—”had lightning strike, and severely damage their chimney,”
My uncle coming home from work sees his ancient house on fire around the chimney.
Jumps out of the car screaming the money, the money!
A solid Scotsman like my dad and the rest of the Clan.
He had a cash box hidden a void between the brick chimney and the frame of the house.
He HAD a nice stash, 200K in 1980.
IIRC the Department of the Treasury was able to recover about half. Some say there was more not in the box, consumed in the fire.
What a terrible thing to have most of your money destroyed in a fire. Was he at least able to save the house? You said it was ancient.