The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-07
c,RBIEO THE CENTRAL'S GOLD.
any WHO WAS IN THE PARTY
TELLS of THE EXPERIENCE.

.;,e the war Kegs of the Money
,,ore Taken to Macon for Fear the
,.deraIs would Capture 1t Here.
,r. Hodgson, Then Miss Fannie
po+,er. Who Is Now a Visitor in
a.. city, Went With Those Who
cared for the Treasure-Mrs. HOdg-
Here After Many Years-Is I'm
r.ssed by Old Landmarks.
1,,ring the Civil War the Central Rail
,.i.s gold was taken 20 Macon from Sa-
,r,,h as a measure of safety. it being
s,rsd that the Federas would capture
,b. civ and seize the money. Already the
1-rion forces had taken Fort Pulaski,
and there we're constant alarms. Reports
more spread of contemplated movements
AGAINST the city. and the officials of the
company decided it would be best to take
time by the forelock.
Savannah now has a lady as a visitor
who accompanied the party that sought
safety for the gold. She is Mrs. Fannie
Hodgson. nee Potter, who left, with two
ar three ladies' and gentlemen and guards,
and the treasure. They took it to Ma
con. whence it was removed when threat
ened by Wilson's raiders, but subsequent
" the money was captured.
Mrs Hodgson is at the De Soto with her
children, having come for midwinter
visit 10 her old home. She is known to
many in Savannah, her girlhood friends
welcoming her gladly whenever she pays
Savannah a visit. These occasions. how
eyer. have been but seldom, as this is the
first. So We one last year. In thrty-seven
years.
The city has seemed to Mrs. Hodgson
almost the same as in the years when she
knew it. There have been many improve
ments. and districts that were then re-
mote from the heart of the city have be-
come part of it, handsomely studded
with houses and populous, but many old
famili ar landmarks remain, and Mrs
Hode1 son finds many of her friends living
in tn e houses she had known as their res
licences when she was living among them
some of these friends she recognized
year ago when she had not seen them for
thrty-six years. Sitting in Christ Church
where she had not attended a service since
The war, she watched the congregation en-
ter, ana among tJlG many were some
whose faces she recalled.
Many of the older citizens will remem-
Der Mrs. Hodgson's father, MIR. James
Potter, who died in January, 1862 The
booming of the guns at Fort Pulaski was
heard by the funeral party as they
turned from their sad mission, and it was
feared that the fort could not stand off
the enemy. The Federals were expected
10 enter the city, and already many Sa
Vannahians had sought safety for person
and property in flight. Thinking of the
difficulty, if it should come to the worst
OF moving a sick man, Mr.. Potter's rela-
tiyes considered that, since the end had
10 come, it was wei enough that it came
before the expected entry of the enemy.
The Potters were living at Coleraine.
The property is some eight miles up the
Savannah river, and the place is now
marked by the magnificent grove, known
as Potters Adjoining it was Tweedside,
also owned by Mr.. Potter. Coleraine he
made the winter home of himself and fam
:ly the summer home being at Princeton,
~ j., and its broad acres gave rich re-
turns for their cultivation. The two plan
1ations supplied rice in abundance.
Mrs. HodgSon got away before the man
sions were destroyed. When Sherman
came through with torch and sword he
burned both Coleraine and Tweedslde, ana
the handsome old homes were never re
vetors march, many cases of fine wines
aud liquors were taken from their store
house and carried to Macon. They were
Intended for division among the members
Of the family, but the Federals were soon
knocking at the gates of that city, ana
Mrs Hodgson and her husband, capt. Tel
fair Hodgson, whom she had married the
week before, determined to destroy their
portion of the wine rather than nave IL
fall to the bluecoats and whet their Hire
strained desire for plumber and pilage. 1t
was taken from the main store ana de-
stroyed, but the destruction was unneces-
fary, as the rest was not discovered by
the soldiers.
son of the president of the Central,
r. r. Cuyler. married a sister of Mrs.
tlodgson. He was Capt. r. M. Cuyier
IF me ordnance department of the Con-
Tolerate forces and had charge of the ar
ienal that stood WHERE the De Soto is Mr..
George Cuyler, another son, was cashier
n the Central Railroad Bank and custo-
tian of its funds. He and Mr.. I. NJ.
Cunningham left with Mrs. Hodgson, then
81 girl of II, over the then Gulf Railroad
Tor ThOma sville, some trouble having rem
Tered it impossible for them to use the
central The gold was taken along in
Kegs. and great secrecy was maintained
about it. Arrived at Townsville, wag-
ons were taken for Albany, where con-
lection with the railroad was again to be
made. Mrs. Hodgson recalls that trip
through the country, riding on mattresses
.laced over the gold and tells of the fears
.hdt We're entertained about it. Deserters
rom the army were about the country and
me party stood in dread Of them. The
Trip was made in safety, however, and
'Ae gold was placed in vaults In Macon
without special incident
Mrs Hodgson's home is now in Sewa-
ee Tenn. Her husband was a chaplain
20 the army, and some twenty years ago
was made vice chancellor of the Uni
'ersity of the South Six years ago he
.led, and Mrs. Hodgson and her children
taVe since lived in Sewanee