Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-15
TREASURE HUNT
IN ENGLAND MAY
LOCATE JEWELS
Urge Search for King Albert's
Crown and Other Regalia
Buried by North Sea
Tidal Water.

London, June 14.-The ancient re-
gala of England. including King
Alfred's crown lies buried some 100
miles north OF London, few miles
from the sea, and the London Daily
Express wants the government or
the Society of Antiquaries to go
treasurer-hunting and flint it.
Along a six-mile stretch and not
more than 81 feet down lies this
priceless treasure, along with King
Johns own jewels as well as won
derful gold and silver vessels loot
ed from innumerable abbeys, all lost
when King Johns baggage train
was swallowed up, like the Egyp-
tians in the Red sea way back in
1916.
King Raids Castles
King John in the good old ancient
days of castle-hghting and footing
was going north to Lincoln. after
pillaging half the castles and church
es Of England, and to save time
forded the Wash, some tidal water
from the North sea.
King John and his army had
crossed the dangerous sands and
forded the River Meme before mid
day. The baggage train of some
5000 persons with the rough carts
and spare fighting material, plus
the booty, were to follow. At dusk
the baggage train came up to the
marshy roadway and started to fol-
low in the tracks of their king, who
had halted at Swineshead Abbey.
Something went wrong, perhaps a
wagon damned, and high tide was
due at 6 p. m. But the baggage col
umn, then midway across, pressed
on, though waters came around the
horses hoofs. The high spring
tides were due in two days. The
horses begged, wagons sunk axle
deep, the sands became coze and the
baggage attendants fed for their
lives. Not one reached firm land.
Three days later King John died
Of grief and drink at Newark cas-
tie.
And this is the important point.
Today the wash where all the treas
ure was lost is dry land. The sea
has retreated. Between Long SUIT
ton and Cross Keys is the actual
track taken by the ancient caravan.
All the land near has been reclaim
ed. But there is no record of any
Of this treasure having been found.
Some of it, possibly, was swept out
to sea. But it is believed that the
majority Of the treasure, which GER
tainly contained iron Golfers filled
with loot which barons brought
back from the crusades, as we'll as
old utensils of the 10th century,
very rare today, is within reach.
/. Use Diving Rods
Modern science, it is pointed out,
has devised mechanical diving rods
and electric locators of ore, espe-
cially when not far from the sur
face. Such instruments are being
used in France and Belgium today to
locate unexploded shells.
The geology Of the sub-soil shows
that 70 feet below the silt there is a
HlHc-IOOt ldySI VI SduQ anu SHCAS.
Nine feet below this there is solid
layer OF. ballast and shells. On
either of these layers may be the
lost treasure.
Debar Private Work
While water is encountered not far
from the surface, it is pointed out
by the Express that the government
possesses a large, number of trench
pumps, now idle, which could be
used to keep excavations fairly dry,
while if necessary caissons could be
sunk.
"The law Of treasure -trove debars
any public or private company from
undertaking the work." says the Ex-
ress. "The matter is one for the
government or big private sub
scription list administered by. the So
ciety of Antiquaries. No one. can
calculate the intrinsic worth of the
treasure. A coin containing a half
crowns worth sof silver might be
worth $4,000"