Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-21


The swarthy completed, heavy bearded, short
haired, thick set buccaneer who fabricated and
launched the tale of hidden treasures at Cocos
island has probably accomplished more than he
originally intended. Credulous, superstitious
people OF his own time believed the yarn, knots
and all, and handed it down to posterity.
With each succeeding year the yarn has sus-
tanned embellishments. The original buccaneer,
like Washington's body servant has grown
into many; the secret he told has also been
credited TO buccaneers innumerable. But the
real buccaneer, the old fabricator, has no doubt
found reason, while wrestling with the spirits,
to chuckle over his success in quilting the resi-
dents of the terrestrial sphere. According to a
careful estimate, larger sum of money has
been expended in hunting the treasure than the
treasure itself-the dOubloOns, ingots aud Jewels
is worth. Hundreds of thousands of dollars
have been wasted in protitess searches. Not
even the color of gold has been discovered.
Europeans and people of the eastern states have
finally come TO the conclusion that the hucca-
neeT described as aforesaid bequeathed the tale
with malice afOrethOught, and that it really has
no foundation in fact.
But we have those in California who scout
this ne plus ultra theory; they win succumb to
the thinnest mining excitement, and start on
prospecting expeditions without the slightest
proyocation. We also have credulous class; a
class who will accept Munchausen stories for
truth-not only accept but relish them-aud
pay for the enjoyment. The Cocos island trea-
sure seekers belong to this class. They ex-
hausted their means q few months ago, but are
now recuperating for fresh start
In view of the foregoing facts information
relative to the island is of special interest.
During conversation with gentleman who
returned from the island with the last eXpedi-
ton our reporter learned something of its char
aeteristics. Cocos island is situated in the
Pacific ocean, about six hundred miles west
Ia l..
thirty minutes north. A majority of the news
paper accounts have spoken of the island as
being low and sandy. This statement is incor-
rect. The island is three thousand feet high,
and is accessible in only two places.
There is but one safe anchorage, and here a
small patch of beach is found The island,
according to our informant is four miles
canic origin. Heavy timber, a species of cedar,
is found in considerable quantities. The greater
portion of the island is billy, and is covered
with heavy growth of vines, weeds and grass
The vines form barriers at some points which it
is almost impossible to penetrate.
An immense amount of rain falls upon the
island, preserving its mantle Of green all the
year round. Our informant has visited the is
land several times, at different seasons of the
year, and always saw more or less rain. When
the storms prevail the island presents beauti-
full sight Torrents of water dash over the
eCdICu DiOMo vi llllos lOIlnllS IONtly cas-
cades, and wind their way through the ravnes
to the ocean. At one time one hundred cascades
were visible from high bluff, and some of these
were of sufficient magnitude to render them
truly grand. While the island is constantly
green, and contains an abundance of fresh
water, our informant assures us that it does not
produce any edibles. Wild hogs are found, but
they are decreasing in numbers and do not seem
to thrive. The treasure seekers have not made
any attempts at cultivation, but have devoted
their energies to the main question.
The little beach is perforated with shafts, and
the hills and valleys abound in shafts and tun-
nels-the number runs into the hundreds. Some
of the excavations in solid rock are over one
hundred and fifty feet deep, and surely could
not have been accomplished without large out
lay of time, labor, and money. The rock con-
tains iron pyrites but no trace of gold silver or
other precious metals has been found. 1t is now
uninhabited. Such is Cacos Island, the land
which has attracted attention for centuries past,
and bids fair to hold its peculiar sway for cen
turtles to come. Another treasure seeking cx-
petition is in process of organization in this
city.