Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1886 — A Curious Savings Bank. [ARTICLE]

A Curious Savings Bank.

Some years ago, an old wooden bridge spanned the Schuylkill river at the foot of Penn street, Reading, Pa. In the course of time a more substantial structure was deemed necessary, and the timbers of the old bridge were carefully taken apart, and reserved for use in repairing and rebuilding the smaller connty bridges. While preparing some of this old timber for its new use, a few days ago, it became necessary to saw oil several feet from a heavy piece, which was to be used as a girder in a small bridge under contemplation. When the end portion dropped to the ground, the workman was astonished to hear a jingling sound as of gold and silver coin. A summons of such good omen insured a speedy investigation, which resulted in finding eagles, half eagles, silver dollars, halves, and quarters mixed together in careless confusion. The source of supply was found in a section about eighteen inches in length and live inches deep, which had been hollowed out of the log with auger and chisel. An inch thick cover had been fitted over the opening so cleverly and scaled with so much care that detection, other than accidental, was hardly possible. The treasure had been confined in a home-knit woolen stocking, and as the saw cut off the toe, a part of the contents was discharged. The value of the - deposit, though reported to be considerable, was not made public. The money was probably hidden away a number of years ago, as specimens of three, live, ten, twentyfive, and fifty cent scrip, nicely folded up in a piece of writing paper, were among the contents. Not a line indicated the ownership. The question of possession is consequently divided as to whether it should go to the workman who discovered it, the owner of the timber, or the county. The finder probably inclines to the first suggestion.