THE TRURO COMPANY
?Event Number: 3
Contributor: Paul Troutman
Oak Island Company Name: The Truro Company
Also Known As: The Truro Syndicate
Company Formation date and location: 1849, Truro, Nova Scotia, Colchester County
Initial Company Shares per Price: Unknown
Oak Island Leased by: John Smith
Years Active on Oak Island From 1849 – 1851?
Deaths as a result on Oak Island: 0
Names of Company Members:
Dr. Simeon Lynds - Shareholder
Captain Anthony Vaughan (Of Western Shore) - Shareholder
John Smith
James Pitblado – - Foreman
John Gammel (of Upper Stewiacke) - Large Shareholder
Robert Creelman (of Upper Stewiacke) - Manager
Adams Archibald Tupper (of Upper Stewiacke) – Foreman
Jotham Blanchard McCully - (of Truro) – Manager and Drilling Engineer (neighbor of Dr. Lynds)
Summary of Activity:
Forty-five years would pass before another attempt was made on Oak Island in 1849. During this time, the island was being used for farming by John Smith. One of the three original searchers, Daniel McInnis, had also died by this point. The 1st task of The Truro Company was re-excavating The Money Pit down to 86 feet. At this level, the water began entering and drove the workers out. Once again, bailing proved useless and work was temporarily suspended. Later that summer, they returned with a hand operated pod-auger which was used in coal prospecting. A platform was setup for drilling in The Money Pit at a depth of 30 feet, just above the water level. They bored 5 holes into the Money Pit.
In the 1st hole, they lost a core sampler. In the second hole, they struck the platform which the previous Onslow Company had found at 98 feet with the crowbar. The drilling auger went through this upper platform, which was made of 5 inches of spruce wood, then a 12 inch gap, 4 inches of oak wood, 22 inches of loose metal and 8 inches of oak wood. This was thought to be the bottom of two “treasure chests” or barrel containers, one stacked on top of the next between two platforms. Then the drill went through 22 inches of loose metal, 4 inches of oak wood, and 6 inches of spruce wood, then into 7 feet of clay without striking anything else. With the third hole, the same platform was struck again at 98 feet. Passing through, the auger fell 18 inches then came into contact with the side of a cask or barrel. On withdrawing the auger, oak splinters such as those from the side of a barrel stave, and coconut fiber were brought up. The reported distance between these two upper and lower platforms was within 6 feet of each other. Three links of metal resembling an ancient gold watch chain were also brought up by the auger. The final two holes were drilled near the inside walls of the pit. Three pieces of copper wire were also brought up from the 5th hole. After sinking more exploratory holes in the Money Pit, John Gammel noticed James Pitblado taking something off the end of the auger and slipping it into his pocket. When asked about it by Gammel, Pitblado told him that he would reveal it at the next meeting of directors. Pitblado never showed up at the next meeting. Pitblado later unsuccessfully tried to buy land on Oak Island. Fun Fact: James Pitblado later supervised work searching for coal in the Chester area in 1875.
The next summer in 1850, The Truro Company sunk another shaft, SHAFT #3, about 10 feet northwest of The Money Pit. No water was encountered in this new shaft down to 109 feet through red clay. A tunnel was driven from the bottom in the direction of The Money Pit, when water burst in and the men barely escaped with their lives. In twenty minutes, 45 feet of water flooded this new shaft.
Water bailing was used in these old and new shafts with two Horse Gin’s (photo of horse bailers from 1895 publication) for about a week, day and night, but this barely made a noticeable difference in the water level. It was discovered then that the water filling the pit was salt water and that this water level rose and fell 18 inches with the tides. This gave searchers the idea that the water source must somehow be connected to the sea. A search for an inlet began at Smith’s Cove, for its natural advantages for this, 495 feet away from The Money Pit on the Eastern end of the island. Smith’s Cove was also suspected as the source of the water as water had been observed as curiously running out of the sand at the center of this cove at times. After shoveling and removing a layer of sand and gravel covering the beach, it was discovered that a bed of brown coconut fiber 2 to 3 inches in thickness had been reached, covering an area 145 feet wide along the shore line just above the low tide mark and extending to the high tide mark. This was the same kind that had been found in the Money Pit with the pod auger drilling the year before. Underlying this, and to the same extent, was about 4 or 5 inches of decayed eel grass. Under this was a compact mass of beach rocks free from sand or gravel.
A “cofferdam” was constructed to hold back the tide and allow for further examination
After removing the rocks nearest the low water, it was found that the clay (which, with the sand and gravel, originally formed the beach) had been dug out and removed and replaced by beach rocks. Resting on the bottom of this excavation were five well-constructed drains formed by laying parallel lines of rocks about 8 inches apart and covering the same with flat stones. These drains at the starting point were a considerable distance apart, but converged towards a common center at the back of the excavation. Work went on until half of the rocks had been removed where the clay banks at the extreme sides showed a depth of 5 ft, at which depth a partially burned piece of oak wood was found. About this time an unusually high tide overflowed the top of the dam; and as it had not been constructed to resist pressure from the inside, when the tide receded, it was carried away. To rebuild the dam would have been too costly. It was decided to abandon the work on the shore, and to sink a shaft a short distance inland from Smith’s Cove and directly over the suspected convergence point which was suspected to be 25 feet down from the surface to the water. The plan was to drive spiles through, and thereby stop the further passage of the water. A spot was selected and a shaft was put down, (SHAFT #4) to a depth of 75 feet. Realizing the fact that they must have passed the tunnel, work was stopped on this pit. Another and more careful survey was made and work was begun on another shaft about 12 ft to the south of the one just abandoned. (SHAFT #5) When a depth of 35 feet had been reached, a large boulder laying in the bottom of the shaft was pried up. A rush of water immediately followed and in a few minutes the shaft was full to the tide level. An effort was made to carry out the original program of driving spiles, but as the appliances at command were of the most crude description the effort was a failure. A short time after, SHAFT #6 was sunk on the south side of the "Money Pit," and to a depth of 118 ft. This made the fourth one (including the "Money Pit") that had been put down at this place and in such close proximity to each other that a circle 50 ft. in diameter would include the hole. The conditions found in sinking this fourth shaft were precisely the same as in the other shafts. As already stated, this new shaft was 118 feet deep, a greater depth by 8 ft than had previously been reached. A tunnel was driven towards and reached a point directly under a part, at least, of the bottom of the "Money Pit." It was now the dinner hour, and the workmen had left the tunnel. Before they had finished dinner, a great crash was heard in the direction of the works. Rushing back to the pit, they found that the bottom of the "Money Pit" had fallen into the
tunnel that they had a short time before vacated and that the new shaft was fast filing with water. Subsequently, it was found that 12 ft of mud had been driven by the force of water from the old to the new shaft. The funds of the company were exhausted and this company was dissolved in 1851.
