The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1912-07-27


G: e: !; !:
AzzEA treasures where the COWS
"A "a find them; treasures which
IL - ~ the divers can see, but cannot
E>E A reach; treasures where only
E':x.- superstiious fears stand In the
h&&I9G7A way Of recovery-such is the
fWW&&SH@ state of affairs In and about
| i:ES@@ Great Britain proper, one Of
J. -:W:SSS the richest fields in the world
(: S1S~ for the treasure-hunting ad-
S-S venturers.
The most ardent seeker of
these roves was King john Most of his time
was spent in hunting buried treasures of other
centuries, assembling the gold and jewels of
England and burying them again. Only those
groups Of known value and of certain or nearly
certain location can be mentioned in this article
so numerous are they
1t was known that the King had knowledge,
CLEANED from old documents, that the Romans.
during the time Of their occupation, had great
quantities of gold, silver jewels and plate in a
fashionable resort in the north of England and
being cut OFF In the rear by an invasion of Picts
and Scots, buried it in vast trove near the old
Roman wall In Northumberland
King John made extensive explorations and
round large cache made at later period but
did not find the more important store of wealth
He removed his find to Hermitage Castle and
according to all accounts, the masonry of the
wall was opened from the outside and the treas
ure hidden once again.
Once since his day the true clue to the Roman
cache was found and lost again through the bru-
talfty and stupidity of some English county of.
hcials In Northumberland
Two poor and ignorant farm laborers were
working in field the line Of the old Roman
ruin one day and sat down, In the shade of a
heap OF stones, for their lunch. Idly they turned
over large stone and in the bottom of the cavity
lett they saw an enormously heavy chain
Pushing away the dirt until they could get hold
OF It, they drew it out. It was several feet in
length and weighed enough to make burden for
both of them Seemingly 1t was brass, and they
left 1t till the next day, when they were working
with cart. At evening they loaded it in the cart
and carried it home leaving it against the wall of
the stable as curious but useless find
One Sunday when idling with some neighbors
they fell to discussing the chain and one of the
ne1ghbors scraped 1t with a knife He said it
looked and felt more like gold than brass and
was very soft. Taking broken link to the mar
ket when he next went, the elder of the two
finders submitted it to jeweler, who pronounced
1t solid gold of very fine quality.
The neighbo who had made the discovery of
the nature of the find thought he should have
half and be let in the secret of the remainder
This was refused he informed the authorities,
and the two peasants were arrested spent a long
period in JAIL and. result of the ill treatment
one OF them went insane.
The older had steadfastly refused to disclose
the spot where the chain found, having taken
an oath when he was fogged in prison that he
would never tell any one This was his method
OF getting even and 1t proved very effective.
1t is curious indeed that the termination Of
the great treasure hunter and hider's career
should be marked by the interment of wealth in
an amount great, greater than that in
volved in any of his previous exploits.
In his historic flight King Johns party carried
with it not only enormous treasure in the
store Of gold that represented the royal funds
l,,to o;xxl>A
CURED and valuable today than all the
others-the full regalia, jewels, and in
sigma Of the great orders Of which the King was
head.
The British Museum and the various orders
would pay at least $25 900 600 for the recovery
Of these, and yet it does not seem difficult mat
ter Some individual or syndicate with the proper
backing could easily look up the circumstances
as contained in the old records and make a con-
sistent, determined effort.
The royal fugitive and retnue were riding in
haste around the dip Of the WASH and the ami
mails on which the precious load was carried
mired frequently in the lowlands that it was
decided to cache the treasure.
The King and few faithful nobemen superin-
tended the work. impressing peasants for
the labor The records state distinctly that the
interment took place precisely where the road
crosses the river to Lynn.
The old road where there Is now a morass
In spring and fall, baked dry In summer. few
years ago, during the drought season, some farm
ers, sinking we'll SO as to water the cattle that
were feeding on the marsh grass, struck an odd
crown of solid gold. but made no further excava-
ton.
by the time London heard of the find, the sea-
son had changed and the spot was q swamp once
more. There Is no question in my mind. after
reading all accounts, that the treasure is there
and can be excavated with steam shovel aoated
on barge into the mouth of the great Ouse.
In 1909, when England was at war with Tho
Netherlands H. M. s. Lutine sailed from Var
mouth for Cuxhaven. She sank of the island of
Veieland, at the mouth of the Zuyder Zee and
only two Of those aboard were rescued She car.