The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-05-31
state ofhappy, halfsavage independence,

state ofhappy, half-sayage independence,
but for the following circumstances:
On one of his semi-annual visits to the
main land, he had become very much in
terested in an expedition at that time
fitting out in search Of the wreck Of a
Spanish treasure ship. which had been
cast away somewhere on the coast OF
Yucatan about hundred and twenty
years ago. The locality Of the wreck
had been discovered, the amount OF coin
on board was known to exceed two mill.
ions, and the expeditionists were in high
spirits and sanguine Of success. He
sought to induce the leaders OF the par
ty to take him along with them, but they
were not disposed to share their good
fortune with any more. From that time
his mind was filled with visions Of treas
ure-hunting lis farm was neglected,
and but for his wife and boys, everything
would have gone to decay. His whole
time, when not engaged in fishing or
shooting waterfowl, was spent in sailing
dly about among the islands, without
any definite purpose, building castles in
the air--all based on the event of his dis.
covering hidden treasure. All other ef.
forts in pursuit of wealth having failed,
this seemed likely to realize his darling
ambition-to have cotton plantation up.
on the banks ofthe Mississippi.
While living upon the island he had
been conlented with his undisputed SOW
ereignty and independence; dreams Of
the cotton plantation coming less fire.
quently than when, in his younger days,
he was striving with his fellows in the
weary race for gold. But now the idea
that wealth was so easily to be acquired,
brought back the old dream, and he had
pondered upon it so long in the weeks
and months of solitude, that he became
persuaded that in some manner, he did
not stop to consider how, but in some way
he would discover the hiding place Of
uncounted gold. In this manner he
dreamed away the next half year, and
the time came round TO make his period
ical visit to the main land.
The boat being loaded with articles
for barter, he once more put her head
towards the shore, not without receiving
manifestations from his wife, and eau
tions to keep clear of them pesky mon
ey hunters" Arriving at the place O
destination, he foud the little town in {
state Of the greatest excitement; the ex
pedition, from the Spanish main, haC
| just returned, bringing unmistakable ev
licences of success-gold and silver coli
imbedded in rust, pieces of fire arms, tC
which the coin were attached as 6rmll
as if they had been soldered together
In short, the precious metals were founC
il every state which it would be possibl
to conceive-the action of the water 70
a hundred and twenty years having
wrought curious changes.
Th6ekpedtion had only been PARTIAL
successful, the greatbulk of the emoney ha
not yet been reached, but enough had bee
accomplished show that much more mig
be expected. Our hero, as he gazedat an
gloated over the piles Of rusty doubloor
and dollars, was almost wild with delight
he fanced he saw in their success an e'
=, idence of lis own.
The whole town, Of course, talked
nothing else but gold hunting; and man
were the wild stories told of the pirate
who formerly infested the gulf, and mac
the islands thereabouts their headquarter
:, where they had buried their treasures.
Much of it was supposed to be prote'
ted by evil spirits, but the exciteme 1T WI
too great for SO slight reason to deter Il
adventurous people in their eager searcl
every spot which old legends pointed o'
> as the place where pirates had hiddc
money, was dug over. More than one tr
;, dition went to show that large sums ha
u been buried on Cuddyhulick, and Smit
lent a willing ear to all stories having an.
; thing to do with his island, Having learl
" ed all that was possible concerning it, |
started for home, nervous with the id(
c that people would come and search his II
land and rob him of his treasure. b
o want of success on the mainland had ii
= effect of cooling their ardor, and no OIL
S thought it was worth while to go 50 far
It dig, without some more substantial rcasc
d than they then knew of. The cxciteme1
/, died away as rapidly as sit arisen, peop
a began to feel somewhat ashamed of then
|. selves, and the whole matter, with the G,
o ception of the raising of the wreck, WI
= speedily forgotten
a Not SO with our hero, He was su
@ there was treasure on the island somewhcr
a