Gilpin observer., 1912-06-06

some barbaric lord in the wild
days that are lost to history. No one knew OF
any stony cave, but of the peasants opined
that certain old quarry that had been abandoned
for hundreds OF years might possibly be the spot.
Since the pair of them were idlng, why not go
look at it?
On arrival at the quarry they soon found
recess blocked with earth and stone, and pulling
this away with their hands, came upon ancient
iron-bound casks by the dozen piled within Some
of these had rotted open and showed the treasure
running out.
Great Britain and the continent are thickly
dotted with localities in which treasures are re-
ported to lie treasures offering equal bet
ter chance of recovery.
Foremost and by all odds the greatest treasure
story of the world is the famous Rouvier quest,
which has often stirred all France and remains to-
day the prime mystery of all history hope.
however, to add strong hint that may be of aid
in the next furor of search.
Louis the Pious abstemious and
profigate and had absolute control of the
Golfers of France in one of her richest periods
He had much money that he did not know
what to do with 1t other than lavish it on church
es and sacred works His greatest gift the
set of gigantic statues Of the Twelve Apostles
placed in Sainte Chapele. To avoid public
demnation it was given out that they mere
ly gilded. but the private archives of the church
show abundantly that they were of solid gold
Even conservative estimate Of their value
makes a staggering figure.
Generation after generation passed away and
still the great golden saints stood in Sainte
Chapelle. classed among the art wonders of the
world. Then came dark days for royalty in
France. Rebellious mobs sackng other
churches and the high dignitaries called some
noted royalist gentlemen into council. 1t de-
cided to remove and hide the statues. This was
done with complete secrecy. The rising wave
rolled higher and nobility and clergy were wiped
dispersed The guillotine exile claimed
them. When quiet came again twelve gilded
wooden figures placed in Sainte Chapelle
and there they stand today There was no an
nouncement of the loss of the huge bulk Of gold;
there could be announcement, considering the
previous deception.
At last, some forty years ago, an imperial re-
corder, nosing around in the Tower Of London
cataloging rummage there, came across small
casket hidden away in corner among a lot OF
stuff captured by the Duke Of Wellington after
Waterloo and brought by his commissaries to
England.
The casket was secured by twelve seals and
one of these the imperial recorder recognized as
that of the Marquis de Rouvier then at the
French embassy to the court of St James. The
young marquis said that the other seals were
those of great families in France prior to the
Revolution but that many had been wiped out In
the Reign of Terror. Securing permission. he
took the casket and its custodians to France, as
sembled the heads of any OF the families with
living representative and the seals were broken
Within found the true history Of the golden
saints figures written out in detail, signed by the
archbishops and by the twelve royalist noblemen
The document stated that twelve statues had
been Inferred by workmen who were ignorant OF
their character in spot in France where the
lines OF latitude and longitude cross"
The British government transferred the caske
to the Louvre and the whole affair was put on ar
official basis. The young marquis and his friends
OF the other families Joined in an association
sworn to return the golden figures and fulfill thu
obligations of their grandfathers and great grand
fathers. The young marquis and two OF hi
friends journeyed to the district near Neuilly ant
by the aid OF scientific instruments located thu
crossing of the lines of latitude and longitude in
great open field. To their surprise they dscov
erred that the field belonged to an estate that wal
of the former properties OF the Marquises d.
Rouvier. A peasant was plowing in the field ant
the searching party noticed that he and his prede
oessors had left in the center an oval spot nov
grown up with trees and brush. As there was nj
pile OF stones there no marsh. the young marquis
said to him:
why do you leave that spot of fine ground un
cultivated?"
Because sir my father and grandfather botl
bade me never to plow disturb that spo
as long MS held this land and to so instruct m!
sons those who should come after me. becaus-
in that soil there is great holiness"
The 10y OF the searching party can be imagined
There was question In their minds but tina
they had found the chosen hidingp place with YER
little effort Arrangements were at once mad
with the proper authorities to begin excavation
and a force OF picked men and guards was assem-
bled. To the terror of the peasants, the tree
and underground were cut away and the first lay
er OF soil removed When the excavation ha
reached the depth OF three feet the experts wit
the party announced that they were working Il
soil which had never been disturbed since It wa
deposited by nature, but the Marquis de Rouvie
insisted that the excavation continue.
II sent down to depth OF twenty feet an
broadened in all directions for n large area. Blu
wherever spade struck even the untrains