Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-07-26

Z. ~ iS~ for the treasrre-hunting adj
6->--5 venturers.
The most ardent seeker Of
these troves 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 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
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
found large cache made at a 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 rom 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 brll-
tally and stupidity Of some English county Of
1sials In Northumberland
Two pcoT and ignorant farm laborers were
working IN field on the line OF the old Roman
ruin ore day and sat down, in the shade OF
heap of Stones for their lunch. Idly, they turned
over large stone, and in the bottom OF the cavity
left they saw an enormously heavy chain
OF It, they drew it out. It was several feet in
length and weighed enough to make burden for
both OF them. Seemingly It was BRASS and they
LEFT 1t TIL the next day, when they were working
with cart. At evening they loaded 1t in the cart
and carried 1t home, leaving it against the vail OF
the stable as curious but useless find
One Sunday when idng with some neighbors
they foil to discussing the chain, and one of the
neighbors scraped It with a knife. He said 1t
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 1t to ieweler. who pronounced
1t solid gold Of very fine quality.
The neighbor 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. so he informed the authorities
and the two peasants were arrested spent a long
period in jail, and a 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 logged in prison that he
would never tell any one. This was his method
of getting even and it proved very effective.
1t is curious indeed that the termination Of
the great treasure hunter and hiders career
should be marked by the interment of wealth In
an amount as great or greater than that in
voyed in any Of his previous exploits.
In his historic fight. King Johns party carried
with 1t not only enormous treasure In the
store OF gold that represented the royal funds
but cumbersome weight of treasures he had ac-
Quired, and more valuable today than all the
others-the full regalia, crown 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 $4,000 900 for the recovery
OF these. and yet 1t 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 con-
sisteut, 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 noblemen superin.
tended the work, impressing some peasants for
the labor The records state distinctly that the
Interment took place precisely where the road
crosses the river TO Lynn.
TIE old road ran where there is now q rnorass
in spring and fall, baked dry in summer few
years ago. during the drought season. some farm.
ers sinking well SO as to water the cattle that
were feeding on the marsh grass struck an odd
crown OF solid gold, but made no further evcova-
ton.
BY the time London heard of TIE find tba sae.
son had changed and the spot was a suys..,,, 800
more. There is no question IN nv NINA ftar
reading all accounts, that the treasure a. thara
and can oe excaVated with a steam shovel hoated
on barge INTO tne mouth Of he great Ouse
IN A.VS' "nen england was at war with the
Netherlands. H. NJ s Lutine garod $50 -" Wy e.,e
mouth for Cuxhaven. She SAM, ~ ~ -, =
veeland at the mouth of the 7nsa 1sIanu =,
only two OF those aboard wera roso,,as 60 80