Key Events:
[1849]:
[1850]:
Contributor: Paul Troutman
Oak Island Company Name: The Truro Company
Also Known As: The Truro Syndicate
Company Formation date and location: 1849, Truro, Nova Scotia, Colchester County
Initial Company Shares per Price: Unknown
Oak Island Leased by: John Smith
Years Active on Oak Island From 1849 – 1851?
Deaths as a result on Oak Island: 0
Names of Company Members:
Dr. Simeon Lynds - Shareholder
Captain Anthony Vaughan (Of Western Shore) - Shareholder
John Smith
James Pitblado – - Foreman
John Gammel (of Upper Stewiacke) - Large Shareholder
Robert Creelman (of Upper Stewiacke) - Manager
Adams Archibald Tupper (of Upper Stewiacke) – Foreman
Jotham Blanchard McCully - (of Truro) – Manager and Drilling Engineer (neighbor of Dr. Lynds)
Summary of Activity:
Forty-five years would pass before another attempt was made on Oak Island in 1849. During this time, the island was being used for farming by John Smith. One of the three original searchers, Daniel McInnis, had also died by this point. The 1st task of The Truro Company was re-excavating The Money Pit down to 86 feet. At this level, the water began entering and drove the workers out. Once again, bailing proved useless and work was temporarily suspended. Later that summer, they returned with a hand operated pod-auger which was used in coal prospecting. A platform was setup for drilling in The Money Pit at a depth of 30 feet, just above the water level. They bored 5 holes into the Money Pit.
In the 1st hole, they lost a core sampler. In the second hole, they struck the platform which the previous Onslow Company had found at 98 feet with the crowbar. The drilling auger went through this upper platform, which was made of 5 inches of spruce wood, then a 12 inch gap, 4 inches of oak wood, 22 inches of loose metal and 8 inches of oak wood. This was thought to be the bottom of two “treasure chests” or barrel containers, one stacked on top of the next between two platforms. Then the drill went through 22 inches of loose metal, 4 inches of oak wood, and 6 inches of spruce wood, then into 7 feet of clay without striking anything else. With the third hole, the same platform was struck again at 98 feet. Passing through, the auger fell 18 inches then came into contact with the side of a cask or barrel. On withdrawing the auger, oak splinters such as those from the side of a barrel stave, and coconut fiber were brought up. The reported distance between these two upper and lower platforms was within 6 feet of each other. Three links of metal resembling an ancient gold watch chain were also brought up by the auger. The final two holes were drilled near the inside walls of the pit. Three pieces of copper wire were also brought up from the 5th hole. After sinking more exploratory holes in the Money Pit, John Gammel noticed James Pitblado taking something off the end of the auger and slipping it into his pocket. When asked about it by Gammel, Pitblado told him that he would reveal it at the next meeting of directors. Pitblado never showed up at the next meeting. Pitblado later unsuccessfully tried to buy land on Oak Island. Fun Fact: James Pitblado later supervised work searching for coal in the Chester area in 1875.
The next summer in 1850, The Truro Company sunk another shaft, SHAFT #3, about 10 feet northwest of The Money Pit. No water was encountered in this new shaft down to 109 feet through red clay. A tunnel was driven from the bottom in the direction of The Money Pit, when water burst in and the men barely escaped with their lives. In twenty minutes, 45 feet of water flooded this new shaft.
Water bailing was used in these old and new shafts with two Horse Gin’s (photo of horse bailers from 1895 publication) for about a week, day and night, but this barely made a noticeable difference in the water level. It was discovered then that the water filling the pit was salt water and that this water level rose and fell 18 inches with the tides. This gave searchers the idea that the water source must somehow be connected to the sea. A search for an inlet began at Smith’s Cove, for its natural advantages for this, 495 feet away from The Money Pit on the Eastern end of the island. Smith’s Cove was also suspected as the source of the water as water had been observed as curiously running out of the sand at the center of this cove at times. After shoveling and removing a layer of sand and gravel covering the beach, it was discovered that a bed of brown coconut fiber 2 to 3 inches in thickness had been reached, covering an area 145 feet wide along the shore line just above the low tide mark and extending to the high tide mark. This was the same kind that had been found in the Money Pit with the pod auger drilling the year before. Underlying this, and to the same extent, was about 4 or 5 inches of decayed eel grass. Under this was a compact mass of beach rocks free from sand or gravel.
