The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-01-12


came discouraged and gave up all
hope Of making their fortunes by dis.
covering the Spanish wreck. They
wanted to compel Captain Phips to
turn pirate. There was much bet
ter prospect, they thought, of growing
rich By plundering vessels which still
sailed the sea, than by sceking for a
ship that had lain beneath the waves
full half a century. They broke out
in open nutiry, but were finally mas
tered by Phips. and compelled TO obey
his orders. It would have been dan
gerous, however, to continue much
longer at sea with such crew of mu-
tinous sailors aud, besides, the Rose
Algier was leaky and unseaworthy.
Captain Phips judged il best to return
to England. 7aris l',ls. 9 e is.i saine,.,l |
Before leaving the West Indies he
met with a Spaniard, an old man, who
gave him directions, how to find the
very spot. 1t was on reef Of rocks.
/ lew leagues from Porte de Ia Plata.
On arriving in England, therefore,
Captain, Phips collected the King to
let him have another vessel, and send
him back again to the West Indies.
But King James, who had probably
expected that the Rose Algier would
return laden with gold, refused to
have anything more to do with the
affair. Phips might never have been
able to renew the search, If the Duke
of Albemarle, and some other noble
men ha1 not lent their assistance.
They fitted out ship and gave the
command to Captain Phips. He sailed
from England, and arrived eafely at
Porte de la Plata, when he took an
adse and assisted his men to buill a
large boat. y. gs,,1r. '-.,'.,e..,. s''
! The boat was intended for going
closer to the reef of rocks than o
large vessel could safely venture.
Whsn Il was finished the captain sent
several men in it 10 examine the spot
where the Spanish ship was said to
have been wrecked. They were ac-
companied by some Indians, who were
skilled divers and could go down a
lgreat way into the depths Of the sea.
| The boats crew proceeded to the
reef of rocks, and rowed round and
round it great many times. They
gazed down into the water, which was
so transparent that II seemed as If
they could have seen the gold and sill
| yer at the bottom had there been any
of those precious metals there. Moth
ing. however, could they see; nothing
more valuable than certain sea shrub
which was growing beneath the water.
in creyice of the rocks. It Haunted
10 and fro in the swell and refux of
the waves, and looked as bright and
as beautiful az if its leaves had been
made Of gold.
"We won't go back empty handed"
cried and English sailor; and then he
spoke to one of the Indian divers.
"Dive down and bring me that pref
ty sea shrub there. That's the only
treasure we shall findp tTe 2
Down plunged the diver, and soon
rose dripping from the water, holding
the sea shrub in his hand. But he
had learned some news at the bottom
Of tho sea. "There are some ships
guns" said he the moment he had
drawn breath. "some great cannon
among the rock, near where the shrut
was growing" ri aa,e. ~
4 No sooner had he spoken, than the
English sailors knew that they had
found the very spot where the Span
ish galleon had been wrecked so many
years before. The other Indian divers
Immediately plunged over the boats
side and swan 'headlong down, crop
ing among the rocks and sunken can
non. In few moments one of them
rose above water, with heavy lumI
, | of silver in his arms. That singl,
lump was worth more than thousand
dollars. The sailors took it into tn
boat, and then rowed back as speedily
as they could, being in haste to inforn
Captain Phips of his good luck. But
confidently as the Captain had hopeS
, to find the Spanish wreck, yet nov
. that it was really found, the new
/ seemed too good to be true. He coulI
fuot believe Il until the sailors showe'
! him the lump of silver.
i'll "fhanks be to GodP' then or!e
!. Captain Phips. ave shall every MAJ
i Of us make our fortunes p
9 Hereupon the captain aud all tn
/. crew set to work with iron rakes an
: great hooks and lines, fishing for gol'
h and silver at the bottom of the ses
sl Up came the treasure in abundance
d Nov they beheld a table of solid 81
q yer, once the property of an old Spar
8 ish grandee. Now they found saeEl
mental vessel which had been destiE