Gilpin observer., 1912-07-25

&; S1&S for the treasure-hunting ad
kS-A9 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 nearly
certain location can be mentioned In this article
30 numerous 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 OF in the rear by an invasion of Picts
and Scots buried 1t in vast trove the old
Roman wall In Northumberland
King John made extensive explorations and
found q 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 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
ncials In Northumberland
Two poor and Ignorant farm laborers were
working in a field on 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
loft they enormously heavy chain.
Pushing away the dirt until they could get hold
of 1t. they drew 1t out 1t several feet in
length and weighed enough to make a burden for
both of them Seemingly It brass. and they
left II till the next day. when they were working
with cart At evening they loaded 1t in the cart
and carried 1t home. leaving 1t against the wall Of
the stable a curious but useless find
One Sunday when idling with some neighbors
they fell to discussing the chain. and OF the
neighbors scraped 1t with a knife He said 1t
looked and felt more like gold than brass and
was very soft Taking q broken link to the
ket when he next went. the elder Of the two
finders submitted It to q 1eweer. who pronounced
It solid gold Of q very fine quality.
The neighbor who had made the discovery Of
the nature Of tho find thought he should have
half and b let in on the secret of the remainder
This was refused. 30 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.
Tho older had steadfastly refused to disclose
the spot where the chain was found, having taken
An oath when he was hogged in prison that he
would never tell any one. This was his method
Of getting even and 1t proved very effective
II Is curious indeed that the termination of
the great treasure hunter and hiders career
should be marked by the interment Of wealth in
amount great, or greater. than that in
volved in any of his previous exploits.
In his historic flight King Johns party carried
with II not only enormous treasure In the
store Of gold that represented the royal funds.
but . cumbersome weight Of treasures he had nc
quired and more valuable today than all the
sigma of the great orders of which the King was
head.
The British Museum and the various orders
would pay at least 326, 900 for the recovery
Of these. and yet II does not seem difhcult mat
ter. Come individual or syndicate with the proper
backing could easily look up the circumstances
a. contained in tho old records and make a
sistent, determined effort
The royal fugitive and retinue wero riding in
haste around the dip Of the Wash. and the anil
mails on which the precious load carried
mired frequently in tho 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 tho
interment took place precisely where the road
crosses the river TO Lynn.
The old road where there 10 now a morass
in spring and fall baked dry in summer. few
years ago during the drought season. some farm
srs sinking q well TO water the cattle that
were feeding on the marsh grass. struck an odd
crown of solid gold. but made no further excava.
tion.
By the time London heard Of the flnd. the
son had changed and the spot was a swamp once
more. There II no question in my mind. after
reading all accounts. that the treasure is there
and be excavated with . steam shovel Hoated
a barge into the mouth Of the great Ouse.
In 1909 when England at war with the
Netherlands. H. M. 8. Lutne sailed from Var
mouth for Cuxhaven. She sank OFF the island Of
vedeland, at the mouth Of the Zuyder Zee. and
aAly two Of those aboard were rescued. She car.