A “cofferdam” was constructed to hold back the tide and allow for further examination
After removing the rocks nearest the low water, it was found that the clay (which, with the sand and gravel, originally formed the beach) had been dug out and removed and replaced by beach rocks. Resting on the bottom of this excavation were five well-constructed drains formed by laying parallel lines of rocks about 8 inches apart and covering the same with flat stones. These drains at the starting point were a considerable distance apart, but converged towards a common center at the back of the excavation. Work went on until half of the rocks had been removed where the clay banks at the extreme sides showed a depth of 5 ft, at which depth a partially burned piece of oak wood was found. About this time an unusually high tide overflowed the top of the dam; and as it had not been constructed to resist pressure from the inside, when the tide receded, it was carried away. To rebuild the dam would have been too costly. It was decided to abandon the work on the shore, and to sink a shaft a short distance inland from Smith’s Cove and directly over the suspected convergence point which was suspected to be 25 feet down from the surface to the water. The plan was to drive spiles through, and thereby stop the further passage of the water. A spot was selected and a shaft was put down, (SHAFT #4) to a depth of 75 feet. Realizing the fact that they must have passed the tunnel, work was stopped on this pit. Another and more careful survey was made and work was begun on another shaft about 12 ft to the south of the one just abandoned. (SHAFT #5) When a depth of 35 feet had been reached, a large boulder laying in the bottom of the shaft was pried up. A rush of water immediately followed and in a few minutes the shaft was full to the tide level. An effort was made to carry out the original program of driving spiles, but as the appliances at command were of the most crude description the effort was a failure. A short time after, SHAFT #6 was sunk on the south side of the "Money Pit," and to a depth of 118 ft. This made the fourth one (including the "Money Pit") that had been put down at this place and in such close proximity to each other that a circle 50 ft. in diameter would include the hole. The conditions found in sinking this fourth shaft were precisely the same as in the other shafts. As already stated, this new shaft was 118 feet deep, a greater depth by 8 ft than had previously been reached. A tunnel was driven towards and reached a point directly under a part, at least, of the bottom of the "Money Pit." It was now the dinner hour, and the workmen had left the tunnel. Before they had finished dinner, a great crash was heard in the direction of the works. Rushing back to the pit, they found that the bottom of the "Money Pit" had fallen into the
tunnel that they had a short time before vacated and that the new shaft was fast filing with water. Subsequently, it was found that 12 ft of mud had been driven by the force of water from the old to the new shaft. The funds of the company were exhausted and this company was dissolved in 1851.
Key Events:
[1849]:
- Relocation Of Money Pit and clearing out to 86 feet, Water-Flooding, Construction of a platform for drilling at the 30 foot level above water, finding of “metal and wood” upper and lower “chests”, James Pitblado’s unknown recovered hidden item from The Money Pit, and odd behavior, disappearance from the island, and later attempt to buy the eastern part of the island with Charles Archibald of Acadia Iron Works.
[1850]:
- Sinking of SHAFT #3 to 109 feet and then towards The Money Pit. Water flooding into SHAFT #3 and attempted bailing with horse gin’s.
- DISCOVERY OF 5 FLOOD TUNNELS IN SMITH’S COVE
- Discovery of salt water in the pit, and finding the artificial beach and flooding and system at Smith’s Cove. Construction of a Cofferdam to hold back the tide at Smith’s Cove for exploration, until it was swept out with the tide. Discovery of Smith’s Cove clay dug out, and five stone lined drains. SHAFT #4 sunk to 75 feet to the suspected convergence point of these drains, but they missed. SHAFT #5 was sunk to a depth of 35 feet, after they removed a large boulder, a rush of water burst in and flooded this pit to tide level. SHAFT #6 was struck on the south side of the Money Pit to a depth at 118 feet, which was driven towards The Money Pit. Men had stopped when they heard a “crash” from The Money Pit, and this shaft had filled with 12 feet of mud and water.
- Link to letter at DesBrisay Museum from John Smith to cousin discussing upcoming work on the island, June 26, 1854.
THE TRURO COMPANY STATEMENT #1
[NOTE: This is from the 1893 Oak Island Treasure Company Investment Prospectus, So appears to be (so far) the best account of what happened, and may have been taken from the written account that Adams A Tupper later wrote. Portions of this Were used for H.L. Bowdoin’s Coller’s issues, the Canadian OITC and Snow version of the history, And in many books.]
“ Until 1849, nothing was done in the direction of recovering the treasure but in that year a new company [NOTE: (THE TRURO COMPANY)] was formed and operations resume at the “old stand At this time two of the "old diggers," namely, Dr. Lynds of Truro and Mr. Vaughan of Western Shore (before mentioned,) were still alive, and gave the manager much valuable information regarding the old workings, and expressed their firm belief in the existence of the treasure. Mr. Vaughan quickly located the site of the "Money Pit," which in the meantime had been filled up. Digging was commenced, and went on without interruption until the depth of 86 feet had been reached, when the water again put in appearance and the men were driven out of the pit. After an unsuccessful attempt to bail the water out, work was suspended and the men returned to their homes. Shortly after, men with boring apparatus of primitive description, used in prospecting for coal, were sent to the island. Mr. J.B. McCully of Truro, who is still living and tells these facts, was manager. A platform was rigged in the "Money Pit," 30 feet below the surface and just above the water. The boring started and we submit a verbatim statement of the manager: "The platform was struck at 98 feet, just as the old diggers, as before mentioned, found it when sounding with the iron bar. After going through this platform, which was five inches thick, and proved to be spruce, the auger dropped 12 inches and then went through 4 inches of oak; then it went through 22 inches of metal in pieces, but the auger failed to take any of it except 3 links, resembling an ancient watch chain. It then went through 8 inches of oak, which was thought to be the bottom of the first box and top of the next; then 22 inches of metal, the same as before; then 4 inches of oak and 6 inches of spruce; then into clay 7 ft. without striking anything else. In next boring the platform was struck as before at 98 ft.; passing through this, the augur fell about 18 inches came in contact with, as supposed, the side of a cask. The flat chisel revolving close to the side of the cask gave it a jerky and irregular motion. On withdrawing the auger several splinters of oak, such as might come from the side of an oak stave, and a small quantity of a brown fibrous substance, closely resembling the husk of a cocoanut, were brought up. The distance between the upper and lower platforms was found to be 6 feet." Not satisfied with the result of the boring just above described, another crew, of which the late Jas. [(Note abbreviation for James)] Pitblado was foreman, was sent to make further investigations with practically (as far as the wood at the bottom of the shaft was concerned) the same result as before. The late John Gammell of Upper Stewiacke, N.S., who was present at the boring and who was a large share holder, and whose veracity would not be questioned, stated that he saw Mr. Pitblado take something out of the auger, wash and examine it closely, then put it in his pocket. When asked by Mr. Gammell to show what it was, he declined, and said he would show it at the meeting of the directors on their return, but Mr. Pitblado failed to appear at said meeting. It was subsequently
reported that Mr. Pitblado had made some revelations to to the then manager of the Acadia Iron Works at Londonderry, N.S., which revelations led that gentleman to make a determined, but unsuccessful effort to get possession of that part of the island where the treasure is believed to be.
