The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-10-31


Are you sure that you have MT
been exploring the last winters den
Of an alligator 2 put in the younger.
Did you discover in your remark
able find anything like a quart bottle
OF whiskey? p interjected the elder.
These taunts were sufficient to
arouse feelings of resentment, and
my replies about their inordinate
thirst for liquor, TO satisfy which,
they did not hesitate to abandon a.
companion to the mercy of swamp
vernin, provoked fresh trouble, and
to prevent this | removed to the other
raft, and INDUCED in thoughts not
very amicable to my partners.
"Of course not much of CONVEX
sation was carried on. The brothers
because they were just recovering
from their recent debauch and /, be-
cause of my shameful treatment
However, all parties became in better
! humor, when we were boarded by an
inspector who declared that he would
give every inch the logs deserved.
This argument together with another
about the size of pint flask, clinched
the trade, and he was allowed to take
charge of the RATS; the logs counted,
one or two cuts only condemned, and
we awaited the specification which
was to put the timber on the market
His specification charges, also $50
advanced for our passage home was
| checked against us. The brothers re-
paired to barroom near the landing,
and after wishing each other good
luck, the elder took q hack for PEN
sacola to sell the specification, while
the younger and myself went to the
nearest station for home.
"The next day the elder Brown
got off at Pollard to find us ex-
pectantly awaiting him. A division
was made and after every item
checked against me for board and
advances, I found that was the pos
SCISSOR of enough funds to pay my
fare home.
"Amity in a measure having been
restored by our success, the brothers
| apologized for their treatment, and
agreed that after having seen my
relatives in Carolina, if I would re-
turn they would assist me in looking
up the treasure.
Preyed on Mind.
"This hidden thing so preyed on
my mind that l could not attend to
business. The sight OF my loved ones
whom had not seen for nearly four
years failed to bring about a proper
resignation to my failure. That iron
box was photographed upon my brain.
It became an obsession while awake,
and assumed fantastic shapes in my
dreams until my health was broken,
and occasioned protracted sickness
| that brought me near the grave.
"On my restoration to health, I
commenced to work again with a bet
ter frame of mind, and set out with
| the determination to again make an
attempt to find the box which now
l might enjoy life of opulence and
peace.
after lapse of fourteen years,
I found that prosperous mercantile
business had made it possible for me
to see whether / or somebody else
should be its fortunate possessor.
Bidding my wife and children
good-by, with suficiency of funds TO
defray the expenses of trip to Flor
ida, and arming myself with my
church credentials, l set out to cap
ture my treasure.
Arriving at Pollard found that
my old friends, the Browns, were
dead; that their two sons had mar
ried and gone to Texas, and that l
was as much a stranger as when /
first arrived from Ship Island.
without confiding my hidden Sc
cret to any one, | proceeded to pur-
chase an outfit, laying in a supply of
provisions for the expedition, and
after having found my treasure to
dispose of it so that might return to
my family unburdened with specie.
II purchased a small cat boat,
which could be propelled either with
oars or sail. A spade and axe, frying
pan and coffee pot, were all that |
needed for the downward float, and
fishing tackle to furnish me change
of diet, embarked from Pollard to
hear the remarks of some curious
parties who watched my suspicious
movements.
"After several days journey, I
found myself in the neighborhood of
the treasure. Anticipation of the
treasure trove compensated me in q