The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-16
Kegs Of Gold and Silver at the
Bottom Of St. Lawrence.
SUNK NINETY YEARS AGO
Paterson, American Patriot, Who Cast
Wealth Into Water, Was Killed By
British Scout

Watertown. N. Y, Sept. 16-somewher.
about the mouth of Chippewa Creek. hid
den beneath the waters OF the ST. Law
renee River I'm the heart OF the summer
| colonies. there rest several kegs OF golc
and silver dropped overheard by tho
American patriot, Samuel Patterson, In
| the war OF 1872
| Patterson moved across the ST Law.
renee and settled with his wife and three
children on a farm near Kingston, ont.
When the war came the British began
enlisting Canadians and Indians.
PRICE PUT ON HIS HEAD.
An effort to compel Patterson to enter
the British ranks led 10 the discovery
that he was an American citizen. and his
property was conflscated. Patterson Sc
cretly secured a small dugout and en-
barked In IL with his wife and children.
and after a perilous trip brought them
Into Chippewa Bay. There, on the banks
OF a small creek. he built a rude house
for their shelter.
Patterson organized a small band of
fellow patriots and from time TO time
incursions were great annoyance TO the
Canadian outposts. and In order to check
them the government offered a reward for
Patterson's capture. dead or alive.
Patterson continued his incursions, but
after he had experienced many narrow
escapes his friends tried to persuade him
to forego his daring for a while, and at
length won from him a promise to retire
after one more expedition.
OVERHEARD THE ROBBERS.
One crisp autumn night Patterson. his
brother Ned and two others started out
OF the bay In a skin and pulled around
Chippewa Point, where they landed and
built a fire. intending TO wait there until
the poon should go down before ventur-
ing nearer the enemy's lines. When the
fire had died out the men lay down for
a short sleep while Patterson started
through the trees toward the other side
OF the point TO reconnoitpe. He had lain
In the bushes near the shore but short
time when he heard the cautious dip of
an oar. and peering out he discovered a
boat containing three men creeping up
along the shore.
to the brush and awaited developments.
The men rowed along until they discov-
cred little eddy. and into this they
turned the bow of their boat. Drawing II
UP, they carefully concealed II with the
overhanging limbs and started back into
the woods In his direction. They went
up a short distance until they were hidden
In clump of trees. where they halted
and started a fire, around which they
gathered 10 warm themselves.
ROBBED THE BANK BURGLARS.
BY creeping a little nearer Patterson
was able to overhear their conversation,
and from II he learned that they were
bank robbers escaping with large booty
taken In the city OF Kingston.
Patterson edged away from the camp
and made detour for their boat. Reach
ing II. he found in II several kegs of gold
and silver coin. Quietly pushing the skiff
of. he got In and drifted out OF earshot
and then took UP the oars and pulled
for the mouth OF the creek. He found q
place suited to his needs and sunk the
treasure, and then rowed back, beached
the boat and went to awaken his COM
rades, TO embark for the Canadian shore
SHOT BY A BRITISH SCOUT.
Patterson insisted on rowing, and while
he pulled the oars he told them of his
adventure of the night, ending by saying:
Boys, when we get back tonight I'll
show you where 1 put the stuff, and
we'll whack up"
A moment later a rife shot rang out
In the stiffness and the oarsman fell back
with bullet through his heart 1t had
been fired by a British scout on the
shore. Patterson's compatriots sprang
to the oars and turned the boat back,
reaching Chippewa Bay about daylight,
bringing the body OF their leader home
TO his family.
After seeing him laid to rest in the
earth Pattersons companions began to
search for the hidden treasure and for
many days they dug in the banks OF the
creek, dredged the river bottom and ex-
plored the bay without success.
TREASURE NEVER FOUND.
So far as known. It was never found.
1t is not doubted that Patterson dropped
the kegs overbcH A. at some spot which
he could easily I'D again by landmarks,
In preference TO landing and burying It,
Many an old settler knows the story
and has sought I'm the blue waters for
the treasure. Many river fisherman had
gaxed over the gunwale of his boat and
longed for divining rod TO point him the
way 10 IL. Somewhere I'm the dark depths
II lies. to be found some time, perhaps.
when the story of~& loss has been for
gotten.