River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-27
C0C0S ISLAND GOLD.
Two Expeditions That Came to Grief in
Trying 10 Find it.
San francisco Call

oaA Fl AutisNo Nhtls
Cocos island, situated of the coast Of
! Central America, is popularity supposed
TO be thiekly planted with bags of
treasure, left there by the ancient
buccaneers and Ireebooters who plum
dered the seas in days gone by. One
tradition says that on several occasions
the genial old pirates, who made the
island their headquarters, sank their
galleons along the shore to save their
treasurers, and that much money for
merly belonging TO Spanish merchant
men is now lying around in the vicinity.
Several expeditions have gone to Coco
island in search OF these mythical mil
hons, but none as yet found them. The
schooner Vanderbilt, which sailed from
| this port ON the 12Gh of April last, for
the purpose of discovering and bring
ing back some OF the treasure planted
by the exterminated pirates, has been
heard from, having arrived at Santa
Barbara n week ago with a discouraged,
goddess crew. A representative OF the
santa Barbara Press interviewed one of
the hungry treasure-seekers. The vast
sums of money supposed TO have been
buried on the peach, he said was what
the adventures sought when arriving
at the island. FIR three months they
toiled under the tropic sun, running
tunnels and drafts, and sinking pits and
bitches; but their labor was IN vain,
and as their supplies ran low they were
compelled to leave. No regular search
was made for the wrecked galleon, but,
in desultory way, some efforts were
made TO find it. The search was con-
Quoted in a small boat, in the bow OF
which man was stationed to scrutinize
the bottom, as the rest of the crew
slowly rowed it along. The water is
40 clear and transparent that at IL depth
of forty fathoms the bottom of the sea
Is plainly visible. Small pebbles and
the waving lines of sand are as clearly
I.presented to the view as If within few
I'inches Of the SUI face. The anchor of
the vessel, which was cast in twenty
fathoms of water, was in plain sight all
the time. The submarine view is de-
scribed as being of wonderful beauty.
Except in spots, the bottom is covered
with II coral formation, from which
feat festoons and long streamers Of
sea-weed of every imaginable hue and
form. The water is fairly alive with
fish. In the depths can be seen the
long dusky form Of the ravenous shark,
rs he lazlly floats along on the lookout
for his prey. AS provisions began to
run short, it became necessary to seek
some port where fresh stores could be
laid in. 1t was at first proposed to go
10 Punta Arenas, the nearest port,
about two hundred miles northeast of
The island, and lay in supplies, and at
the same time try to secure cargo OF
sugar for San Francisco; but, as stlong
current sets steadily down the coast, it
was resolved to keep out to sea and
make as direct course as possible for
homc. Gains and light head winds
retarded their progress, and everything
On board in the shape OF provisions was
consumed, except flour and tea, on
VIII ch the company subsisted for the
last twelve days. The voyage 10 Santa
Barbara occupied sixty-six days. Dur
ing the trip storm was encountered
which blew away both the sehooner's
topmas;s, and came near disabling her.
While the Vanderbilt was at Cocos
island, the steamer Rescue, of San
Francisco arrived, also in search Of the
tabled gold, but her captain and crew
soon became disheartencd, and sailed
foI Punta Arenas, where the schooner
was sold to the Costa Rican govern
ment.