The Irish standard., 1912-12-14
JEsUITs' WEALTH
A Fabulous Sum Said to Have Been
Left in South America,

That the Jesuits are the possessors
Of fabulous wealth. says 1.-THE Exam
iner of Bombay is SO automatic in
the public mind that people regard the
denial as something merely in accord
ance with the Jesuits' idea of truth
fulness. The belief as rule has no
other or more serious effect than to
make certain number Of Catholics
a trif1e more stingy than usual, when
it is question Of contributing money
for Jesuit needs or Jesuit enterprises;
and the fact that the Jesuits manage
to get on with the enterprise without
their aid only confirms the idea. 1t is
seldom that the belief issues in the
formation of a limited liability COM
pany, and still more rare that it re-
suits in bringing anybody into the
bankruptcy court. Still, this is what
has just happened.
The bankruptcy part OF the enter
prise is recorded as follows:
Creditors of Mr.. Arthur Ormesby,
who met in the Bankruptcy Court re-
Gently to hear the explanation Of his
failure, We're RECALLED with an entrance
ing story of treasure hunt, which
may have consoled them for the loss
of their money.
The debtor was interested in an ex-
petition begun last year to search for
the Jesuts' secreted wealth at Sacam-
baya, Bolivia, South America, reputed
to amount to about 100000 dollars
The famous treasure was left by
the Jesuits at the time of their ex-
pulsion from Spanish dominions in
the year 1867. That. it has not been
removed since is due to the fact that
seven of the eight Jesuits who lived
In the monastery of Sacambaya. were
hanged by the Pope. The survivor
died in Peru. and through him came
the data relating to the treasure, and
also to the mines worked by the Jes-
uits. The information was obtained
the original document was sent for
translation some years ago, and who
is now dead.
Eight years ago excavations were
begun at the point indicated in the
old document in the ruins which now
represent the monastery. a tunnel
was made in a. hill which it was sup
posed hid the buried millions, and it
was fondly supposed that further ef-
forts would bring them to light.
Mr.. Ormesby had an agreement with
Major-General Sir John Campbell,
| whereby in consideration of his serv-
ices rendered in the formation Of the
expedition Sir John had agreed to pay
him 100000 dolls. in the event of e.
100000 dolls. of the treasure being re-
covered. The debtor has charged his
interest to the extent OF $4,000 dolls,
and his only assets, apart from such
interest, are valued at 400 dolls. The
liabilities are estimated at $500 dolls.
(SO lar the cuttlng.)
Commenting on the incident, the
Catholic Herald Of India" writes:
That was a very sensational little
STORY" which a. local contemporary
copied from some unmentioncd source
last week, under the double heading,
Treasure Hunt for 55,000,000 Dollars
and "Jesuits' Buried Wealth in South
America" Above all the paragraph
Hanged by the Pope'-"seven of the
eight Jesuits who lived In the monas-
terry Of Sacambaya were hanged by
the Pope"-ought to send a thrill
through the hearts of all devout Pro-
testants.
Why these seven Jesuits We're hang
ed by the Pope, and exactly when and
! where, these are little details which,
we must not expect. We have heard
of twentynine Jesuits of Paraguay
| for that is the place referred to-who
martyrs to the Christian faith are not
hanged by the Pope; the Pope indeed
can make them martyrs in the sense
that he may declare after due inquiry
that they have suffered death for the
Faith. We have read a good deal
about Paraguay, but we fail to remem-
Der any such "fact" in connection with
! the history Of the celebrated Reduc-
| tions.
! As for the alleged wealth acquired
by the Jesuits in the Reductions, this
Is not precisely a very novel accusa-
ton. Southey, himself Protestant
| published as the result OF his investi-
cation covering this question that
nothing can be more certain than that
the Jesuits have not amassed any
treasures in Paraguay. The myth
concerning their vast trade transact
tions must be classcd with that of the