But as the manager spoken of above was a few years later called to England, and Mr. Pitblado in the man time had been accidentally killed in a gold mine, nothing further came of it. Nothing further was done until the following summer, 1850, when a new shaft (marked No 3 in Map) was sunk at the west side of the "Money Pit"and about 10 feet from it. This shaft was 109 ft. deep and was through the hardest kind of red clay. Mr. A. A. Tupper then of Upper Stewiacke, N.S. but now of South Framingham, Mass., who helped sink this shaft, gives the following account: "A tunnel was driven from the bottom in the direction of the "Money Pit." Just before reaching that point, the water burst in and the workmen fled for their lives and in twenty minutes there was 45 ft. of water in the new pit. The sole object in view in sinking this shaft was to increase the bailing facilities, for which purpose preparations had been made, and bailing was resumed in both the new and old pits, which being equipped with two two-horse gins. Work was carried on night and day for about a week, but all in vain, the only difference being that with the doubled appliances the water could be kept at a lower level than formerly. About this time, the discovery was made that the water was salt, and that it rose and fell in both shafts about 18 inches corresponding with the tides. It was considered extremely improbably that the flow of water came through a natural channel, and if not through a natural, it necessarily must be through an artificial one, having its inlet somewhere on the shore. In support of the theory that the water did not enter the "Money Pit" through a natural channel, it was argued that had it done so, the original diggers (supposed to be pirates) must have struck it, and if they did, it is certain that the workmen would have been driven from the pit by the great flow of water, and the shaft would have necessarily have been abandoned. This evidently was not the case, as we have ample evidence from the fact that the wooden platforms were carefully placed in position at the bottom of the shaft (see the account of the borings already given) as well as the fact that the shaft had been systematically filled up, with mark placed at every 10 feet, as previously stated. Acting on this theory a search was at once begun in order to find such inlet. Smith's Cove on the extreme eastern end of the island and about 30 rods [(Note: 495 Feet]) from the "Money Pit" was first examined by reason of it's many natural advantages as a starting point for work of this kind, and from the fact that at about the center of this cove it had always been noticed that at low tide, water was running out of the sand. Investigations were begun at this point and the result of a few minutes' shoveling proved beyond a doubt that they had struck the place they were looking for. After removing the sand and gravel covering the beach, they came to a covering or a bed of a brown, fibrous plant, the fiber very much resembling the husk of a cocoanut, and when compared with the plant that was bored out of the "Money Pit" already mentioned, no difference in the two could be detected. However it was subsequently proved to be a tropical plan, in former times used as "dunnage" in stowing ship's cargo.
The surface covered by this plant extended 145 feet along the shore line, and from a little above low to high water mark, and about 2 inches in thickness. Underlying this and to the same extend was about 4 or 5 inches of decayed eel grass, and under this was a compact mass of beach rocks free from sand or gravel. It was found impracticable to remove these rocks and make further investigation unless the tide was kept back. Accordingly a coffer damn was built around this part of the cove, including the boundaries just described. After removing the rocks nearest the low water, it was found that the clay (which with the sand and gravel originally formed the beach) had been dug out and removed and replaced by beach rocks. Resting on the bottom of this excavation were five well constructed drains (as shown on the plan) formed by laying parallel lines of rocks about 8 inches apart and covering the same with flat stones. These drains at the starting point were a considerable distance apart, but converged towards a common center at the back of the excavation. With the exception of these drains and other rocks had evidently been thrown in promiscuously. Work went on until half of the rocks had been removed where the clay banks at the extreme sides showed a depth of 5 feet, at which depth a partially burned piece of oak wood was found. About this time an unusually high tide overflowed the top of the dam; and as it had not been constructed to resist pressure from the inside, when the tide receded, it was carried away.
To rebuild it would cost a lot of money, and as there still remained a large amount of rocks to be removed, and as there could be no reasonable doubt that the place we have tried to describe was the outwork of and starting point of a tunnel by which the water was conveyed to the bottom of the "Money Pit," it was decided to abandon the work on the shore and to sink a shaft a short distance inland from the starting point and directly over the tunnel, which it was expected, if found would be less than 25 feet from the surface; and if so, the intention was to drive spiles through and thereby stop the further passage of the water. A spot was selected and a shaft was put down, (marked No. 4 in Map) to a depth of 75 feet. Realizing the fact that they must have passed the tunnel work was stopped on this pit. It is worthy to note that the clay formation passed through in sinking this shaft was exactly the same encountered in the 3 other pits mentioned, neither was water met with. Another and more careful survey having been made, work was begun on another shaft about 12 ft to the south of the one just abandoned (marked No. 5. In Map) When a depth of 35 feet had been reached, a large boulder laying in the bottom of the shaft was pried up, and a rush of water immediately followed and in a few minutes the shaft was full to the tide level. An effort was made to carry out the original program of driving spiles, but as the appliances at command were of the most crude description the effort was a failure. But at the same time it must be admitted that striking salt water at this pit at the depth named: and also the other fact that in the other shaft only 12 feet distant and 85 feet deep, no water was found proves beyond a doubt that the tunnel theory was correct."
