A LOST TREASURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2381, 19 November 1881, Page 4

A LOST TREASURE.

The vra? of the South American Allied Powers, consisting of the Empire of Brazil ond the Argentine and Uruguayan Republics, against the little inland State of Paraguay, which commenced in 1865 and only terminated in 1870, has now passed out of the memory of the British public, except in the case of thoae persona who still hold tho bonds of the defaulting State, and live in hopes that circumstances may occur to increase the value of the comparatively useless securities they now possess. But at tho time it was waged tho war attracted a good deal of attention, and tho English public sympathised with the sufferings of the Paraguayans, admired their courage and stolid resistance, and watched with Interest the phases and incidents of tho long and terrible combat, until at length it terminated on tho banks of the Aquedaban, where Francisco Solano Lopez, MarshalPresident of the Bopublic, aad promoter of endless carnage and misery, found an almost heroic death, falling, with his eldest son at his side, in a last struggle with the Brazilian cavalry. One incident of tho long, weary march northward, on which tho Marshal started in the hope of escaping from his energetic pursuers, by passing into Bolivian territory, is not without interest, and possesses a certain attraction on account of the mystery with which it is surrounded. Before proceeding to relate it a few prefatory remarks are requisite. Paraguay had prospered for many years, and its wealth had been very constantly increasing. Internally it possessed nearly every resource necessary for the maintenance of its population, and tho value of the goods exported to the riverine ports of Buenos Ayres and Montevideo far exceeded the value of the imports ; the balance consequently was paid in hard cash, and the Treasury had accumulated a large amount of specie. On the declaration of war the subservient Chambers at once voted an extraordinary supply of five millions of dollars to carry it on effectually, which sum they placed entirely at the disposal of the President, and on this security he immediately introduced a largo forced issue of paper money. Before long he further added to bis store by a levy, supposed to be voluntary, but which was rigidly enforced, not only on the moveable property of the male inhabitants, but even on the jewels and ornaments of the female portion of the population. It is difficult to ascertain the value of the property thus realised, which has been estimated at from fifteen to twenty millions of dollars, but undoubtedly a very large sum was accumulated, for tho war was popular, the women possessed many ornaments in gold and silver, often enriched with precious stones, and those they willingly poured into the lap of Mrs Lynch, an Englishwoman, who, although previously married, was tho life partner of the Marshal, and until the end shared with him his pleasures and troubles. The drafts on tho wealth thus collected wore exceedingly small. No cash payments were required. The troops were only doing their duty in lending their services to the fatherland, and consequently there was no necessity to pay them. True, they must have food, but tho requirements of a Paraguayan soldier are few, and beef was supplied without expense from the innumerable cattle that herded on the pasture lands, while the forostaJojrnished the “ yerba mate.” Thus it happentS that when the last scone opened, and the Marshol, accompanied by Mrs Lynch and their son, commenced his march northward, he took with him a train of carts containing, still nearly intact, the moneys voted by tho Chambers and the property collected from the inhabitants. Pressed by the Brazilian cavalry, the salvation of life soon became the first consideration, and yet he could not bear to sacrifice his wealth. He determined to bury it, and although a number of laborers would be required to effect tho interment, he took his measures so that the secret hiding place should be known to only a very few people. A superior officer with thirty men, and accompanied by a civil engineer, were told off for tho duty. The working party soon completed their labors, and the engineer took the exact bearings of tho spot whore the treasure had been deposited, and within a few hours every man who had been engaged in the work had been executed, and the secret remoinod only in tho possession of tho Marshal, his private secretary, and Mrs Lynch. Tho two former died together, and it is stated that tho secret of the “ Lost Treasure ” is known only to tho latter, and that as yet •be has has never had the opportunity of recovering it. Some years afterwards she returned to Paraguay, but the authorities refused her permission to remain, and attempts—one under the auspices of English merchants of Buenos Ayres, have boon made to find it, but unsuccessfully. No rumors have been current that it has been subtracted, nor has any Monte Oristo appeared to startle the world with fabulous wealth. Probably to this day, hidden in one spot in tho wilds of Paraguay, there is lying a treasure sufficient to place that unhappy country on its legs and wipe out her debt to England.—“ Bullionist.”