Free trader-journal., 1919-10-09
HUNT LONG FOR
BURIED FORTUNE
Hidden Treasure Has Lured Men
to Toll for Hall Century
on Iowa Farm.
TRAGEDY WOvENIN ROMANCE
Murder OF Man as Years Ago Brings
Strange Characters Into q
Court-Mystery Yet
to Be Solved.


Bedford, lathe mystery Of hid
den treasure, mystery that has puz-
zled the people of southwestern Iowa
for half century, has been brought
nearer solution by an investigation
which has shown how little group
of picturesque characters OF that sec
ton Of the state toiled for years III
quest Of riches buried, according to
tradition, ON the Klondike farm. The
evil spell the buried treasure has
worked upon those intimately connect
ed with 1t has held to the last. one
by one the fortune hunters are pass
ing from the stage, their dreams end
ing in misery or poverty.
Lying IS miles southwest of Bed
ford, Ia, Is the Huntsman farm, ana
adjoining it Is the Anderson home
stead. Pitted with holes and SCARED
with many excavations, the farms
prove the arduous toll Of men driven
by dreams of gold. First 1t was Dr.
G. X. Huntsman and his brother
Bates, who searched for the treasure
Now 1t is Bates and his two sons
and thei. families.
Searching for the Treasure.
Samuel Anderson moved to Iowa In
the early seventies. Soon after he To-
Gated on the farm Anderson received
q call from the Huntsinans, who told
him that there was lot Of gold buried
on the place and that they wanted to
dig for 1t. Anderson was asked TO
aid in the work. For nearly quarter
century the three dug, plowed and ex-
cavated.
One day II years ago the searchers
uncovered three stakes set in direct
line pointing to a spring. Anderson,
inspired by the vision of his share of
the fortune, dug on feverishly. He
first came onto some white sand that
he knew was not common TO that part
of the country. Anderson then uncov-
cred big rock under which was
metal box. One of the Huntsmans
told Anderson that he could go, prom
ising him his share OF the fortune
when the money was counted He
never saw the box again nor learned
Of its contents.
Soon after the discovery of the
metal box the elder Huntsman died
suddenly. Samuel Anderson, weary
ing of long waiting for his share OF
the treasure he believed he had uncoy-
cred, filed suit against Bates Hunts
man, asking pay for his years of toll.
so peculiar was his story that state
officials became interested. An inves-
tigation followed, and other persons
acquainted with some of the circum-
stances Of the affair were found one
of these was Maria Collins Porter OF
Quitman, Mo, who spent her girlhood
in the vicinity
The woman's story seemed TO throw
clear light on the source of the treas
ure the Huntsmans had sought so
long The story, too, seemed to link
the treasure with the hoard found in
the cabin of old DR.. A. NJ. Golliday of
Bedford, whose body was found in his
cabin II years ago. 1t was story OF
murder gang, of stolen thousands, OF
q crime committed so far back in time
that even the identity of the victim
was q matter Of uncertainty.
Held on Murder Charge.
Following swiftly upon the stor' VI
Maria Collins Porter came the A'feSi
of Bates Huntsman, Sam Scr"he''
rich farmer, and John e'o aahh
Damewood. They were cmfgeu WIN
the murder of man of ,nkho"h lueli-
tity, presumably rial cattIe puyer
from Missouri 46 yeSs ago Even De-
fore the trial bega' speculation as 10
the identity of tle murdered man De-
came rife. Altlough there were found
to be many contradictions in the evil
dence presented by some of the wit
nesses Ire case Of the state might
have poceeded further but for one of
the primary technicalities of the law
~ tomcide. The state could not es-
taplish the existence Of the man al
lexed to have been Killed. The young
attorney for the aged defendants only
had to move that the case be dis.
missed to have this action taken.