A short time after another shaft (marked No. 6 in Map) was sunk on the south side of the "Money Pit," and to a depth of 118 ft. This made the 4th one (including the "Money Pit") that had been put down at this place and in such close proximity to each other that a circle 50 ft. in diameter would include the whole. The conditions found in sinking this 4th shaft were precisely the same as in the other shafts. As already sated, this new shaft was 118 feet deep, a greater depth by 8 ft than had previously been reached. A tunnel was driven towards and reached a point directly under, a part at least of the bottom of the "Money Pit." It was now the dinner hour, and the workmen had just come out for that meal. Before they had finished dinner, a great crash was heard in the direction of the works. Rushing back to the put, they found that the bottom of the "Money Pit" had fallen into the tunnel that they had a short time before vacated and that the new shaft was fast filing with water. Subsequently it was found that 12 feet of mud had been driven by the force of water from the old to the new shaft. The funds of this company in the meantime having been exhausted nothing was practically done that we are aware of until 1863."
[END]
[NOTE: This is from the 1893 Oak Island Treasure Company Investment Prospectus, So appears to be (so far) the best account of what happened, and may have been taken from the written account that Adams A Tupper later wrote. Portions of this Were used for H.L. Bowdoin’s Coller’s issues, the Canadian OITC and Snow version of the history, And in many books.]
“ Until 1849, nothing was done in the direction of recovering the treasure but in that year a new company [NOTE: (THE TRURO COMPANY)] was formed and operations resume at the “old stand At this time two of the "old diggers," namely, Dr. Lynds of Truro and Mr. Vaughan of Western Shore (before mentioned,) were still alive, and gave the manager much valuable information regarding the old workings, and expressed their firm belief in the existence of the treasure. Mr. Vaughan quickly located the site of the "Money Pit," which in the meantime had been filled up. Digging was commenced, and went on without interruption until the depth of 86 feet had been reached, when the water again put in appearance and the men were driven out of the pit. After an unsuccessful attempt to bail the water out, work was suspended and the men returned to their homes. Shortly after, men with boring apparatus of primitive description, used in prospecting for coal, were sent to the island. Mr. J.B. McCully of Truro, who is still living and tells these facts, was manager. A platform was rigged in the "Money Pit," 30 feet below the surface and just above the water. The boring started and we submit a verbatim statement of the manager: "The platform was struck at 98 feet, just as the old diggers, as before mentioned, found it when sounding with the iron bar. After going through this platform, which was five inches thick, and proved to be spruce, the auger dropped 12 inches and then went through 4 inches of oak; then it went through 22 inches of metal in pieces, but the auger failed to take any of it except 3 links, resembling an ancient watch chain. It then went through 8 inches of oak, which was thought to be the bottom of the first box and top of the next; then 22 inches of metal, the same as before; then 4 inches of oak and 6 inches of spruce; then into clay 7 ft. without striking anything else. In next boring the platform was struck as before at 98 ft.; passing through this, the augur fell about 18 inches came in contact with, as supposed, the side of a cask. The flat chisel revolving close to the side of the cask gave it a jerky and irregular motion. On withdrawing the auger several splinters of oak, such as might come from the side of an oak stave, and a small quantity of a brown fibrous substance, closely resembling the husk of a cocoanut, were brought up. The distance between the upper and lower platforms was found to be 6 feet." Not satisfied with the result of the boring just above described, another crew, of which the late Jas. [(Note abbreviation for James)] Pitblado was foreman, was sent to make further investigations with practically (as far as the wood at the bottom of the shaft was concerned) the same result as before. The late John Gammell of Upper Stewiacke, N.S., who was present at the boring and who was a large share holder, and whose veracity would not be questioned, stated that he saw Mr. Pitblado take something out of the auger, wash and examine it closely, then put it in his pocket. When asked by Mr. Gammell to show what it was, he declined, and said he would show it at the meeting of the directors on their return, but Mr. Pitblado failed to appear at said meeting. It was subsequently
reported that Mr. Pitblado had made some revelations to to the then manager of the Acadia Iron Works at Londonderry, N.S., which revelations led that gentleman to make a determined, but unsuccessful effort to get possession of that part of the island where the treasure is believed to be.
But as the manager spoken of above was a few years later called to England, and Mr. Pitblado in the man time had been accidentally killed in a gold mine, nothing further came of it. Nothing further was done until the following summer, 1850, when a new shaft (marked No 3 in Map) was sunk at the west side of the "Money Pit"and about 10 feet from it. This shaft was 109 ft. deep and was through the hardest kind of red clay. Mr. A. A. Tupper then of Upper Stewiacke, N.S. but now of South Framingham, Mass., who helped sink this shaft, gives the following account: "A tunnel was driven from the bottom in the direction of the "Money Pit." Just before reaching that point, the water burst in and the workmen fled for their lives and in twenty minutes there was 45 ft. of water in the new pit. The sole object in view in sinking this shaft was to increase the bailing facilities, for which purpose preparations had been made, and bailing was resumed in both the new and old pits, which being equipped with two two-horse gins. Work was carried on night and day for about a week, but all in vain, the only difference being that with the doubled appliances the water could be kept at a lower level than formerly. About this time, the discovery was made that the water was salt, and that it rose and fell in both shafts about 18 inches corresponding with the tides. It was considered extremely improbably that the flow of water came through a natural channel, and if not through a natural, it necessarily must be through an artificial one, having its inlet somewhere on the shore. In support of the theory that the water did not enter the "Money Pit" through a natural channel, it was argued that had it done so, the original diggers (supposed to be pirates) must have struck it, and if they did, it is certain that the workmen would have been driven from the pit by the great flow of water, and the shaft would have necessarily have been abandoned. This evidently was not the case, as we have ample evidence from the fact that the wooden platforms were carefully placed in position at the bottom of the shaft (see the account of the borings already given) as well as the fact that the shaft had been systematically filled up, with mark placed at every 10 feet, as previously stated. Acting on this theory a search was at once begun in order to find such inlet. Smith's Cove on the extreme eastern end of the island and about 30 rods [(Note: 495 Feet]) from the "Money Pit" was first examined by reason of it's many natural advantages as a starting point for work of this kind, and from the fact that at about the center of this cove it had always been noticed that at low tide, water was running out of the sand. Investigations were begun at this point and the result of a few minutes' shoveling proved beyond a doubt that they had struck the place they were looking for. After removing the sand and gravel covering the beach, they came to a covering or a bed of a brown, fibrous plant, the fiber very much resembling the husk of a cocoanut, and when compared with the plant that was bored out of the "Money Pit" already mentioned, no difference in the two could be detected. However it was subsequently proved to be a tropical plan, in former times used as "dunnage" in stowing ship's cargo.
