Ghosts of the Carolinas

Treasure Hunt

64 Treasure Hunt THE FURY OF BATTLE SEEMED ALMOST TAME TO TWO YOUNG OFFICERS AFTER THEIR GHOSTLY ENCOUNTER ON FOLLY ISLAND In 1908 in Deadwood, South Dakota, a little book was published by a former Union Army officer. Francis M. Moore had served with distinction during the war between the states but the subject of his book was not a narrative of battles. It was an eerie tale of a search for buried treasure on Folly Island near Charleston harbor. For half a century those who knew the story were sworn to secrecy. In July of 1863 the 62nd Ohio Regiment was part of a Union force under General Gilmore. The men landed on Folly Island in preparation for an attack on the defenses of Charleston harbor. Before the fighting was to start Gilmore ordered the Negroes living on the island removed and provided a steamer to take them to Port Royal. A young lieutenant named Yokum, who was supervising one of the details, walked up to a ramshackle cabin occupied by an old Negro woman and a child. When he informed her she would have to leave the island she protested vehemently. The lieutenant , trying to be as kind as possible, sat on the porch and listened to her talk while the child brought him a drink of spring water in a gourd. The Negress told Yokum how her family had lived 66 in the cabin while pirates still roamed the Carolina coast. Judging that her age must be close to a hundred, he became convinced she was telling the truth as her story appeared to be from first hand experience. When she mentioned buried treasure the words cut through the oppressive July heat and aroused a spark of interest in the young officer. "Six chests of gold, silver and jewels were carried ashore by the pirates. They dug a hole for it between dem two big oaks." And she pointed a figure as gnarled as the trees themselves. Her voice dropped almost to a whisper as she told how the frightened Negroes had watched. As the last chest was lowered into the hole the leader of the buccaneers suddenly stabbed one of his men in the back and tumbled him into the opening. Quickly the other pirates shoveled sand over the body and soon they had vanished back to the sea from whence they had come. It was not long before a large ship appeared on the horizon,apparently in search of the pirates. Fromher description Lieutenant Yokum guessed that it might have been a British man of war. He was now intensely interested. "I suppose the treasure has been dug up long since?" heasked with only a trace ofhope in his voice. "No suh, no suh. Who gonna go near dat place? Dat pirate he watch over dem chests even do' he dead." And the old woman fell silent, looking out toward the sea. Yokum helped her carry her few belongings down to the boat and she and the child boarded it along with the other Negroes. That night shortly before twelve o'clock two officers of the 62nd Ohio, each equipped with a shovel, disappeared over the sand dunes. Yokum and his friend, Lieutenant Hatcher, had no trouble finding the giant live oaks which grew a short distance from the Negro cabin. They were shrouded with Spanish moss and so much taller than the other trees on the narrow strip of land that they stood out conspicuously . As they neared their goal the tops of the trees began to rustle and stir although there was no breeze and the air hung still and heavy with heat. Taking their bearings and choosing a site directly between the two oaks, which were about twenty feet apart, the men began to dig. There was a flash of lightning and Yokum looked up at the sky for signs of a summer thunderstorm. To his surprise no distant roll of thunder followed. Hatcher pointed to the tops of the trees now swaying and writhing as if buffeted by a strong wind. They raised their shovels and resumed digging. The sand which the wind swept against their faces and bare torsos stung like thousands of tiny needles. But they continued to dig. By now the darkness was illuminated by numerous flashes of lightning and at times they could see each other as plainly as if it were day. Then a...