Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-08
Rusty Iron Box Containing
Old Pistols, Dagger and
Hunting Knife and Other
Curios Brought to Light.
ODD LETTERS TELL OF
PIONEERS DELUSIONS
People Of Michigan Village
Set to Digging by Hints
of Buried Treasure Con-
tanned in Missives.

Corey. Mich. July ga romance OF
the days when much of the state OF
Michigan was a wilderness, was
brought to light today when boys OF
the South Bend, Ind, Y. M. c.. A. sum.
mer camp while digging hole for a
flag staff, brought up rusty iron box,
containing pistols, books and several
documents.
The chest was broken open and in
it were found two rusty pistols Of an
ancient pattern. a plain gold ring, ap-
parently the wedding pledge of some
pioneer bride: a silver-cased watch of
Swiss manufacture: small dagger
and hunting knife: leather-bound
books dating from 1857 to 1919, among
them bible. Children Of the Abbey"
and Book of Passion"
There were several school books,
pennies bearing dates from 1881 to
1854: samples of silver. lead and cop
per ores. arrow heads and collection
of pebbles. Deeds dating back az far
as 1889 relating to property at Ply
mouth, Conn. An explanation OF the
mystery was found in letter left by
the owner OF the chest, in part as fol-
lows:
This chest is the property of Hest
kia Thomas, formerly of New England,
later of the Michigan wilderness. A
spiritualist of God. believing that my
spirit still roams over these lakes in
the full moon seasons, guarding all my
deposited possessions. for
they are many and varied. God gave
me many wonderful secrets, but be-
cause of the great sin he took them
ali away but one-the least of them
The turning of sable stones into gold.
/ have buried this secret by the body
Of the old Duckwing in the big swamp.
God rest my soul. God has filled the
earth with gold. Devils do not be-
lieve it, but has he not promised seek
and find?
1.-The blue heron is wise and the
night owl: but man is an ass, for he
walketh not in the ways Of the most
high"
old hermit, Thomas, is known here.
George knevels. who lives in q por-
ton of house built by Thomas. says
that as a boy he recollects hndlng
carefully secreted collections Of peb-
DleS IN the mouse. .. " +.,sz 4
Neighborhood Joins In Search.
1t is said that Thomas wife desert
ed him, and that his queerness became
about the same time. He
roamed the wood, talking to trees and
animals and believed that he could
transmit certain stones into gold Az
ter selling his home here Thomas
to an island in the lake, to /
which. in one part Of his letter, he re-
fers to as the "abode Of the seven |
devils" According to another letter
found in the box. there is another
chest buried on the island. A map.
which was among the contents, gives
directions for finding still another
chest. the key to which is said by the
owner to be hidden in tree.
The whole neighborhood is excited
over search. Immediately begun, for.
the remaining chests. Other parts Of
the letter in which Thomas reveals
his secrets read:
"The island is doomed forever as 1t
is the abiding place Of seven devils.
Dwarfish birds drop as they pass and
nan disappears in the cave" Another
part Of the letter possibly refers to
his recent spouse where it says:
The luck stone saved her from the !,
evil one. The knife Is that which |
drunk his life's blood, and Is cursed
forever.
"The books we're her possession from
the older days before the great shad-
ow fell. The man may claim his
papers: Duckwing knows how I came
by them. He died for lack of faith.
The guns we're his that were found
upon his body. He had obtained the !
ring but the spirits bound him. The