The surface covered by this plant extended 145 feet along the shore line, and from a little above low to high water mark, and about 2 inches in thickness. Underlying this and to the same extend was about 4 or 5 inches of decayed eel grass, and under this was a compact mass of beach rocks free from sand or gravel. It was found impracticable to remove these rocks and make further investigation unless the tide was kept back. Accordingly a coffer damn was built around this part of the cove, including the boundaries just described. After removing the rocks nearest the low water, it was found that the clay (which with the sand and gravel originally formed the beach) had been dug out and removed and replaced by beach rocks. Resting on the bottom of this excavation were five well constructed drains (as shown on the plan) formed by laying parallel lines of rocks about 8 inches apart and covering the same with flat stones. These drains at the starting point were a considerable distance apart, but converged towards a common center at the back of the excavation. With the exception of these drains and other rocks had evidently been thrown in promiscuously. Work went on until half of the rocks had been removed where the clay banks at the extreme sides showed a depth of 5 feet, at which depth a partially burned piece of oak wood was found. About this time an unusually high tide overflowed the top of the dam; and as it had not been constructed to resist pressure from the inside, when the tide receded, it was carried away.
To rebuild it would cost a lot of money, and as there still remained a large amount of rocks to be removed, and as there could be no reasonable doubt that the place we have tried to describe was the outwork of and starting point of a tunnel by which the water was conveyed to the bottom of the "Money Pit," it was decided to abandon the work on the shore and to sink a shaft a short distance inland from the starting point and directly over the tunnel, which it was expected, if found would be less than 25 feet from the surface; and if so, the intention was to drive spiles through and thereby stop the further passage of the water. A spot was selected and a shaft was put down, (marked No. 4 in Map) to a depth of 75 feet. Realizing the fact that they must have passed the tunnel work was stopped on this pit. It is worthy to note that the clay formation passed through in sinking this shaft was exactly the same encountered in the 3 other pits mentioned, neither was water met with. Another and more careful survey having been made, work was begun on another shaft about 12 ft to the south of the one just abandoned (marked No. 5. In Map) When a depth of 35 feet had been reached, a large boulder laying in the bottom of the shaft was pried up, and a rush of water immediately followed and in a few minutes the shaft was full to the tide level. An effort was made to carry out the original program of driving spiles, but as the appliances at command were of the most crude description the effort was a failure. But at the same time it must be admitted that striking salt water at this pit at the depth named: and also the other fact that in the other shaft only 12 feet distant and 85 feet deep, no water was found proves beyond a doubt that the tunnel theory was correct."
A short time after another shaft (marked No. 6 in Map) was sunk on the south side of the "Money Pit," and to a depth of 118 ft. This made the 4th one (including the "Money Pit") that had been put down at this place and in such close proximity to each other that a circle 50 ft. in diameter would include the whole. The conditions found in sinking this 4th shaft were precisely the same as in the other shafts. As already sated, this new shaft was 118 feet deep, a greater depth by 8 ft than had previously been reached. A tunnel was driven towards and reached a point directly under, a part at least of the bottom of the "Money Pit." It was now the dinner hour, and the workmen had just come out for that meal. Before they had finished dinner, a great crash was heard in the direction of the works. Rushing back to the put, they found that the bottom of the "Money Pit" had fallen into the tunnel that they had a short time before vacated and that the new shaft was fast filing with water. Subsequently it was found that 12 feet of mud had been driven by the force of water from the old to the new shaft. The funds of this company in the meantime having been exhausted nothing was practically done that we are aware of until 1863."
[END]
THE TRURO COMPANY STATEMENT #2 (Alternate version)
(Version from the Canadian Oak Island Treasure Company Files, Edward Rowe Snow Version, does not include 35 ft and 75 foot tunnels on Smiths’ Cove)
"Until 1849 nothing further was done, but in that year a new company was formed and the operations were resumed. At this time two of the "old Diggers" (from the original three, and The Onslow Company), namely: Mr. Lynds, or Truro and Mr. Vaughan, of Western Shore, were still living, and gave the manager much valuable information regarding the old workings and expressed their firm belief in the existence of treasure in the "Money Pit". Mr. Vaughan, in looking over the ground, located the site of the "Money Pit" which in the meantime had caved in and about filled up. Digging was
Commenced and went on without interruption until the depth of eighty-six feet had been Reached, when the water again so interfered with operations that the workmen were obliged to leave the pit. An unsuccessful attempt was made to bail the water out with bailing casks. Shortly after, men with boring apparatus of primitive description, used in prospecting for Coal, were sent to the Island. Mr. J.B. McCulley of Truro, was manager. A platform was constructed in the "Money Pit" about thirty feet below the surface and just above the water. The boring started with a pod auger and we submit a verbatim statement made by Mr. McCulley:
The platform was struck at 98 feet, just as the diggers found it when sounding with the iron bar. After going through the platform, which was 5 inches thick, and proved to be spruce, the auger dropped 12 inches and then went through 4 inches of oak; then through 22 inches of metal in pieces; but the auger failed to bring up anything in the nature of treasure except three links resembling the links of a watch chain. The auger then went through 8 inches of oak, which was through to be the bottom of the first box and the top of the next; then 22 inches of metal, the same as before;
and 4 inches of oak and 6 inches of spruce; then into clay 7 feet without striking anything else.
