The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-08-01
lITT FOR HIDDEN FORUM
uvEN WORKING TO RE-
COVER $5OO,OOO,OOO.
!, % BE at Bottom of Lake GuaVita'
in colombia. a Fortune Already
Spent in the Quest.

said TO dc
.ubia. A Fortune Already
Spent in the Quest.
email city Office in Londonwall
II . :, 9nxiously awaited from man
SS' : - sitting on the edge OF noun
~ ~ Like Il in Colombia, Central Ameri-
Ail l' for rain, says a London
dispatch -, Co.. him ond
Inv tbo.o in the city Office in London
III the recovery of treasures worth,
.aroerts say, at least elOO, 100000,
h. hero of that vigil is Mr.. H..
r.rIos managing director in Be-
~. Of Contractors, Limited. The
.orr of the company is one of the
nost amazing romances of treasure
Eeeking in history
j The lake of .Guatavita, in Colon
!. lies in the basin formed by the
.oro Of an extinct volcano. 1t stands
ri,e to ten thousand feet above the
:. level and is but a few miles from
he thriving little coal city of Bogota'
MANY centuries ago it was the Sacred
AXE of the Chibchas, race which at
bo fine of the Spanish conquest num-
bsred over l, 900, 600 individuals.
The Chbchas worshipped the
Yielded Mar" and devoutly believed
hat their deity made his home at the
bonom of the Lake of Guatayita. Pc
fodically they are declared to nave
made pilgrimages to the lake, when
sbey cast every imaginable kind of
ressure. gold, silver, and jewels into
he water with the object of propitiat-
No the "Gilded Man." who, through
lis army of priests, threatened all
kinds of pains and penalties unless
\ he treasure we're offered in sufficient
Quantities,
The story of Chibchas has many
ines been investigated by travellers,
Ind all agree in believing that the
axe contains untold treasure. Hum
6boldt, the famous traveller and his
kOran, was one of those who estimated
] IS value at G10O, 900, 900.
An Early Failure.
QueSada, the Spanish conqueror of
|he Chibchas, was told the story of
Tie treasure, and succeeded in reduc-
lng the water of the lake, then PA
feet deep, to Is feet. Then the sides
FELL n and all his labor was wasted.
Further attempts were abandoned,
|nd the lake regained to very large
fxtent its former depth.
Where the great Spanish admins
lratOr failed, however, Contractors,
Flimited a prosaic British syndicate,
|Ormed just over six years ago, has
etermined to succeed.
The syndicate was formed for the
purpose Of exploiting a concession OBJ
'sned from the Colombian govern
'lent to drain the lake and recover for
shelr own use the treasure believed
+ be hidden by its waters. Among
5 directors are Mr.. r. j. Price, M.
! for the eastern division of Nor
PIX, chairman, and Mr.. G. J. de
lurletta. Its capital was originally
ENOOO and was increased to 935, 900
1903.
After six years of hard work, how
lFtr some of those connected with
II company are beginning to believe
pat the 'Gilded Man" is still at the
sOtom of the lake guarding his
EeaSure. Encouraging finds of iso-
yea gold and silver gods and jew
su goddeSSes have from time to time
'upported the tradition of the treas
IT put so far the dreams of untold
TSiVh have not materialized.
'rSI the lake was drained. 1t was
IL an easy task, for it was some
a miles in length, and unforeseen
uacQItles were continually confront
II the workers. The most harassing
.neSe was the constant rain, which,
u'er and summer, hardly ever ceas-
Lake Drained.
az last, however, towards the end
l5O5 the welcome news reached
Ioooon that Mr.. Knowles and his
by, oil OF engineers and workmen had
Exceeded in cutting through the basin
boz '9e lake, and the water had
Een drained off successfully. There
s ~ great Jubilation, and preparations
'9 made for the large consignments
solo' silver, and jewels which