The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
ANOTHER TROVED TREASURE.
WHILE CONTRACTOR DOONER En-
GORGED A COUPLE OF PINTS,

Old Laddybuck With Calways Vanished
With Most OF the Gold From the Beams
OF spring street Roof and Was Next
Heard OF building Houses IN Gutenberg
THAT story about Meehan finding a
treasure chest up in The Bronx, said John
Dooner, the Domnick street contract or
reminds me of the time l found buried
fortune and a little man with galways got
1t away from me Mir. Dooner it might
be said in passing, is not eating a quail a
day just now.
1T was over thirty years ago, and was
bossing the job of repairing house at the
corner of Spring and Washington streets.
where, think the Mohawk Hotel is now.
Originally the building had been dwelling
and it was transformed into a grocery,
kept by a man named Rahe, who made lot
of money ! was told TO repair the roof.
| was on the top floor watching the laborers
knock out the lath and plaster when there
was a shower Of coin from alongside one
OF the beams. There was silver and cop
per. about peck o. it,
Il told the laborers, all but one 10 get OFT
OF the building. FOR | saw signs Of riot.
The one man was an old fellow we y call
Smith. whether that was his name or no.,
He and gathered up all the coin. ana l
told him to stay on guard while took the
money over to a saloon and put il in the
safe. had hunch that there was lot
more money under the roof.
Il had little thirst when ! reached the
saloon. and a couple Of pints kept rne there
for half an hour Then l won't back to the
treasure house. II was deserted. HUNTED
up stairs and down for Smith, but no Smith.
| thought the old lad had gone to a ginmill,
and went to the place where he usually
wet his whistle. Had they seen that
laborer OF mine
He went up the street fifteen minutes
ago said the bartender. with a box on his
shoulder
-Itwas me back TO the house whereI found
the roof all aKed TO pieces. The beams had
been torn out and could sea that each
had been bored lengthHise with hole big
enough to hold coins.
As soon as my partner came ! left him
in charge Of the house and went loohins for
Smith | wanted AT least divvy His
wife met me at the door of hls home ana l
asked her II Smith had been there. She
said no. and couldn't very we'll force my
way in and search for him, though ! was
cock sure he there.
THAT night | went 10 Smiths again.
The place war dark 4 neighbours boy told
me that the Smiths moved out two hours
before My partner aud got about 5000
ont of the treasure, for We found lot more
money in the beams that Smith hadn
had time 20 tear down Il was put IN the
bored holes Just you would Wad glIi..
and most of 10 vas gold Then decided 10
forget about Smith.
Some years after that happened 10 70
To Gutenberg While walking about
noticed "a row Of ten very nice houses Just
being finished. thought the design 80
good that | decided to copy II Ia part IN
houses that | was just about 10 bulld M
Brooklyn and stepped into nearby saloon
to make notes OF the details.
Pretty good houses, those said the
salooukeeper. There's an old MICK build
ing 'ein and they say he's worth a million.
Has going TO build thirty more houses On
the next square
1t was easy to figure that forty houses
of that style would, with the land cost
about $4,000. ! thought ] would x 20
tho owner and ask him who his architect
was The saloonkeeper told me the owners
name was Smith and showed me where
he lived went there. never thinking Of
the treasure house and the little man with
the whEkers under his chin ! rang the
he'll. and who should come TO the door hut
Mrs smith and knew her in minute.
But she never batted an eye.
Is Mr.. Smith in| said l.
Hos gone 70 Ireland said she TO
collect n legacy.
Don't you remember me said
~ never saw YOU before said she.
and closed the door in my face.
Il walked up TO where most Of the work
was being done on the houses and. coming
around a corner, ran into my laddybuck
OF the galways He didn't try TO ESCAPE
I Thought you we're in Ireland, sand J.
Il told the old woman 20 say that, said
he. because | didn't want 10 see you
What was in the box Won carried away
on Your shoulder ! asked him.
'Nothin but wood MIR Dooner, said he
Where did you get enough money to
build all these houses asked him
Everything ] have ] came by hon
estly.' he answered.
- il honest 10 steal even box Of woodF
said ].
You'd better see my lawyer, he said,
giving me the lawyers name.
L saw the lawyer hut that was the best
| got Mr. Smith. the lawyer said politely
/ had come into a lot Of money through the
death Of relative abroad.
Its about twenty-five years since saw
the old boy" concluded Mr.. Dooner and
I suppose he's dead. But ] would like 10
I know Just how much those two pints OF
wine cost me that day