The Mt Zion Historical Society sums up the recent FBI search for the lost gold near Dents Run.
On March 16th a large group of FBI agents descended on the village of Dents Run to conduct a court authorized excavation on a nearby mountain top in search of a lost Civil War Gold Shipment.
While this search was in progress numerous news media contacted the Mt. Zion Historical Society seeking information on the “Lost Gold Shipment. Including those Contacting the Society was the DuBois Courier, CNN, New York Times, Coin Magazine, a Canadian Radio Station, and a newspaper published in London, England.
Several days following the excavation, the FBI issued a news release that the search was unsuccessful.
The “LOST GOLD” shipment was supposedly lost in June of 1863. The Union was endeavoring to ship this gold from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and routed the shipment north to avoid Confederate Calvary canvassing the area between Chancellorsville, and the southern part of Pennsylvania. The decision was made to ship the gold up the Allegany River, find the head waters of the Susquehanna River, and on into Philadelphia.
According to legend there were 52 bars of gold each weighting 50 pounds each lost somewhere between Goetz’s Summit and confluence of either Dents or Hicks Run into the Bennett’s Branch.
There are many undocumented stories connected to this story. One such story claims that shortly following this shipment the locals found several US branded mules. Another story was that a man came wandering into the town of Benezett claiming to be a member of wagon train and died shortly thereafter.
Another undocumented story claiming that years following the shipment, two Pickerington agents were assigned to look for the lost shipment. It is further claimed the agents found three and 0ne-half bars of gold, and in their retirement came to live in Benezett spending their retirement looking for the gold.
Although there are many undocumented stories related to this lost gold shipment, the fact that the FBI has made a serious effort to recover this shipment, would lend creditability there is a lost gold shipment somewhere in Jay or Benezette Township.
Following the FBI’s gold searching operation, there was a news release stating that their search was unsuccessful. There were literally hundreds of people over the years looking for this lost bonanza and the search continues. Although the FBI may be disappointed in not finding the gold, there are many of those who have been involved in looking for the gold who are most relieved that the gold was not found.
a bit relived that the gold was not found.
Article courtesy of the Mt Zion Historical Society
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