The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-02-15
HO,C Sir Wm. PHips Found the
Treasure In the Sea.


sufficient for this expedition, Phips sailed
FOR England and made direct application
to the Admiralty to aid him III his search
80 ably did this true son of the repre-
sent his cause, that he was given command
of the "Rose Algier," ship mounting
eighteen guns and carrying hundred
men.
The exact position of the wreck was not
known, aud the untrustworthy character of
the crew added great difficulties to the
Undertaking. l. should be remembered
that diving bells, diving -arnUr, and the
like, were then unknown. But the courage
aud indomitable perseverance of Phips now
came iuto play, aud he had IA capital chauce
to show the stuff of which he made.
Soon after they had saiied the crew came
aft, armed. ami determined to force Phips
to yield to their wishes, which probably
! were that they should all turn pirates
Without giving them time to deliberate
Phips flew at their leader, hurled him to
the deck and dispatched him on the spot
a deed SO prompt aud daring that it awed
the mutiheers into subm ssion for the time.
One who has never seen mutiny at sea
can form but little idea of It's desperate
character, and the iapidity of action and
untiinching nerve required where men are
shut up alone on the wide ocean with a
quarrel 50 deadly Ill It's nature that no com
promise can ce Thought OF for moment
and no quarter can he allowed with safety
to him who gives it.
But the next plot to seize the ship was
even more dangerous. The Rose Alger,"
being Ill need of repairs, was taken TO a
cove i'll a small uninhabited island, and
careeued on one side in order to reach the
damaged place. Most of the stores were
moved on shore, the ship was hove down,
and bridge was laid between the deck
and the land. Under the pretense of pas
| time most of the crew now betook them
selves to the woods, aud there plotted to
Ieturn 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 "A piratca cruise
! But the carpenter was one of the few who
stood 10y the captain, ana yet they could
! not risk putting 10 sea without him. They
| sent for him, tneI eIefore, on some pretext
! aud, having him i'll their power, offered the
| choice of Instant death or of joining his
| fortune to theirs. He b gged for half an
! bour TO think about it, aud said that at
! any rate he should have to return Oh board
| for his tool-chest. They granted his re
quest, and sent two men with him to watch
| his movements. Soon after, ne was sud
! denly taken with pretended cramp or
cuiic, aud III great seeming agony rushed
| into the cabin for med lcine: there he found
! Phips, aud III few rapid words revealed
| tineers would be marching on The slip.
Not an instant was 10 be lost. Immedi-
ately the guns were loaded and trained to
command the shore and all the approaches
| to the stores the bridge was taken iE, and
when the mutineerS appeared they found
themselves caught. In tones of thunder
Phips bade them not to stir or he would
! NOW them down with his batteries; nor did
they dare to disobey. The bridge was
again laid down, and the eight loyal men
bI ought back the stores to the ship. When
ali WAS safely on board again, the mutine ers
were told that they were to be left to the
| fate they had intended for their command
| er. In despair at SD terrible prospect,
| tue miserable men threw do WI their aI ms
| aud protested their willingness to submit if
! PhIps would but relent and not sail away
! without them. After a long parley, he
agreed TO let them come Oh board they
! having first given up their arms. But,
| with such a crew, further search after the
! treasure was useless. Phiis, therefore,
| sailed for jamaica, changed the crew, and
| again weighed anchor for Hispauiula -
! There he was lucky enough to find an old
| SpauiaId q who told him that the wreck was
| somewhere about a reef Il few leagues
| north of Puerto de la Plata. Phips inme.
| diately went to the spot. But his search
! for the wreck was long aud unavailing. the
season was changing, and the Rose Al
| gier,' now but half manned and in an un.
seaworthy condition, was unfit to prowI
| around a dangerous reef III The hurricane
season. So, without having accomplished
| the object of SD much eXertion and anxiety
! Phips was obliged to return 10 England a
| bafffed, but not discouraged man.
{ Very naturally, it was impossible for our
| adventurer to obtain another English shin
| of-war, although he received much credit
! for the courage and skill. shown in control.
/ linn tl,ar a
| that the treasure of the old Spanish galIeou
would after this have rensa ned al the bot
! tom OF the sea. the exclusive possession of
the turtles and tie 5aricudas. But with
| rare pertinacity Phips returned TO the
| charge, and at last persuaded the Duke of
Albemarle an0 several other wealthy mo-
blemeu to his views. They formed a com
| pany and ob aimed patent from KING
! james H., giving them the sole right to ali
wrecked treasure they might find during
certain number of years. They then fitted
| out a ship aud tender, the latter to cruise
! in coves and shoaI water, and Phips invent
| ed several rude contrivances for draogino
| and diving, far inferior to the means now
used for such purposes. Thus prepared.
he sailed once more for fiispaniola. There
a small, stout boat was built. and with II
and crew of Indian divers the tender was
despatched to the reef where the wreck
was said to be. The tender was anchored
| IN good holding ground at safe distance
| from the reef, and the men then rowed
slowly i'm the boat around it, carefully ex
aminng the depths below for signs of the
wrecked gaileon. The waters in the West
! Indies are very clear, and during a calm
objects can be seen at a considerable depth.
! The rocks were of regular form, rising
nearly to the surface, but wi sides SO
steep tlat any vessel striking them would
| be liable to 90 down many fatbous haIo,,
! the reach of the most expert diver. The
only hope was that the wreck might have
lodged on some projecting 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, curious sea-plant cropping
out Of crevice in the sides of the reef
caught the eye of one of the crew, and he
sent down an Indian To bring it up. When
the diver returned to the surface he report.
, ed that he had seen humber of brass