HIDDEN TREASURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16905, 2 December 1922, Page 11

HIDDEN TREASURE.

FINDS IN AMERICA. In North America there are three great areas where much treasure—minted coin, gold and silver plate, family jewels, etc.—remains buried it. the ground (says a writer in “ Chambers's Journal ”). Again and again a farmer comes across such a cache when ploughing. In each of these areas it has been war that brought about the sudden conoealing of family fortunes. During the War of Secession there was much looting by the Federals and the Confederates alike. When General S-lierman effected his famous march to the sea, plantationowners, and many of the towns north and south of and along the line of liis most devastating operations, buried their money and valuables for fear oi’ confiscation by the Federals. The havocdone by the military, fires bringing about the disappearance of the landmarks indicating the sites of the caches, the damage done by heavy weather and the death of those concerned, all combined against relocation of the treasures.

| The second great area was stocked ;in much the same way. When Washi ington, in the War of Independence, turned the hostilities in favour of the ; Americans, the rich Royalists from j New Jersey to the Maine were taken | by surprise. Manv of them, finding it was too late to get their family ! treasures and cash-boxes safely a wav, ! confined them to the soil, and fled I like many a Russian nobleman in 1917. In the majority of instances they were not recovered. In Connecticut are i several families who owe their sudden : rise in the world to finds of Royalist family possessions. A notable instance . was the recovery of Lord Edmeston’s i china a few years ago. A farmer’s i plough uncovered the wooden case containing it. Because of its rare ; quality and design it brought him a j fortune. I The third great area owes its caches

t-> the same reason— Avar. in the War l of Independence, and to a larger exi tent in the 1812-14 hostilities, between Britain and the United States, many families of British sympathies in Maine. New York.JNew Hampshire and i Vermont trekked for Lower Canada | and Cape Breton. In many instances. when pursued by troops or the Redi skins, or when fac'd by great difficul- ; ties in crossing the St Lawrence, they j buried their belongings on the bank of j the river.

Several of these caches have come Ito light. Among .the latest was that discovered several vears ago by a land ! owner who was making a £our of inspection after the heavy spring fresh- ! ets. He came upon a cache, which the AAeather and the water had un--1 earthed. Av-ith the Delaval crest on the j silver. Tradition had it for generations ; that that treasure of this kind was | hidden on Carleton Island in the St i Lawrence. Not long before the war a stranger borroAved a skiff, and rowed ! over to the island, which to-day is • uninhabited, and is let for grazing | When he returned the next forenoon ; to the village of Cape St Vincent r- | was noted lie had Avith him a short, j heavy chest, stained with clay. Wit i | in he hoarded the regular river steam j boat just then calling at the landing | stage. and disappeared from ken. That afternoon a farmer sent his hired . man across to round up the cattle pasturing on the island, and just Ba- ; llie west shore he found a spade, much ! loose earth and the hole in widen the treasure-chest had rested.