The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-30
MANY INTERESTING
RELICS UNEARTHED
Treasure Hunters Discover Relics of
Historical Interest and Unearth
Mysterious Coffin.

OF the number of old relics and arti-
cles of historical interest which have
from time to time been found in Pen
acola, possibly one of the most inter-
esting is the lead seal, bearing the
French Fleur de Lys, dated 1719 found
by r. T. Horlick in the spring of 1913
on the site now occupied by the United
States naval hospital, while having
trennch dug to contain a series of
steam lines to furnish heat and hot
water to Camp Bennett.
This old seal was dug from the
ground at about three and a half feet
depth. 1t was in a hard crust of sand
apparently a corroding action having
formed. Stiff scrubbing with brush
was necessary to remove the sand.
Another interesting relic of by-gone
days is the old Confederate cannon
which now lies under or partly under
the office of the Texas Oil company
at the foot of Clubbs-st. The cannon
was located by Mr.. Horlick first in
the winter of 1909. Interested in tales
of buried treasure" and hearing that
there was supposed to be money
buried along the beach, Mr.. Horlick in
searching for it discovered the old
cannon. Mr.. Horlick let the cannon
lie until the winter of 1918. During
conversation between Mr.. Horlick and
some friends one night mention was
made that there was supposed to be
an old cannon buried near to where
the party were at the time said to
contain a lot of money. Mr.. Horlick
then spoke of the cannon discovered
by him and the party decided to I'M
earth the old gun. After much work
it was raised about three feet above
ground, the hole filled and the gun
blocked up.
No money was found in it but there
were 13 cannon balls of about seven
and a half inches diameter. The first
ball was found to have been spiked
with steel wedge about five or six
inches long by three-fourths of an inch
wide and drawn down from one half
inch to a point. A substance was found
in the back supposed to be old powder.
Not being able to dispose of the cannon
in any way neither by sale or by
having the city take it to mount in
any of the parks or squares, it was
Texas Oil company started building
the cannon was covered by a part of
their building and sidewalk -,. .-
Another time Mr.. Horlick with a
party of friends at point across the
bay located by the use of a sounding
rod what they knew must be some
thing in a metal container. Hoping
for buried treasure, they dug the OBJ
ject up and found it to be an iron
coffin. After lifting the coffin, one
end at a time the party decided to
replace it, but later while eating sup
per in the conversation mention was
made that the foot end of the coffin
seemed to be the heavier. So it was
decided the next morning to investi-
gate the coffin more carefully. The
coffin was found to bear no name
plate, makers name or date of any
kind nor had the place where 1t had
been buried ever been a cemetery. 1t
showed signs of having rested for
years under the back porch or steps
Of a dwelling house.
After some consideration the party
decided to open the coffin, finding
that it had been sealed with a suitable
y
gasket and bolted with perhaps 80 or
40 one-fourth inch stave bolts. 1t had
a brass sleeve over the iron instead of
being brass plated.
The coffin was found to contain the
body of man dressed in dark blue
or black broadcloth suit with two or
three buttons on the sleeves, oval
shaped and about the size of a half
dollar. The buttons were cloth COW
cred. There was nothing left of the
body but the bones, they being a dark
brown color. The head could not be
seen as it was wrapped entirely, look
ing like an ancient mummy. The drap-
pings were not disturbed by the party.
There was seemingly no odor though
the work was done from the windward
side. Nothing of special material in
N he