The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-10-10

Il sounds like a fairy tale, but it is
every word true. Thatis, a number Of
reliable old residents will tell you how
pot Of hidden gold wrought havoc
upon the families who touched it.
The hoodoo begins with the death
Of one James Eckfeid, who was, dur
ing his lifetime, employed by the gov
ernment mint, and en6s--so far as
is known-with the trsg;o determining
lion ot tho ;ife Of Joyepn Bayies, a
laborcr, who burned to death IL his
own home, whether oy the result of
action or design is unknown.
Twelve years ago James Eckfeld
worked in the uint and was trusted
above other employees. He lived in a
little house in Oakland, and his fami-
ly appeared to have the barest neces-
sites Of life. Eckfeld died suddenly,
and in the possession Of q secret
which he was given no time to impart,
f it ever was his desire TO do so. The
family moved out of the house, and
house-wrecker and his assistants came
to tear down the old building To make
room for new.
Among the workmen was Joseph
Bayles. His part Of the contract was
to do some excavating in the cellar.
One day he was busy turning over the
eart:' With his pick when it struck
against something hard. STOPPING
down to investigate he found that he
had uneartLed a miser's pot or shin
ing, yellow gold. Gold, gold by the
pound! Three hundred thousand dol.
lars worth Of the precious metal! A
sight to make man fairly dance with
delight.
1t was all in little squares. and each
square bore stamp Of the United
States government. Joseph Bayles
did not stop to ponder how it got
there. His chief thought was rot of
the rightful owner, but OF himself as
the lucky finder. He was not espe-
cially impressed with the fact that ii
was matter to report to Uncle Sam.
Eckfeld had told no one of this fifth
Of a million that lay hidden in this
house while his family vented for
much that money could buy. The
authorities had never made any inves-
tigation Of the missing wealth, and so
the secret of the hidden gold was still
untold. But Bayles could not keep
the knowledge Of this discovery en-
tirely to himself, for he needed assist
ance in getting lis great wealth away
from its hiding place. So he confdcd
in his two sons, two or three stalwart
men Of the Flora family, Jink Draszle
and Jack Williams, who worked with
him in the tearing down Of the house.
None of these men earned more than
sl.25 day. To them the money ap-
psared Godsend, and something to
be accepted in that light, though each
knew that its discovery was not to be
told Of.
There was, naturally, much disa-
greement about the division Of the
spoil. Men have fought and died
more times than one over the fascina-
ton Of the yellow metal. In this case
there was no bloodshed, and the r,at-
ter was finally agreeably settled. In
the dark of the night wagons might
have been seen stealthi!y going to the
place where the little cottage had
stood and as quietly going away, laden
with hundreds of little blocks Of gold.
But no one saw these wagons, else the
story of the hoodooed money might
have been told differently.
After s=A::!!s ths Bayies ana Flora
families began to put on STYLE" as
their neighbors said. 1t was oil mod
est enough, but far zoo good for the
families Of laborers, and the mystery
OF 1t all was that none Of the men folk
worked any longer.
Joseph Bayles, with the neat little
sum of $87, 900, thought it time to put
BY his pick and shovel aud engage in
something more benefting man Of
means. He went to Calaveras County
and bought big ranch. For time
all was prosperous and fair to look
upon, but droug' t ruined the crops In
little &hile and disease killed the
cattle. The mines also. in wh:ehl
Dayles had invested thousands, did
not pan OUT, and his fortune went
slipping, slipping through his fingers.
Two weeks ago his charrsd remains
we're found the ruins Of the burned
house. This has revived the story Of
the hoodco, which is believed to have
played part in the unfortunate end
Of the lonely man.
Bert Flora was man who worked d