The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-07-30

hUOut IHc yeuT 1000 SnarlOttc, "
e., was only beginning TO be consider
ed as a point Of future Importance
No more stores, or other buildings,
incumbered the earth than would have
been expected in country seat of any
large thriving county, such as old
Mecklenburg, the birthplace of the
"Hornct's Nest Then, or shortly
afterwards, was established the Bank
Of Charlotte, which continued in busi
ness until near the end Of the great
civil war, when it had on hand some
$40. 900 in specie.
When thc peerless Lee surrendered
and the federal armies wcro swarming
over the southland the officers Of this
bank became very uneasy about that
coin in their possession, and they Sc
creted it somewhere in the neighbor-
hood Of Charlotte. 1t was not long
before Johnston surrendered: Stone
man captured Salisbury GO miles
north of Charlotte,) while detach
ment of his corps was going down
the south side Of the Catawba river to
destroy the railroad bridge at Nation
Ford, 20 miles southwest of Charlotte
and B miles from Fort Mill. S. G.
The bank officers became alarmed
for their treasure and for themselves,
because they doubted not that they
would be tortured into betrayal Of
the hiding place Of the money or be
killed if they did not reveal it when
Stonemans 5 men should take the town. /.
The -pecie-mostly silver-had been
pes. d in four strong boxes, but
~ ~ should they put the boxes?
Liter consultation they turned over
oheir funds to Hon. j. Harvey Wilson
Zone of the directorsJ, with request
to take what steps he might deem best
for the concealmcnt thereof. Mr..
Wilson accepted the responsible trust,
but it was uncertain where 10 go, how
to go, or whom lie could get to assist
him. His nephew, Captain W,
had the previous day returned from
the surrender wornout and broken in
health. To his nephew he went with
his troubles. The captain was sick
and could i'll bear cross country ride,
but, after repeated opportunities, he
agreed to assist his uncle in the um-
welcome employment. After night.
fall these two men placed the four
boxes in Captain W---'s buggy
and went toward Fort Fort Mill, S.
c., in the dark, cold and rain.
Let it be remembered that such a
journey, undertaken ut such time,
was not only uncomfortable, but at
tended with danger. Many struggling
soldiers were returning from the front
discontented, morose and often desper-
ate, bands of marauders under guise
of soldiers plundered defenseless
homes and any of these might be very
we'll pleased to capture such a booty,
besides it was not impossible that
they might meet some of Stoneman 8
men. However, all things considered
it was probably safer to undertake
such an enterprise at night than in
daylight.
After toilsome journey over bad
roads, in the dark and rain, they ar
rived at a point about l mile above
Fort Mill, II miles from their starting
point. Here they stopped. Mr.. Will.
son remained with the buggy while
the captain should go to his father 8
old home for tool to bury the money.
The latter did not want to arouse any
one lest his mission should be detect.
ed. Finding nothing outside, he
slipped into the mansion, got the fire
shovel and returned TO his uncle.
The boxes were then taken to o
lonely spot and buried in the edge Of a
branch, after which our travellers
sought rest in the old mansion at
about 2 o'clock q. nj. Next morning
the captain, fearing that the work
done in the dark was incomplete, rode
by circuitous route to tie place Of
concealment. Looking around to be
sure he was not observed, he bull,
over the spot an irregular brush heap
of such boughs and bushes as was con-
venicat and returned to the house by
a different circuit.
Mr. Wilson started home on fine
horse belonging to the captain, b&t
had not gone far before he was stopped
by some men claiming to belong to
Ferguson's brigade, par. of Wheel
er's command who had been recruit
ing their horses in Georgia. These