The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-01-25
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Beers BURIED TREASURE,
Romantic Story Of Futile Search IN
Of Ultimate Recovery.

Romantic Story Of Futile Search and
Of Ultimate Recovery.
News was received Mt Krugersdorp
recently. according to Pretoria cor
respondent Of the Washington Star, of
the discovery In the bushveld beyond
Louis Trichardt's drift and the Spelon-
ken OF the famous buried treasure
which was secretly removed from the
Pretoria mint before Lord Roberts
forces entered the capital and which
formed the romantic issue In the trag-
edy eliminating In the execution Of
ex-POliceman Swartz. The treasure,
which consists Of bar gold and coin,
approximately amounts to 10000
ounces and Is valued at a quarter Of
a million sterling.
The story Of its burial and recovery
Is sensational In the extreme. 1t IL a
history Of blood and crime. no less
than six men having lost their lives
IN the burial and the subsequent
search for the gold, which has lasted
since the declaration Of peace. OF the
original party which was dispatched
to hide the gold not a single soul 10
alive to-day. 1t appears that some
twentyfour hours before the occupa-
ton Of Pretoria by the imperial forces,
orders were received ut the mint from
the late President Kruger and Mr.
Iseitz, the then state secretary. to re-
move the greater portion of the gold.
which was extracted from the Robin
son. Rose Deep, Ferrelra and other
mines to a secluded spot In the bush
weld, beyond Petersburg.
1t was known by the Old Transvaal
officials that wagon with four mules,
accompanied by six specially selected
burghers, left Pretoria ut midnight
with the gold and vanished into the
weld. The ex-p0llceman, Swartz, and
the man whom he murdered and for
which he suffered the last penalty
were among the party. After burying
the gold four OF the wardens OF the
treasure rejoined the commandos; but
n luckless fate seemed to have pur-
sued them and they were all killed
shortly afterward.
For some time the search appeared
to have died out. and It was only
through second or third hand knowl-
edge that a Krugersdorp syndicate of
six, including ex-Gens. Kemp and
Celliers. ex-PolIce Lieutenant Van wi.
w. ID. Smith and 8. J. Kemp. cousin
of the ex-general. found out that there
was state treasure buried In the bush
weld.
The party made repeated exploring
trips into the low country In the bad
season to escape observation, and
most OF them were stricken with ma
lnrial fever. Each member took a dIf-
ferent direction, with the understand.
ing that II any found the treasure IL
was to be split up into several proper.
lions. Only one member. however,
found the burial place, and he was
ex-Gen. Celliers. The site was between
two peculiar trees. A red flag, as a
sign. was stuck up on one Of the trees.
with a carcass Of mule In between,
one Of the ribs OF the mule being i'm
bedded in the ground where the gold
was buried. On returning to Peters
burg ex-Gen. Celliers was Frustrated
with malarial fever In the hospital.
and while he was lowering between
fife and death he divulged part Of his
secret to the other members Of the
syndicate. who. however, after repeat
ed searchlngs. failed to find the spot.
Some differences OF opinion followed.
and ultimately the syndicate broke up,
deciding to severally 90 their own way.
The government authorities. getting