In port orange, florida, just south of daytona beach. Im here to meet a retiree who had a curious relic hidden among the rafters of her home in West Virginia. When her grandson finds it, hes convinced its a valuable piece of history. My name is betty bland. For more than a century, a strange inheritance collected dust in the attic. My husband and i thought it was worthless, until our grandson john surprised us all. Im john buell. I knew my greatgreatgrandfather was a Famous Artist renowned for his epic murals of texas battles. I had no idea id end up solving a mystery surrounding one of them. I meet betty and john at the family home, where they explain that the benefactor in this strange inheritance tale is born in belfast, ireland, in 1836. His name is Harry Mcardle. As a child, harrys a whiz with a paintbrush or sketch pad. Would we describe him as a prodigy . I mean, probably. He was a very prolific painter. As a teenager, he immigrates to america and attends the Maryland Institute of the arts, where he creates this awardwinning sketch of a failed royal coup. The level of detail that he got into this was really fantastic. The fine detail, the shading. Its so intricate. When civil war breaks out, mcardle puts his talents to use for general robert e. Lee. He joined the confederate army, and he was a mapmaker. After the war, he moves to texas, where he begins painting portraits of veterans. There, he becomes fascinated with heroes of an earlier war, the texas fight for independence from mexico. He had this vision to depict the exploits, the revolution, the heroes. Historian Sam Ratcliffe specializes in texas battle paintings. What does mcardle mean to texas . He was really the first artist to try to thoroughly research the sweep of the Texas Revolution. Why the revolution . The Texas Revolution was the defining event of texas history. The climatic event of the Texas Revolution and the subject of mcardles greatest masterpiece is the battle of san jacinto. Lets set the scene. The year is 1836, when the ruthless mexican general santa anna marches into texas, then a province of mexico, to put an end to a revolt by local settlers. The socalled napoleon of the west crushes texas forces at the alamo. Santa anna than pushes forward, determined to wipe out all the rebels. A battalion of volunteer texas citizens, led by sam houston, are forced into retreat. Theyre up against an army that was larger, with a europeantrained officer corps that had wrought devastation, not just in texas, but also against mexican states that were rebelling elsewhere. On april 21, houston leads his ragtag group of troops, about 900 in all, on a surprise attack of the mexican army, which is camped along the san jacinto river. As they charge, the soldiers shout, remember the alamo it was revenge time for them. The bloody skirmish lasts just 18 minutes before santa anna surrenders. That was the day that texas won its independence from mexico. The American West was won. How many texans were lost . Only nine. More than 40 years later in the 1880s, Harry Mcardle makes it his Artistic Mission not merely to depict the battle with painstaking accuracy but to use his oils and canvas to tell a great story. He talked to maybe all the surviving veterans of san jacinto. He did a lot of research on flags, on uniforms, and was just fanatical about getting the revolution commemorated properly. Harry takes more than a decade to complete his san jacinto mural, finishing in 1898, and its enormous, 14 feet long and 8 feet high. The troops clash in bloody handtohand combat. Dark clouds represent the suffering texas has endured while the setting sun breaks through the gloom, symbolic of the freedom the victory would bring. Its instantly lauded as a masterpiece and placed in the Texas Capitols senate chamber. Curator ally james gives me a closeup look. This is the battle of san jacinto. Its something that every texan is proud of to this day. Who are the Major Players in this painting . First of all, of course, sam houston, despite the fact being gravely injured, insisted on being able to continue with the battle. You see one of his trusted scouts, deaf smith, charging forward on his mighty horse. Behind smith, a commander of houstons spy squad, henry karnes, aims a pistol at a mexican colonel while general Edward Burleson is the first to charge the mexican barricades. And then, of course, at the top, president santa anna was fleeing with some mules kicking up their heels behind him. Mcardle was saying that even santa annas mules have lost respect for him. It really tells, i think, in one sweeping gesture, such an incredible story. It really helps to define what it means to be a texan. So much so, the artist becomes a legend himself. How well known is Harry Mcardle to texans . Its absolutely amazing. In the capitol alone, he has six pieces. Including this portrait of steven f. Austin, the father of texas, and another gigantic mural, titled dawn at the alamo that also hangs in the senate chamber. Mcardle must have done these paintings because he was getting big bucks for them. No, exactly the opposite. The legislature would say, sure, you can hang them in the capitol while well debate whether to appropriate money, and they never did. Mcardle passes away in 1908 at age 72 with not much to his name besides his journals, research, and private artworks. He leaves those to his son, ruskin. After ruskin dies in 1955, harrys grandson george bland ships the items to the family home in weston, West Virginia. And everything went to the third floor, and thats where it remained. And that was ultimately just more stuff from another relative and just kind of got packed away for later. That later comes 50 years later, when bettys grandson john makes a shocking discovery in her attic. It was just kind of leaned against a wall underneath a tarp and very, very dirty. Thats next. Heres our strange inheritance quiz question. The answer after