The next person who wanted to come in and examine the island was Robert Restall, who, like the past explorers, was hopeful when he started his mission. Restall arrived on the island in 1959 and discovered a stone with “1704” engraved on it.
However, a horrific tragedy ended his mission and his life. Having just transferred his family onto Oak Island to allow him the freedom to pursue his expedition, Restall inhaled carbon monoxide from an engine which left him to fall, unconscious, down the Money pit.
More Discoveries
Gilbert Hedden and Fred Blair’s decision to take on Oak Island did not disappoint them, as they became the first witnesses to the island’s newest revelations. What the pair discovered was a stone with markings almost the same as the one that was discovered in 1804 in the Money Pit. Later on, they found some old timber at Smith’s Cove that appeared to be the exact material that was used when the pit was initially built.
What the pair discovered was a stone with markings almost the same as the one that was discovered in 1804 in the Money Pit. Later on, they found some old timber at Smith’s Cove that appeared to be the exact material that was used when the pit was initially built.
An Odd Layer
Another treasure-hunting hopeful was Erwin Hamilton who arrived on the island in 1938. When he started drilling in 1939, he came across two interesting discoveries. About 190 feet down the Money Pit, he found some intriguing rocks and gravel. Upon checking them, Hamilton realized that they were foreign and that they had been placed there intentionally.
His next discovery was an odd layer of natural limestone that contained some oak splinters. As such, he believed that a layer of wood existed underneath the limestone layer. Hamilton was thrilled with his findings but reached an impasse.
More Death
As if this story wasn't terrible enough, Robert Restall Jr. was there, and he witnessed his father’s fall. He rushed to the pit and tried to rescue him, not knowing he will soon suffer the same fate as his father.
The son inhaled the same toxic fumes that caused his father to plummet down the pit. Once he did, Restall Jr. fell to the same tragic fate.
More Death
Two workers in the area, Karl Graeser and Cyril Hiltz, hurriedly went to the pit and tried to climb down to rescue the Restall men. However, they also inhaled the carbon monoxide and met their deaths down the pit.
This was the island’s biggest disaster: four deaths in one day. The Money Pit, it seems, was working its way up to that number prescribed in the myths: seven deaths before the treasure would be revealed.