In boring a second hole the platform was struck as before at 98 feet; passing through this, the auger fell about 18 inches and came in contact with (as supposed) the side of a cask. The auger revolving close to the side of the cask gave a jerky and irregular motion, On withdrawing the auger several splinters of oak, such as might from the side of an oak stave, and a small quantity of brown fibrous substance, closely resembling the husk of a coconut were brought up. The distance between the upper and lower platforms was 6 feet. The Late John Gammel of Upper Stewiacke, N.S. was present at this boring. He was a large shareholder, and his veracity could not be questioned. He stated the saw Mr. Pitblado, the foreman, take something out of the auger, wash and examine it closely, then put it in his pocket. When asked by Mr. Gammel to show what it was, he declined an said he would show it at the next meeting of the directors, but Pitblado failed to appear at the meeting. Shortly after he was accidentally killed in a gold mine. Nothing further was done until the following summer (1850) when a new shaft was sunk to the depth of 109 feet at the West side of the "Money Pit" and about 10 feet from it. Mr. A.A. Tupper, then of Upper Stewiacke, N.S., who helped sink this shaft, gave the following account: -
A tunnel was driven from the bottom in the direction of the "Money Pit". Just before reaching the "Money Pit" the water burst in, the workmen fled for their lives, and in twenty minutes there was 45 feet of water in the new shaft. The sole object in view in sinking this shaft was to increase the bailing facilities, for which purpose preparations had been made, and bailing was resumed in both the new and old shafts, each being equipped with two 2 horse gins. Work was carried on night and day for about a week. But all in vain. The only difference being that with the doubled appliances, the water could be kept at a lower level."
WATER IN PIT CAME FROM OCEAN
About this time, the discovery was made that the water was salt, and that it rose and fell in the shafts with the flow and ebb of the tides. It was considered extremely improbably that the water came through a natural channel, and if not through a natural it necessarily must be through an artificial channel, having its inlet somewhere on the shore. In support of the theory that the water did not enter the "Money Pit" through a natural channel, it was argued that had it done so, the original differs (supposed to be pirates) must have struck it, and if they had, it is certain that a the workmen would have been driven from the pit by the greats flow of water, and the pit would necessarily have been abandoned. This, evidently was not the case as we have ample evidence from the fact that the wooden platforms were carefully placed in position near the bottom of the "Money Pit" (see account of borings already given) as well as the fact that the "Pit" had been systematically filled up, with marks placed at every then feet.
Acting on this theory of an artificial channel or tunnel, a search was at once begun. Smith's Cove on the extreme Eastern end of the Island about 400 feet from the "Money Pit" was first examined by reason of its many natural advantages as a starting point for making a tunnel, and from the fact that at about the center of this Cove it had always been noticed that at low tide, water was running out of the sand.
SHORE END OF TUNNEL DISCOVERED
The result of a few minutes shoveling on the beach proved beyond a doubt that the place looked for had been found. After removing the same and gravel covering the beach, the workmen came to a covering or layer of brown fibrous plant, the fiber very much resembling the husk of a cocoanut, and when compared with the plant that was bored out of the "Money Pit" no difference in the two could be detected. This later, about two inches in thickness, covered a surface extending 145 along the shore line and from a little above low water to high water mark. About four or five inches of eel grass covering the same area was found underlying the fibrous plant, and under this was a compact mass of beach rocks free from sand or gravel.
It was impracticable to remove these rocks and make a further search unless the tide was kept back. Accordingly a coffer dam was built along this part of the Cove, including the boundaries just described. After removing the rocks nearest low water, it was found that the clay (which with the sand and gravel originally formed the beach) had been dug out and removed and replaced by beach rocks. Resting on this excavation were five well constructed drains formed by laying parallel lines of rocks about eight inches apart and covering the same with flat stones. These drains commenced at different points a considerable distance apart, but converged towards a common center at the inner side of the excavation. With the exception of these drains, the other rocks had evidently been thrown in promiscuously. Work went on until half of the rocks had been removed which the clay banks at the sides showed a depth of five feet at which depth a partially burned piece of oak wood was found.
About this time an unusually high tide rover flowed the top of the dam, and as it had not been constructed to resist pressure from the inside, when the tide receded, it was carried away. To rebuild it would cost a lot of money, and as there still remained a large amount of rocks to be removed and as there could be no reasonable doubt that the place described was the outwork of, and starting point of a tunnel by which the water was conveyed to the bottom of the "Money Pit" it was decided to abandon the work on the shore. Another shaft was sunk on the South side of the "Money Pit" and to a depth of 118 feet; this made the fourth one (including the "Money Pit") that had been put down in such a close proximity to each other that a circle fifty feet in diameter would include the whole. As already stated, this new shaft was 118 feet deep, - a greater depth by eight feet than had previously been reached. A tunnel was driven towards and reached a point directly under a part at least of the bottom of the "Money Pit"
MONEY PIT COLLAPSES
While the man were out at dinner a great crash was heard. Rushing back to the works they found that a the bottom of the "Money Pit" had fallen into the tunnel that had been vacated a short time before and that the new shaft was fast filling with water. Subsequently it was found that twelve feet of mud had been driven by the force of the water from the "Money Pit" to the new shaft.
WORK ABANDONED UNTIL 1863
The funds of this company in the meantime having been exhausted, nothing was done that we are aware of until 1863.
[END]
(Version from the Canadian Oak Island Treasure Company Files, Edward Rowe Snow Version, does not include 35 ft and 75 foot tunnels on Smiths’ Cove)
"Until 1849 nothing further was done, but in that year a new company was formed and the operations were resumed. At this time two of the "old Diggers" (from the original three, and The Onslow Company), namely: Mr. Lynds, or Truro and Mr. Vaughan, of Western Shore, were still living, and gave the manager much valuable information regarding the old workings and expressed their firm belief in the existence of treasure in the "Money Pit". Mr. Vaughan, in looking over the ground, located the site of the "Money Pit" which in the meantime had caved in and about filled up. Digging was
Commenced and went on without interruption until the depth of eighty-six feet had been Reached, when the water again so interfered with operations that the workmen were obliged to leave the pit. An unsuccessful attempt was made to bail the water out with bailing casks. Shortly after, men with boring apparatus of primitive description, used in prospecting for Coal, were sent to the Island. Mr. J.B. McCulley of Truro, was manager. A platform was constructed in the "Money Pit" about thirty feet below the surface and just above the water. The boring started with a pod auger and we submit a verbatim statement made by Mr. McCulley:
The platform was struck at 98 feet, just as the diggers found it when sounding with the iron bar. After going through the platform, which was 5 inches thick, and proved to be spruce, the auger dropped 12 inches and then went through 4 inches of oak; then through 22 inches of metal in pieces; but the auger failed to bring up anything in the nature of treasure except three links resembling the links of a watch chain. The auger then went through 8 inches of oak, which was through to be the bottom of the first box and the top of the next; then 22 inches of metal, the same as before;
and 4 inches of oak and 6 inches of spruce; then into clay 7 feet without striking anything else.