the break. I am totally blind. And non24 can throw my days and nights out of sync, keeping me from the things i love to do. Talk to your doctor, and call 8442142424. Now you can trade stocks and etfs for any amount you choose instead of buying by the share. All with no commissions. Stocks by the slice from fidelity. Get your slice today. So, which of these three western legends didnt fight at the alamo . Its daniel boone. He fought in the french and indian war, and the american revolution, and died in 1820. The battle of san jacinto won texas its independence and inspires Harry Mcardle, whose famous painting still hangs in the texas senate chamber. Mcardle becomes a texas luminary in his own right. After he dies in 1908, his personal effects are passed down through the family, winding up in the West Virginia home of his grandson george bland in the 1950s. His belongings all get stuffed in the attic, says georges wife, betty. It was just a place that was a catchall for things that you werent using at the time. By the 1990s, the attic is packed with even more generations of stuff. Its a favorite playground for betty and georges grandkids, especially young john. I mean, there was just so much stuff my whole time growing up. Every time i found Something Else that i come down, grandma, grandma. What is this . What is this . Where the heck did this come from . That curiosity in his familys history carries into adulthood, and in 2009, when john is 32, hes poking around the attic once again. He stumbles across something hes never noticed before. It was just kind of back in there, just kind of against the wall with a tarp over it. Did you have any idea what it was . No. I lifted up the, the tarp that was over it and, huh. Whatever it is, it hasnt been touched in decades, and its quite large, at least 5 feet by 7 feet. Johns not sure how he missed it all these years. Turns out its an old painting of some battle long ago. Can you describe it for me . There was a hole in the canvas. The edges were kind of tattered. It was very, very dirty. It was kind of just a sad war painting just stowed away in the attic for no one to see. John runs downstairs to see if his grandmother knows more about the intriguing mural. She said, your greatgreatgrandfather did that. Ah thats gotta be worth something oh, no. Its not worth anything. Thats just a working drawing. A lot of artists will do a working drawing to see how its going to be before they do the final thing, and thats what my husband always thought it was. He said, oh, john. Find something interesting. Then come and tell me. He didnt even think it was interesting . He was not impressed. To him it was nothing that was ever important. So, they just didnt think that there was any value to it. I think that just kind of just permeated through the rest of the family. Nobody really, i dont know, paid it much mind. But john is not as blase as his grandparents. After all, his greatgreatgrandfathers paintings are texas treasures that have been hanging in the State Capitol for a century. He figures this things got to be worth something, right . I said, well, if we can do something with it, do you want me to . Oh, honey, whatever you want to do is fine, but nobodys going to be interested in that. John disagrees. He thinks it could be a nice little bump to his grandparents retirement account, maybe more than a little one. My heart stopped. It was just one of the most pivotal moments in my life. Thats next. Heres another quiz question for you. The texas State Capitol, completed in 1888, is the largest Capitol Building in the america, second only to the us capitol. How did texas pay for it . The answer when we return. We love our new home. Theres so much space. We have a guestroom now. But, we have aunts. Youre slouching again, ted. Expired, expired. Expired. Thanks, aunt bonnie. Its a lot of house. I hope you can keep it clean. At least geico makes bundling our home and Car Insurance easy. Which helps us save a lot of money oh, teddy. Did you get my friend request . Uh, ill have to check. doorbell ringing aunt jonis here for bundling made easy, go to geico. Com. Hello . Where you can find games,y, gnews and highlights. All in one place, right on your tv. The xfinity sports zone. Use your voice to search every stat and score. Follow the teams you love. And, even get notifications with breaking news alerts and more. With the xfinity sports zone everybody wins. Now thats simple, easy, awesome. Say xfinity sports zone into your voice remote today. So, how did texas pay for its Capitol Building . Its c. The builders were given 3 million acres in the texas panhandle as payment for their work. The estate became the largest cattle ranch in the world, nearly the size of connecticut. In 2009, john buell finds this dusty, slightly tattered painting in his grandparents attic in West Virginia. Hes told its the work of his greatgreatgrandfather Harry Mcardle, an artist made famous by his murals of the Texas Revolution. I thought, oh, i bet we could sell this for about 20,000. I mean, he was a very accomplished artist. To find out, john emails heritage auctions in dallas. I was very puzzled at first and very intrigued. Atlee phillips is the director of texas art at heritage. You had to be a little suspicious. Well, of course. I dont get a lot of inquiries about major historical paintings. But the painting in the photos looks legitimate, and john makes sure she knows hes a direct descendent of texas legend Harry Mcardle. What about the fact that its in West Virginia . Does that make sense . That was one thing that was so perplexing. These things just dont happen. And if there were a 5x7foot mural painted by an artist as renown as mcardle, there should be some record of it. After an exhaustive search, atlee finds a small reference in a book by none other than Sam Ratcliffe, the texas historian we met earlier. What did that notation say . It basically said another