The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-09-19
BURIED GOLD.
The Anxious but Unsuccessful Search
 of Widow Futch.

of Widow Futch.
 The death of Mrs. Futch, an aged lady of MouItrie, a small settlement on the Mantazas River, seven miles south of St. Augustine, recalls a story of buried gold, which now lies undis- covered probably upon the old farm on which she spent many years, and in quest of which she devoted many years of her life.
 Her husband the late Joseph Futch, was man of secretive habits, who did not divulge his business to his own family. He was thrifty cattleman and like many woodsnen had a horror of these modern methods of banking. 4 number of years ago MT. Futch sold to MT. William J. Sanchez, who is still in business here, a bunch of cattle for which he received $1,300 in gold. MT. Sanchez and his father, Mr. Venancio Sanchez, enjoyed the confidence of nearly all the people of St. Johns coun- ty with whom they had extensive deal- ings. In a burst of confidence MT. Futch told MT, Sanchez that the gold received from him he had buried and that no living person knew of it's exist ence, or it's hiding place.
 He also said that whenever he re- ceived money which he did not have im- mediate use for he converted it into gold and made another deposit in Moth- CT Earth. He was tempted to reveal to MT. Sanchez the spot where his treasure lay, but the latter begged him not to tell him, as if perchance some person should track him to his hiding place and make away with the money, he might perhaps always suspect Mir. Sanchez as the only person who knew his secret. Mir. Futch was urged to in- form his wife, but he declined to do this. He promised however, that if at any time he became i'll, or anything ser- ious happened to him, he would send for him and tell him where the money was hidden.
 About four years ago MT. Sanchez received hurried summons to go out to the F'utch place. He mounted sad- dle horse and galloped out to the old farm. MT. F'utch lay there speeches. and almost unconscious. He endeav- ored, however to make signs which were unintelligible and the secret died upon his lips.
 Mir. Sanchez told the story to Mrs. Futch, who ever since, until her death, has been unceasing in her efforts to discover the treasure. The news grad ually got abroad and one day Mrs Futch was visited by an aged white man who assured her that he could with 8 divining rod locate the lost treasure A party of young men were formed to accompany him, one of them being Cornelius Dupont, who still lives in the neighborhood.
 The trip was made in accordance with approved traditions in the dead of night. After tramping around the country for nearly two hours the divining rod suddenly bent toward the ground. Amid suppressed excitement the old man pushed steal rod into the earth. At a depth of few feet he struck a hard substance. Dupont, to make sure. took an axe and drove the rod firmly into the obstruction. After vigorous digging they found that the rod had pierced the root of a huge oak and they had their trouble for their pains. They were greatly disappointed but Mrs. Futch never tired in search ing for the lost money until within few days of her death.-St. Augustine Letter to the Atlanta Journal.