgc But he unfolded to them a
secret, whose magic has charmed a quar-
ter of million of dollars out Of the
banks of shrewd, if adventurous, men
of business.
In the first place. he acknowledged
that his father had been a better if not
a more honest, son of the sea. His
father had pursued the difficult career
of pirate, and had succeeded in dying
peacefully at home in the sunset Of life
Fifty years before this gloomy night
his father had crossed the bar. Yet
while the timber of his voice was still
sound he had held chart before the
eyes of his son and, pointing out to him
Il certain island in Malone bay, Nova
Scotia, the dying father Informed him
that OH this island lay buried gold, jew
elry and silver in enormous quantity.
Here had been the treasure house of
turn, was bequeathing the Self-same
chart and revelation to the deathwatcI-
ers, Maginnis, Smith and Vaughn.
why did you never search for the
treasure yourself?" they asked, in ill.,
yelled skepticism.
The -grimed and wrinkled chart fell
from the nerveless hold of the old sail
nr 1oI I,
trace of the chart for many years. He
had recovered it only when age pre-
cluded any attempt at search for the
treasure. His mouth and eyes gaped
wide as he pronounced the final word
of his explanation, and he lay dead.
The old sailor had chosen the proper
psychological moment to divulge his rare
secret. Spring had hardly thawed the
frost-bound earth before Smith, Magin-
ward Nova Scotia, prepared to disinter
the pirates hoard. They soon located
Oak island, in Malone bay. as marked
in the chart. They took possession of
this bit of earth under the settlers act
and. began surveys. They found a GER
tain hollow spot. where the soil was un-
usually soft. Nearby stood a veteran
oak, whose bark was knitted with strange
symbols. These were hopelessly unintel-
lISIUle, lueIelOie tHe lllOSC nlHSulI-
cent. At the stem of the oak lay time
worn ships block. Instinct babe them
dig here.
AS their excavation progressed the soil
was found to be softer, though the walls
were firm. They judged themselves to
be in a filled pit. Ten feet below the
earth's surface they discovered some oak
timber. They descended thirty feet fur
Their and at each interval of ten feet they
came upon the oak timber. which they
concluded had been laid as side supports.
Here their adventure was suddenly in
terrupted. The inhabitants roundabout,
a simple and superstitious folk, had al
ways regarded the trcasure-Seekers with
suspicion. This inhospitablc sentiment
the adventures had fostered hy their So
crctive habits. The sense of the commu-
nifty at length became Imperative, and
Maginnis, Smith and Vaughn sought a
more tranquil resting place for the time
A luck interval of seven years was al
lowed to pass before the treasure-seek-
ers reappeared on Oak island. They had
succeeded in interesting DR.. Lynds of
Truro, Nova Scotia, and at the sugges-
ton of the new associate company was
organized. This time hole ninety feet
deep was dug in the same spot. At this