version of the battle of san jacinto painting was painted in 1901, location unknown. Unknown . Unknown. My heart stopped. It was just one of the most pivotal moments in my life. Its what anyone in the business is looking for, something that no ones has ever seen before. Has john uncovered a second version of mcardles famous mural that hangs in the Texas Capitol . The family sends the canvas to dallas for authentication. What was your reaction when you looked at it for the first time . It was very different from the one that was in the capitol. She immediately sees that the smaller version aims for a more heroic composition the most celebrated moments of the battle all in one idealized moment. You see these most important, most mythic moments of the battle, and thats really very different than trying to accurately recreate it. Theres sam houston, his horse shot from underneath him. And deaf smith dispatching a mexican solider while henry karnes tussles with a colonel, and Edward Burleson leading the infantry. It was a whole new way of looking at the story of the battle. But if heritage wants to sell the painting for big bucks, it must do a lot more to demonstrate its indeed what it appears to be, a second mural of Harry Mcardles favorite subject, painted by the master himself. There are a lot of really great reproductions that are being made now. So you have to always be very cautious. So, heritage performs infrared scans of the canvas to see whats underneath the top layer of paint. If you have something thats a forgery, generally its a onetoone copy. But when youre working on an original work, an artist often makes changes. Those changes will show up on a scan as ghost images if the painting is in fact an original. Take a close look at the flagpole. When you look at the underpainting in the infrared, you see a ghost image of the flagpole thats actually at a different angle, which means at some point when he was working on it, he looked at it and said, okay, thats not the right angle. So, he paints over it and then moves the flags over and paints the one that you can see now. Thats a way that you can tell that it wasnt just a copy. Atlee and other experts agree. The painting is the missing mcardle san jacinto. What was your reaction . I nearly fell out of my chair. I was totally shocked. It was pretty astounding. Its the most important find in texas art in 100 years. Now that its determined to be the real thing, the familys eager to learn just how valuable it is. Unfortunately, all those years in the attic didnt do the masterpiece any favors. There were rips and some holes, and it was definitely filthy, dirty. Is it possible that a collector wouldnt buy it in its current condition . Its definitely possible. So, of course were very nervous. Nervously, atlee gives the mcardle descendants her estimate, 100,000. Shes worried the family will be disappointed. Instead, theyre thrilled. Would 100,000 be nice . Moneys always nice. Nobody thought it was going to be anything, but when they came back, its like wow. Okay. This is really neat. Sadly, as the family prepares for auction, johns grandfather george bland passes away at age 92. How big a loss it is not to have your grandfather. That was pretty devastating for all of us. I bet george would have loved to see how much someone would actually pay for that dusty relic which for half a century, he didnt think was worth anything. We are all sitting in the gallery, just couldnt believe it. Thats next. Whats your strange inheritance story . Wed love to tell it. Send me an email or go to our website, strangeinheritance. Com. As a caricature artist, i appreciate what makes each person unique. Thats why i like liberty mutual. They get that no two people are alike and customize your Car Insurance so you only pay for what you need. Almost done. What do you think . I dont see it. Only pay for what you need. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. But what if you could stdo better than that . K. Like adapt. Discover. Deliver. In new ways. To new customers. What if you could come back stronger . Faster. Better. At comcast business, we want to help you not just bounce back. But bounce forward. Thats why were helping you stay ahead and adapt with a network you can count on, 24 7 support and Flexible Solutions that work wherever you are. Call or go online today. Now back to strange inheritance. In november 2010, at heritage auctions in dallas, betty bland is selling this mural of the battle of san jacinto, the decisive victory in texass fight for independence. We were all i mean, literally on the edge of our seats. The first offer is higher than their original estimate, 115 grand. John doesnt know what to expect. The bidding started pretty briskly, and then it kind of lulled. And we were kind of like, oh, okay. Well, i guess thats it. Suddenly, two bidders go to war. The offer jumps to 150k. We are all sitting in the gallery, just couldnt believe it. A volley of bids follows, 180, 190, 200 grand. The next thing you know, the price is up to a quarter of a million bucks. Is it dizzying to be watching Something Like this go up . We were all leaning forward like, oh, oh, oh, my gosh, and oh, my gosh and its going way more than we thought. 260,000, 270,000 at that point, i was starting to go, yeah, i think this is going to be pretty big. When the hammer finally comes down, the painting fetches a whopping sum of 334,000. I was flabbergasted. My attorney said, betty, just take the money and spend it all, and have a good time. But first things first. The appreciative grandmother gives her grandson john a nice finders fee. Did she bake you cookies or write you a check . She took care of me. It was more than she needed to. She definitely took care of me. For the buyers, proud texans with a lifelong fascination with the battle of san jacinto, its a chance to bring an important piece of texas back home. After an extensive restoration, t