South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-30
COLORED PEOPLE DIG
FOR LOST TREASURE
Farmer Objects and Ban is Put
on Further SearCh-"PIant-
ed'' Bait is Stolen.

RICHMOND. Ind. Aug. 3O.-If
Maria Coleman, alleged colored seer
anG clairvoyant, and her band of CO.
workers expect 10 continue the
search for 100000 in gold, which she
says is buried within 80 miles of
Richmond. they viii have TO do all
their digging in territory adjacent TO
Wayne county. Notice mas been
served on Mrs. Coleman that she viii
be arrested for trespass if she sets
foot in Wayne county with intent to
dig for the mythical pot of gold.
MIS-. Coleman made plea 10 Supt
Goodwin of the Richmond police,
yesterday. to assist her in finding the
SsersOn who robbed her OF the -Dait''
planted on the Waltz farm. 10 miles
northeast OF Newcastle. The bait"
consisted Of glass fruit jar, partly
filed with whiskey. in which there
were numbers of pieces o money, Is
firegatng $3.50.
Digging Was Done at Night.
Early in July complaints We're re-
ceived by the police from Henry
county that colOred persons from
Richmond we're digging holes about
the Waltz farm. The visits of the
mysterious band always were at
night. usually between midnight and
dawn. Waltz and other persons saw
the party at work and when efforts
were made to dislOdge them the
leaders would ask for one more Op-
pOTtunity 10 search for the $4,000
treasure.
The Richmond police were unable
to fix the identity of the treasure
seekers. though Mrs. Coleman long
had been regarded among north side
cOlOred people as being a real seer,
who in the past had found curied
treasure. When the woman appeared
yesterday, however, and admitted
she was the leader Of the band that
had been doing the digging for the
hidden wealth. the police informed
her that she might go over the line
into Henry county and proceed with
her search for wealth, but that the
sheCif of Wayne county would pro-
ceed against her if she attempted any
Of the work at home.
Mrs. Coleman. it is said, interested
numbers Of negroes last spring in
revelation" that had come to her
relative TO the treasure buried by
Capt. Kidd She said that for a CEN
fury search for the capt. Kidd treas
IRE had been made along the Allan
tic coast under the superstition that
Kidd's pirate ship had held the treas
ure when il was wrecked on the
beach, and that the iron chests Of
gold were buried in the sand TO await
such time as the crew could arrange
TO carry it away again.
From Kidd's Pirate ship.
Mrs Colemau's revelation was 10
the effect that the buried treasure
was found by dCserters from the
crate ships crew. was carried in
land and was either in Ohio or IN
diana. within 80 miles of Richmond.
Proceedings began across the Ohio
line last April. For six weeks the lit
tie band of treasure hunters. headed
by Mrs. Coleman, left Richmond at
night and dug holes i'm the earth in
Preble and Darke counties. O. There
was no clew TO the treasure, but he
searchers never grew weary or dis
coura ged. and in June the work was
transferred TO Henry county Indiana.
Ten days AGO, after repeated at
tempts % find the gold, Mrs. Coleman
advised that a combination of whis-
KEY and money might be used as
bait; that it those were placed to-
gether in a Jar and buried for three
days. the presence of the real treas
ure could be detected If within range
of "A quarter OF "a mile. According 10
the seer the liquid would boil as il
fire were beneath it, if the treasure
made. The whiskcv failed 10 Nol
and last sunday night more coins
were placed In the fruit Jar. The test
1ar was buried i'm a new spot.
Wednesday niEht when the search
trs went 20 the farm they found the
mystic jar on top of the Ground. The
coins were missing. Somebody i'm tho
partv is suspected of treachery. yet
the fact romans that when noses
were counted. all 0f the ORIGINAL for
tune hunters responded. Mrs cole
man thinks possibly some pers0na
outside the clan Who had been spy
Ing on the searchers. robbed the
bait" Whoever the thief may he,
the police declared they would have
no authority-that buried treasure
was buried treasure whether of an
Gent origin or just planted" within
few DAYS. and that the finder could
call 10 his own.
JFFFFRSONVTLIE Ind.-ThOugh
buried by a shower Of bricks while as
sssting i'm tearing down tho wall of