Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-02-07
How Sir VIM. Phips Found the Treas
uYe In the Sea.

of a Spanish vessel, wrecked or Puerto
Plata more than fifty years before. with
very large treasure. Phips sailed for
England and made direct applies ton to the |
Admiralty to aid him in his search. So
ably did this true son Of the sea represent |
mis- cause, that he was given command Of
the Rose Algier," a ship mounting eight |
cen guns and carrying a hundred men.
The exact position Of the wreck was un-
known. and the untrustworthy character
of the crew added great difficulties to the
undertaking. 1t should be remembered,
also. that diving bells, dlving-armor, and
the like. were unknown. But the courage
and indomitable perseverance, of Phips
now came into play, and he had capital |
chance to show the stuff OF which he was
made.
Soon after they bad sailed, the crew
came aft, armed. and determined to force
Phips to yield to their wishes. which prob
ably were that they should all tmrn pirates.
Without giving them time TO deliberate,
Phips few at their leader, hurled him to
the deck and dispatched him on the spot
a deed so prompt and daring that 1t awed
the mutineers into submission for the time.
One who has never seen a mutiny at sea
can form but little idea of its desperate
character. and the rapidity of action and
unilinching nerve required where men are
shut up alone on the wide ocean with q
quarrel so deadly In its nature that no
compromise can be thought OF for mo-
ment, and no quarter can be allowed with
safety to him who gives it.
But the next plot to seize the ship was
even more dangerous. The Rose Algier,
being in need of repairs, was taken 10 n
cove in a small unnhsbited island, and
careened on one side In order to reach the
damaged place. Most of the stores were
moved on shore, the ship was hove down,
and a bridge was laid between the deck
aud the land. Under the pretense of pas
time, most of the crew now betoOk thepi-
selves to the woods, and there plotted to
return At seven In the evening. seize the
ship. force Phips and eight faithful men on
shore, leave them there to perish, and
themselves sail away on piratical cruise.
But the carpenter was one of the few who
stood by the captain, and yet they could
not risk putting to sea without him. They
sent for him, therefore, on some pretext,
and, having him in their power, offered
him the choice of instant death or OF join-
Ing his fortunes with theirs. He begged
tor half an hour to think about ii, and said
that at any rate he shoald have to return,
on board tor his tool-chest. They granted
his request, and sent two men with him to
"alCU MS movements SOOu allctWAru,
he was suddenly taken with pretended
crainp or collie, and in great seeming agony
rushed into the cabin for medicine there
he found Phips, and in few rapid words
revealed the plot. In less than two hours
the mutineers would be marching on the
ship. Not an instant was to be lost I'm
mediately the guns were loaded and trained
to command the shore aud all the ap-
proaches 20 the stores; the bridge WAS
taken In, and when the mutlneers appear
ed they found themselves caught. In tones
of thunder, Phips bade them not TO stir or
he would NOW them down with his bat
terles nor did they dare to dsobey. The
bridge was again laid down, and the eight
loyal men brought back the stores TO the
ship. When all was safely on board again,
the blutineers were told that they were TO
be LETT TO the fate they had intended for
their commander. In despair at so terrible
a prospect, the miserable men threw down
,heir aru,,, and pr o,e ,.ed their Willingness
to submit II Phips would but relent and
not sail away without them. After long
parley, he agreed to let them come on
board, they having first given uA their
arms. But, with such Il crew, further
search after the treasure was useless.
Phips, therefore, sailed for Jamaica,
changed the crew. aud again weighed an
chor for IIispanioIa. There he was lucky
enough TO ind an old Spaniard who told
HIM that the wreck was somewhere about
a reef a few leagues north of Puerto de la
Plata Phps Immediately went to the
spot. But his search for the wreck WAS
long aud unavailing, the season was
changing and the Rose Algier," now but
half manned and in unseaworthy condi-
ton, was unfit to prowl around danger
Gus reef In the hurricane season. So,
without having accomplished the object of
so much eXertien and anxiety, Phips was
obliged TO return to England, a battied but
not discouraged man.
Very naturally, II was impossible for our
adventurer to obtain another English ship
ot-war, although he received much credit
for the courage and skill shown in con-
trolling the mutineers, and one would con
clude that the treasure OF the old Spanish
gallron would after this have remained at
the bottom OF the sea, the exclusive pos
session OF the sharks. the turtles and the
barracuda,. But with rare pertinacity
l'hips returned to the charge. and at last
persuaded the Duke Of Albemarle and sew
eral other wealthy noblemen to his views
They formed u company and obtained a
patent from King James IL, giving IN
the sole right to all wrecked treasure th y
might find durin. certain number OF years.
Then they lifted out "A ship and tender, the
latter TO cruise in coves and shoal water,
and Phips Invented several rude contriv-
ances for dragging and diving, tar inferior
To the means now used for such purposes.
Thus prepared. he sailed once more for
IIispaniola. There a small. stout boat was
built, aud with it and a crew of Indian di-
yers the tender was despatched to the reef
where the wreck was said to be. The ten
der was anchored in good holding ground
at safe distance from the reef, and the
men then rowed slowly in the boat around
1t, scarefully examining the depths below
for signs OF the wrecked galleon. The wa
ters in the West Indies are very clear, and
during a calm objects can be seen at a con-
siderable depth. The rocks were of singu
lar torn, rising nearly TO the surface. but
with sides so steep that any vessel striking
them would be liable to go down many
fathonis below the reach of the most ex |
pert diver. The only hope was that the
wreck might have lodged on some project
ing ledge. But the closest observation,
long continued. failed to reveal any sign of
the object so eagerly sought, although the |
water was perfectly calm.
At length, a curious sea plant cropping
out OF crevice in the sides of the rect
caught the eye of one of the crew, and he |
the diver returned to the surface he report |
ed that he had seen n number Of brass can
mons lying tangled among the ses-weed on
ledge. That was enough. Inspired with |
the greatest enthusiasm. diver after diver |
plunged below TO be the first to discover |
the treasure, aud ere long one of ethe IN
brought up an ingot OF silver worth several
hundred pounds. Transported with sue
cess they lett buoy to mark the spot, and
made all sail to carry the glad tidings to
Phips. He. would not credit the tale until
he had seen the ingot, when he exclaimed.
Thanks be to God. we are all madei"
Every man was at once enlisted in the
service OF fishing for the treasure. The
bullion vas discovered first; after that. in
the bottom of the hold. the sea-miDers
found the coin in bags, which had been SO
long under water that they were encrusted
with u stony shell. hard as rock. This was
broken with crowbars. revealing gold,
jewels. and pieces of eight" in glittering
abundance. The last days work brought
to light twenty massive silver ingOts, and
the whole amount raenvere1 was snna