Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-14

Nine thousand dollars lie buried in
the ground near the little hamlet OF
Glendale, in jefferson county. This
fact. rumored since the days of the
earliest settlers, was almost establish
eo beyond a doubt by letter found
within the walls of the old Bonnifield
cabin, when that venerable relic was
torn down Thursday afternoon prev.
ious to its removal to Fairfield, where
it is to form the central exhibit Of the
coming Old Settlers reunion.
In the letter is contained a map
showing the place where the fortune
must still be unless, contrary to all
record or knowledge, it has been re.
moved. The map shows conclusively
that the fortune was buried within 400
feet from the site of the cabin.
More like a story of the days of Cap.
tain Kidd and the bloody buccaneers
reads the account of this letter, and
its discovery, than like an accurate
chronicling of an event which has actu.
ally occurred in this modern and pro
sale day
Found in Debris.
Thursday. large force of men went
to the site of the old cabin and com,
menced the work of dismantling the
hulk previous to its reconstruction in
it's original form After the logs had
all been torn down and part of them
started on their journey toward Fair.
field, Charles Gage, while searching
through the debris~of plaster and rot
ten wood, came across an old purse
of pioneer fashion.
Moved by an idle curiosity he open
ed the purse and within it found a let
ter, a newspaper clipping and re-
ceipt He examined the letter and In
moment stumbled upon the greatest
sensation that jefferson county has
known for years.
Ink is Faded.
The letter, with the ink faded al
most beyond the point of legibility and
with the paper yellowed and rotted
with age, told wonderful story OF
buried treasure. The story is well cal
culated to make the hearts of men beat
with new sensation. A voice from
the past telling of deeds and purposes
done and formed in time when mer
were men and counted not the cost
when there was an object to be gain
ed.
cisco in 1856, and was addressed tc
William" probably William Bonni
| field, brother of w. B. Bonnifeld of this
city. The following is verbatim copy
of that part of the letter which may
still be deciphered The dashes show
where it was impossible to read wha
was written.
The Letter.
The letter follows:
Frisco, June 81, 1865.
"My Dear William
Wagon, had lots of time tt
think, ----, money, which i!
You know what am. Found out from
Blackhawk ---- over from Illinois
| looked ----- but never though
until I got out hear About that there
map, it wern't where the lines cross
but in the middle. Now, don't you tel
anyone, but try this here plan.
(MAP).
1--WE see, we allus made the mistake
of digging at crossing marked A. Tha
other Indian that Jim knowed knowet
more than he let on There must b,
$4,000 and mebbe more, according t.
what Blackhawk fetched that time
Don't you let none Of those Burlington
fellows see this map. Well Bill, wisl
was there, for probably there is NOR,
cash there than we think. We vii
dig here for a big spell. I want to
write a lot, but the stage leaves in
,,,;n,,to T ont tn n,,it
Yours, ]. W."
"P. S.-Mebbe it amt that house
but what other big house could b
have meant?"
Map is Faded.
) The map which is made part of thi