In boring a second hole the platform was struck as before at 98 feet; passing through this, the auger fell about 18 inches and came in contact with (as supposed) the side of a cask. The auger revolving close to the side of the cask gave a jerky and irregular motion, On withdrawing the auger several splinters of oak, such as might from the side of an oak stave, and a small quantity of brown fibrous substance, closely resembling the husk of a coconut were brought up. The distance between the upper and lower platforms was 6 feet. The Late John Gammel of Upper Stewiacke, N.S. was present at this boring. He was a large shareholder, and his veracity could not be questioned. He stated the saw Mr. Pitblado, the foreman, take something out of the auger, wash and examine it closely, then put it in his pocket. When asked by Mr. Gammel to show what it was, he declined an said he would show it at the next meeting of the directors, but Pitblado failed to appear at the meeting. Shortly after he was accidentally killed in a gold mine. Nothing further was done until the following summer (1850) when a new shaft was sunk to the depth of 109 feet at the West side of the "Money Pit" and about 10 feet from it. Mr. A.A. Tupper, then of Upper Stewiacke, N.S., who helped sink this shaft, gave the following account: -
A tunnel was driven from the bottom in the direction of the "Money Pit". Just before reaching the "Money Pit" the water burst in, the workmen fled for their lives, and in twenty minutes there was 45 feet of water in the new shaft. The sole object in view in sinking this shaft was to increase the bailing facilities, for which purpose preparations had been made, and bailing was resumed in both the new and old shafts, each being equipped with two 2 horse gins. Work was carried on night and day for about a week. But all in vain. The only difference being that with the doubled appliances, the water could be kept at a lower level."
WATER IN PIT CAME FROM OCEAN
About this time, the discovery was made that the water was salt, and that it rose and fell in the shafts with the flow and ebb of the tides. It was considered extremely improbably that the water came through a natural channel, and if not through a natural it necessarily must be through an artificial channel, having its inlet somewhere on the shore. In support of the theory that the water did not enter the "Money Pit" through a natural channel, it was argued that had it done so, the original differs (supposed to be pirates) must have struck it, and if they had, it is certain that a the workmen would have been driven from the pit by the greats flow of water, and the pit would necessarily have been abandoned. This, evidently was not the case as we have ample evidence from the fact that the wooden platforms were carefully placed in position near the bottom of the "Money Pit" (see account of borings already given) as well as the fact that the "Pit" had been systematically filled up, with marks placed at every then feet.
Acting on this theory of an artificial channel or tunnel, a search was at once begun. Smith's Cove on the extreme Eastern end of the Island about 400 feet from the "Money Pit" was first examined by reason of its many natural advantages as a starting point for making a tunnel, and from the fact that at about the center of this Cove it had always been noticed that at low tide, water was running out of the sand.
SHORE END OF TUNNEL DISCOVERED
The result of a few minutes shoveling on the beach proved beyond a doubt that the place looked for had been found. After removing the same and gravel covering the beach, the workmen came to a covering or layer of brown fibrous plant, the fiber very much resembling the husk of a cocoanut, and when compared with the plant that was bored out of the "Money Pit" no difference in the two could be detected. This later, about two inches in thickness, covered a surface extending 145 along the shore line and from a little above low water to high water mark. About four or five inches of eel grass covering the same area was found underlying the fibrous plant, and under this was a compact mass of beach rocks free from sand or gravel.
It was impracticable to remove these rocks and make a further search unless the tide was kept back. Accordingly a coffer dam was built along this part of the Cove, including the boundaries just described. After removing the rocks nearest low water, it was found that the clay (which with the sand and gravel originally formed the beach) had been dug out and removed and replaced by beach rocks. Resting on this excavation were five well constructed drains formed by laying parallel lines of rocks about eight inches apart and covering the same with flat stones. These drains commenced at different points a considerable distance apart, but converged towards a common center at the inner side of the excavation. With the exception of these drains, the other rocks had evidently been thrown in promiscuously. Work went on until half of the rocks had been removed which the clay banks at the sides showed a depth of five feet at which depth a partially burned piece of oak wood was found.
About this time an unusually high tide rover flowed the top of the dam, and as it had not been constructed to resist pressure from the inside, when the tide receded, it was carried away. To rebuild it would cost a lot of money, and as there still remained a large amount of rocks to be removed and as there could be no reasonable doubt that the place described was the outwork of, and starting point of a tunnel by which the water was conveyed to the bottom of the "Money Pit" it was decided to abandon the work on the shore. Another shaft was sunk on the South side of the "Money Pit" and to a depth of 118 feet; this made the fourth one (including the "Money Pit") that had been put down in such a close proximity to each other that a circle fifty feet in diameter would include the whole. As already stated, this new shaft was 118 feet deep, - a greater depth by eight feet than had previously been reached. A tunnel was driven towards and reached a point directly under a part at least of the bottom of the "Money Pit"
MONEY PIT COLLAPSES
While the man were out at dinner a great crash was heard. Rushing back to the works they found that a the bottom of the "Money Pit" had fallen into the tunnel that had been vacated a short time before and that the new shaft was fast filling with water. Subsequently it was found that twelve feet of mud had been driven by the force of the water from the "Money Pit" to the new shaft.
WORK ABANDONED UNTIL 1863
The funds of this company in the meantime having been exhausted, nothing was done that we are aware of until 1863.
[END]