The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Treasure Found (Twelfth St.- Kansas City)

Five Thousand Dollars in Solid Gold Found Hidden Beneath the Sod
Kansas City News Feb. 18

Yesterday afternoon a gentleman named Wm. Pate who recently purchased and is now improving a lot near the eastern terminus of Twelfth Street, discovered on his premises a treasure of no trifling import. He was digging for the foundation of a house. Near the roots of an old tree that had been long ago cut down, Mr. Pate was freely using his spade when suddenly it struck something solid and apparently immobile. Digging around the object it was soon brought to light.

It proved to be a small iron chest, rusty, but heavy and solid. It was at once removed from its bed under the earth. and with some difficulty opened. Imagine the surprise and delight of Mr. Pate, on discovering therein gold to the amount of $5,620. With the gold was also found a note; and in the note was legibly written;

"Hidden from the soldiers in 1864. If I never return, and this is discovered the finder will please devote half the amount to charitable purposes, and the balance he can keep for his own use. I am an old man, with not a relative in Missouri. J. C. Waite"

The money has been placed in a bank. Mr. Pate, we understand, intends fulfilling the written request of the old man to the letter, and especially gladly, no doubt, will he appreciate "the balance" referred to in Mr. Waite's note.

Warrenton Banner (Warrenton, Missouri) 01 Mar 1870 (Tuesday)