Did Zebulon Miller really bury 2.3 million in his Lynchburg Virginia tomb?
Is this a myth like the Beale treasure or is it really true?
Is it a fact or an urban legend?
There are many folktales and legends in Virginia that are passed off as fact and at times it's difficult to separate truth from fiction. There is one such story that seems to be pretty incredible although it does have some truths that appear to back it up. This tale is about a Lynchburg man by the name of Zebulon Miller and if true he makes Ebeneezer Scrooge look like a saint. Miller was the brother of rich businessman Samuel Miller who is said to have been responsible for Zeb's 3 million dollar fortune. Sam died in 1869, 16 years before Zeb so he had those years to enjoy his siblings riches.
In the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol the fictional Scrooge who was a penny-pinching miser had a change of heart and began sharing his wealth with the unfortunate. Miller, a living breathing real person is said to have done no such thing with his 3 million dollar fortune. There is a saying that"You can't take it with You" but if this story is true then Zebulon Miller did just that. He did not carry his fortune into the afterlife but had it buried with his remains.
Is anyone willing to attempt to solve to 2.3 million mystery?
Five years before he died in 1885, Miller of Lynchburg is said to have set some things in motion. He built a concrete mausoleum with three-foot-thick walls then hired a Swiss agent to make sure that his fortune estimated to be $2.3 million in gold and silver coins would be safely installed along with his dead body and the tomb is said to have been undisturbed to this day. Skeptics, however, say this is nothing more than a tall tale. Many have searched for the Beal Treasue but there are no reports of anyone going into Miller's tomb. The tomb is real but what lies within no one really knows.
Zebulon Miller also set up a one-million-dollar trust to ensure the upkeep of the mausoleum with armed guards for his tomb. After a high-tech security system was installed the guards were dismissed and the treasure is said to remain intact to this day. The above image shows that ADT is currently monitoring his tomb. it's hard to believe that anyone would have buried that much money without taking some for themselves unless, of course, Zeb was standing guard while his final resting place was being built. it's also difficult to believe no one has tried in all these years to breach the security system and steal the gold and silver but there have been no reports.
Will we ever find out the truth
I think of all the good that could have come if the money was left to a charity. If Miller did have his funds buried with him in my opinion this was a selfish thing to do. How long will the money set aside to guard the tomb last and when it runs out will there be people trying to gain entry to find the alleged gold and silver? Does Miller have any descendants and if so where are they now and what do they think of what he allegedly did with his fortune?
Miller is in the tomb and the tomb is being guarded by ADT but aside from those facts, the public must guess about the rest. There are a lot more questions than answers to this mystery and only time will tell the story. The close to one million to keep his treasure safe will not last forever and when it runs out we shall see what transpires.
About the Creator
Cheryl E Preston
Cheryl enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.
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