The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-05-03
FIND HOARD
IN EAST GARY
PAIL or COINS
John Rezac Wins Fame Ov-
er Night; Gets in Chicago
Papers and Everything.

The entire population of East Cary
about 500 men, women and children
got down on their knees yesterday.
But 1t was not for prayer. They were
seeking buried treasure. Gold and silver
had been struck" in the garden patch
back of Mother Kohler's shack.
A reporter for a Chicago paper rush
ing to the scene tried to find the town
marshal. He discovered him with the
rest. digging with his hands in the soil.
The story dates back to the death of
Mother Kohler. whose real name was
Mrs. Sarah Kohler. The present gen
Grafton remembers that she lived in the
shack until she became so old and with
cred that she died. That was 1--WE years
ago. She had subsisted for many years
on the bounty Of charitable %neighbors.
Reported Haunted.
After her death the owner OF the
property commissioned John Rezac TO
remodel the shack.
John found all of the aged woman's
effects had been left u~ndisturbed.
They were of such small value that
nobody bothered. Besides. it was ru-
mored that the shack was haunted.
Rexas. ice man and teamster. was in
humble circumstances Shortly after he
began to remodel the place and began
to show evidences of prosperity.
Teh superstitious ones whispered that
John had made a pact of some sort
with the spirit which haunted the
shack.
What really happened John told yes
terday. 1t was like this:
When he went TO fix up the shanty he
pottered about inside. In shaking a pair
of curtains he found $3.50 in a little
bag tied to one OF the curtains.
Keeps HIS Find Secret.
He took the money home and said
nothing 20 his family or the neighbors.
But the next week Johns truck was
painted. he appeared in a new suit of
clothes. his horse got a new set Of har-
ness
He made a second visit to the house.
This time. in tearing up the back porch.
he found another bag filled with money.
This one contained $500 in cash.
Still keeping his secret. John blossom
ed out now with a new truck-and a
horse1ess one at that; a fiyver.
John made several other visits from
time to time. and in odd spots discov-
cred caches of money in sums varying
from one coin to a small bag full.
BucketfuI In Garden.
Yesterday morning John was asked
by the owner to spade UP the patch back
of the house. so that a garden could be
planted.
He took his tools and got to work.
After digging for an hour he struck a
hard substance. He dug frantically and
unearthed a three-gallon bucket.
1t was filled to overlooking with sill
yer and gold coins. There were Ameri-
Fan. Mexican, Bohemian and italian
coins. Some of them dated back to the
seventeenth century.
But when the townspeople saw John
Rezac staggering TO his home with a
Sucketful of coins they made a rush for
HE garden patch.
whole village Digs.
In his haste Rezac had spilled a large
eumber Of csins. There ensued a
1curry for thsm. In an hour practically
he entire population of the village was
On their hands and knees. digging into
The soft soil with their finger nails for
Abe buried treasure. Nearly everybody
JAS rewarded with some coins.
At midnight. by the light of lanterns.
eome of the harder of the treasure
Seekers. scorning the rumored phantoms
IF the shack. were hard at work.
It has been impossible to estimate the
value of the treasure so far recovered.
Out it runs into the thousands.
John Rezac is only an iceman. but he
feads the newspapers. He knows there
pre- bandits and holdup men. He has
1aken out his old shotgun. and sat up
last night next to his bucket Of silver
and gold, watching and waiting for the
morning to come. so that he can take
Dis treasure to the bank.