The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-02-28
How Slr Vim. Philips Pound the Treasure.


means not being sufficient for this ex
petition. Phips sailed for England an,
made direct application 30 the admiral
ty 10 aid him IN HIS search. SO abl,
did this trne son of the sea represen
his cause, that he was given commant
Of the " Rose Algier, ship mounting
eighteen guns and carrying hundre,
men.
The exact position of this wreck wa,
unknown, aud the Enthusiastically char
acter of the crew added great Difficult
culties 10 the undertaking. Ii should
ba remembered, also, that diving bells
diving-armor, aud tie like, were thel
unknown. But the courage and indom
liable perseverance, of Phips now cam,
into play, and he had capital chance to
show the stuff Of which he WAS made.
Soon after they had sailed, the crew
came aft, armed, and determined Il
force Phips to yield 10 their wishes,
which probably were that they should
all turn pirates Without giving them
time TO deliberate, Phips flew at THEN
leader, hurled him to the deck and dis,
patched him on the spot-a deed 81
prompt and daring that il awed the mn,
tlneers into submission for the time.
One who has never seen "a mutiny at sea
can form but little idea Of its desperate
character, ana the RAJ idity of action and
unhlnching nerve required where men
ars shut up alone ON the wide ocean
with quarrel so deadly in It's nature
that no compromise can be thought Of
for moment, and no quarter can be
allowed with safety tO HIM who gives Il.
/ But the next plot 10 seize the ship was
I even more dangerous. The Rose Al.
gler," being in need of repairs, WAS
taken 10 cove IN small uniuhabite
island, and careened on one side in orirr
10 reach the damaged place. Most Of
the stores wenr moved ON shore, the
Z ship was hove down, and a bridge was
laid between the deck and the land
Under the pretense Of pastime, most Of
the crew now betaok themselves 20 the
woods. and there plotted Ia return at
seven IN the evening, seize the ship,
force Phips and eight faithful men ON
shore, leave them there 20 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 10 sea without
him. They sent for him, therefore, ON
some prete1t, and, having him in their
power, offered him the choice Of instant
death " Of JOINING his fortunes with
thrirs. He begged for half an hour to
think about II. and saii that al any rate
he should have 10 return ou board for
his tool,chest. They granted his request,
aud sent two men with linn b. watch his
movements Soon aiterwArd, lie was
suddenly taken with a pretended cRmp
or collie, and IN great seeming agony
rushed into the cabin for medicine f.
there he found Phips, and in few rapid
woris revealed the plot In less than
two hours the mutineers would be-
marching ON the ship. Not an instant
was 10 oe lost. Immediately the guns
were lI4,Ied aud trained 70 command the
shore and all the approaches 10 the
stores the bridge was taken IN, and
when the mutineer' appeared they found
themselves caught In tones of thunder,
Phips babe them not % stir or lie would
mow them down with his batteries nor
dill they dare dispber. The bridge was
again laid down, aud the eight loyal men
brought back the stores 10 the ship.
When all was safely on board again, the
mutineers were told that they we're 10 he
left 10 the fate they hal intended for
their commander. In despair at SO ter
rible a prospect, the miserable men
threw down their arms, AMI protested
their Willingness 10 submit If Phips
would but relent and not sail away with
out them. After long parley, he agreed
10 let them come on board, they having
first given up their arms. But, with
such crew, further search after the
treasure was useless. Phips, therefore.
sailed for Jamaica, changed the crew.
and again weighed anchor for Hispani-
ola There he was lucky enough 10 find
an old Spanlard who told him that the
wreck was somewhere about reef a few
leagues north OF Puerto de Ia Plata.
But his search for the wreck was long
and unavnihng, the season was changing,
and the Rose Algier." now about half
manned and in unseaworthy condition,
was unfit to prowl around a dangerous
reef in a hurricane season. So, without
having accomplished the object OF SO
much exertion aud anxiety, Phips was
obliged 10 return 10 England, a bailled
but not discouraged man.
Very naturally, it was impossible for
our adventurer 20 obtain another Eng.
hsh ship-of-war, although he received
much credit for the courage and skill
shown in controlling the mutineers, and
one would conclude that the treasure of
Al 4 4, III A,
have remained at the bottom of the sea,
the exclusive possession of the sharks,
the turtles and the bEracudas. But
with rare pertinacity Phips returned 10
the charge. aud at last persuaded the
Duke OF Albemarle aud several other
wealthy noblemen 10 his views. They
formed a company and obtained a pat
ent from James III giving them the
sole right to all wrecked treasure they
might find during "A certain number Of
years. Then they fitted out ship and
/ tender, the latter to cruise in coves and
shoal water, and Phips invented several
rude contrivances for dragging and div.
ing, far inferior to the means now used
for such purposes. Thus prepared, he
sailed once more for Hispaniola There
a small, stout boat was built, and with
it and a crew Of Indian divers the tender
was dispatched to the reef where the
wreck was said to he. The tender was
anchored in good holding-ground at
safe distance from the reef, and the men
then ro ged slowly in the boat around it,
carefully examining the depths below
for signs Of the wrecked galleon. The
waters in the West Indies are very clear,
and during a calm objects can be seen nj
a considerable depth. The rocks were
OF singular form. rising nearly to the
surface, but with sides SO steep that any
vessel striking them would be liable 10
90 down many fathoms below 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 crop
ping out Of orevice in the sides of the
reef caught the eye OF one OF the crew,
and he sent down an Indian TO bring il
up. When the diver returned TO the
surIhce ne repOrUeu liiht he lau seen
number of brass cannon lying tangled
among the ea-weed on q ledge. That
was enough. Inspired with the greatest
enthusiasm. diver after diver plunged
below 10 be the first to discover the
treasure, and ere long one Of them
brought up an ingot of silver worth sew
eral hundred pounds. Transported with
success they left buoy 10 mark the
spot, and made oil sail TO carry the glad