Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-09
ny Express from C0ney Isiand-Greas Re-
snmPlion Of SD Gle Pny menlsS

stolen from the brig Vineyard, in November, $780, by
Gibbs the pirate. and his associates, Wansley and
others, has been found upon small island. called
Plumb Island, lying between the east end Of Coney
Island and the side of Barren Island he Long
Island coast.
he first discovery of this money took place upon
New Years day, immediately after the late heavy
blow On that day, three fishermen, or wreckers,
took boat, and went cruising round the shores ci
the above three islands for pieces of wrecks, on
whatever "plunder" the sea might throw in their
way
When they landed the south side of Plumb Island
they saw the Mexicaa dollars sire wing the besch
from the edge of the water up TO high sand bank,
about rod from high water mark. TWAS in this
sand bank that Gibbs, WansIey, Dawes and Brown.
rigs, buried all the specie they took shore from
the brig Vineyard and, mistaking Plumb Island
for Barren Island, when they went, afterwards, to
show the officers where the money buried, they
could not find the spot After lapse of nine years,
the sea has laid the treasure bare.
The sand bank, in which they buried the money,
is, we have stated, about rod from high water
mark and the never reaches il, EXCEPT in unu-
sualy severe gales as in the present instance.
During the recent high tides, the sea washed away
the sand, washed of sore OF the canvass bags in
which they buried, and strewed dollars all
along the beach, besides re.burying in the
sand again. The greater part, however, were not
disturbed but lay in their original grave, on the top
Of the bank like ridge Of potatoes. From this spot
10 the waters edge, the three first finders saw the dol
lars lay like sea-shels the shore. For two days,
they had he picking all 70 themselves Since ihen ali
the clam boys. wreckcrs, and CATERS from the neigh
boring villages have turned cut and dug IN the sand
with various success. Some would find $40 in
lump; others $500 in spot, and so IN proportion.
Ilno, ,Hore tull Of
dollars that had belonged TO Atwi the pii ate, who
was drowned going ashore. The search still con.
tinueS; at least 300 people are on Plumb Island,
raking and ching: and they have established n
ferry from the end Of Coney Island where they
charge % cents for passage to the lucky spot.
The career of Gibbs, who buried the money on this
spot, was curons one. He was born in Rhode
Island IN II9t. Al the age of fifteen, he went
board the L g. sloop Of war Hornet, and in the
action when she took The Peacock, off Pernambuco.
He followed Lawrence on board the Chesapeake,
was taken by the Shannon, sent To Dartmouth and
exchanged. lie returned to Boston, borrowed
thousand dollars, opcpcd a rum shop In Ann street.
oalled the Tin Pot. Here he burst up, account of
spending his money on girls, and sailed In the ship
j John, fer Baenos AyFes. Here he Joined Buenos
Ayreaa prIvaieer, mutinied took The vessel landed
the crew in Florida, steered for the West Indies.
captured 20 vessels, and murdered 400 persons. The
haunt of himself and associates the Eegla, iia-
vana. la lSl9 he came tn New York, with $4,000,
spent several weeks here, went 10 Boston, and sailed
is the ship Emerald Capt. Fox, for Liverpool. Here
lac met and seduced the celebrated Jane Henry, now
in this city, whose love letters 10 Gibbs such
i.ose
In 1876, he revisitedthe United states, and hear
ing OF she war between Brazil and the Republic #
Buenos AyreS, sailed from Boston in the brig Htty,
o Portsmouth with DETERMINATION, rs he states, ct
trying his fortune In defence Of republican govern
mont. Upon his arrival h. made himself known TO
Admiral Brown. and communicated his desire TO JOIN
their navy. The admiral accompanied him 10 the
Governor, and Lieutenant commission being
given him, he joined ship If 81 guns, called the
: Tw. nty Fifth Of May"
9 lie served ter long time 9th lieutenant then
had command Of privateer schooner. with two 81
Founders and 40 men. He then bouaht half Balti
more schooner, captured when seven days out,
taken into Rio Janeiro and Rprisoned till the PEACE.
when he came to New York. 4 year afterwards
he sailed hence in the Sally Ann landed Barcelona
crossed 20 Port hiahon, and then 10 Tunis. Not
be ing able join the Dey 81 Aigiers he unused, like
Msrius among the ruins Of Carthage, lie then went
to Boston, via Marsees.
Gibbs in his last visit TO Boston remained there |
but few days, when he tosk passage to New Or. !
leans, and entered "a one OF the crew on board
the brig Vineyard AID for assisting in the murder Of
the unfortunate captain and mate of which, he
Justly condemned, aud the awfal sentence of death
passed upon him, The particulars Of the bloody
agreeable 10 the testimony Of Dawes and
Brownrigg the two prime pal witnes.cs,l fol-
lows: The brig Vineyard. Capt. William Thornby,
sailed from New Orleans abe ut the 9th of November
lSJD, for Phiadelph with cargo OF liz bales OF
cotton, ll3 hhds. sugar, - casks Of moass : and
81 eco dollars in specie Besides the captain, there
were board the brig, VIM. Roberts, mate, six
seamen skipped at New Orleans, and the cook
Robert DaWe,, one of the crew, states On examine
ton, that when about Eve Gays out, he told
that there money ON board Charles Gibbs, f.
Church and the steward then determined 10 take
posses sion of the brig. They asked James Talbot,
au3thcr ut the crew, 10 JON them, lie said No, he
did not believe there monev IN the vessel They
concluded to kill the captain and mate and IL Talbot
and John Brownrigg would not join them, TO XII
them also. The next night they talked Of doing il,
and got their clubs ready. Dawes dared not say
word, - they declared they would kill him if he
did; they did not agree about killing Talbot aud
Brownrigg, shipmates, ~ was put of. They next
concluded TO XIII the captain and mate on the night
Of November -, bat, on the night OF the Sd, they
killed them.
After killing the captain and mate, they set about
overhaul.ng the vessel and got up kcg Of Mexi.
dollars. They then dividedthe apaa's clothes,
aud money-abCut 80 dollars aRd a gold watch
Dawes, Talbot aud BrowHrisg, (who were all Inno-
cent at the murdcr) were obliged 10 do they
COMMUNICATIVE former. who was placed at the
helm was ordered To steer for Long leland. On the
day following, they divided several kegs Of the
specie, amounting o. five thousand dollars each
they made bags and sewcd the money up. After
this division, they divided the remainder &C the
money without counting IL. On Sunday, when
about Is miles :. :. T.. of southampton Light, they
got the buats out and put half he money in each
they then scuiilCd the vessel and set fire TO II IN the
CABIN, and took O. the boats. Gibbs, after the muir
der took charge of the vessel as captain From the
papers they learnt that the money belonged To- Ste
then Girard With the boats they made the land
about day light. Dawes and his three companions
in the long boat; the others, with AtweD, were
in the jolly boat-on coming 60 the bar the boats
s,ruck-in the long boat, they threw overheard
trunk Of clothes and great deal OF money, IN all
about SJO00-the lolly boat found red they saw the
boat OIL, and heard them cry out, and them