Gold Fever grips Welsh Mountains as mysterious ‘Night Diggers’ hunt Revolutionary War-era treasure

In Lancaster County, finding buried treasure isn’t as simple as walking around wielding a metal detector; it often requires a dash of superstition and sometimes even the supernatural. For example, on May 17, 1913, a Lancaster New Era article reported a group of “Night Diggers” was searching for buried Revolutionary War treasure in the Welsh Mountains, in part using a magic mirror called “erd spiegel,” meaning earth mirror in German.

Keep reading to uncover the full story behind the mysterious “Night Diggers” and their search for buried gold in the Welsh Mountains.

In 1913, excitement over rumors of buried gold reached a fevered pitch across the entire Welsh Mountains region. A group of locally dubbed “Night Diggers” had spent the first two weeks of May searching for a Revolutionary War-era treasure.

According to local legend, the digging took place on land once owned by a wealthy man who buried a pot of gold coins before fighting in the Revolution. Unfortunately, he died in battle, and his wealth remained buried, its exact location known only to him. Another common belief was that the spirits of those who buried treasure remain restless until the hidden cache is found.

For generations, this belief had been a popular topic of conversation, with occasional attempts made to find the treasure. However, until the 1913 expedition, there had never been a prolonged, organized effort to locate the wealth. So, when word got out that a dedicated group of men had started nightly excavations, local interest skyrocketed.

As the days passed, this topic took up more and more of the residents’ thoughts, with the first question asked each morning being, “Have the diggers found the gold yet?”

The exact location of the diggers’ efforts remains unknown, but it is believed to be south of Churchtown, deep within the woods of the Welsh Mountains.

The “Night Diggers” were fiercely committed to keeping their identities hidden. Yet, an elderly resident from Churchtown insisted that only a seventh-born child or those with extraordinary birth circumstances possessed the rare ability to uncover hidden treasure, narrowing the list of potential candidates to just a select few.

The old man went on to say, “What we call the ‘erd spiegel‘ is used in the search. I have one of those earth glasses, and I can see any building in New York or somewhere else if I look through it. With that glass, I can tell you exactly where the gold is. Many people in this community buried gold in the past. Not everyone can find it, but those who can communicate with the spirits can locate any treasure hidden beneath the earth.”

Local pow-wow superstition demanded that the diggers wait until the stroke of midnight to roll up their sleeves, take off their stockings, put on button shoes, remove all jewelry, and quietly walk to the digging site. On their way, they had to count their steps, and no one was allowed to speak. Some of the diggers reportedly had to walk more than three miles. At 1 o’clock, they would begin their work in silence, “with only the spirits gathered around them, pointing out where the pot of gold or other treasure was hidden.”

At 1:30 a.m., the leader of the nine men read a verse from “The Seventh Book of Moses.” If the spirits remained silent, the leader then read a verse from “The Sixth Book of Moses.” After this, the diggers formed a circle, ate bread and butter, and drank water. The entire ceremony had to be completed within 30 minutes, and the digging would continue for another hour.

When finished, the men would walk home, counting their steps and making sure not to speak to anyone. During their sleep in the early morning hours, they were expected to dream about the treasure they would eventually uncover.

According to legend, the buried treasure of Welsh Mountain remains hidden, still waiting to be discovered. If you’re a seventh son (or daughter), you might just be the one destined to find it. Click here for additional bizarre Lancaster County treasure hunting superstitions.

Read More

Read more stories like this in my first full-length book, Uncharted Lancaster’s Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure. This 283-page book is packed with 64 unforgettable stories, all set right here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve

If you’re intrigued by the legend of buried treasure in the Welsh Mountains, a visit to the Lancaster Conservancy’s Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve is a must. This 940-acre preserve offers a mix of rugged trails, stunning vistas, and deep woodlands that have remained largely untouched. The preserve is home to diverse wildlife and a rich history, including the folklore of hidden Revolutionary War-era treasure. Whether you’re there to hike, enjoy nature, or delve into local legends, the Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve provides a perfect blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue. While stories like this may captivate your imagination, remember that Lancaster Conservancy has a strict “leave no trace” policy, so digging for treasure is strictly prohibited within the preserve. For directions and more information about the preserve, click here.

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Resources

• The Lancaster New Era 17 May 1913, Sat ·Page 5