The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-04-15
A SAILORS BIG STEAL.
History Of One Of the Boldest RObber'
les on Record.

Among those belonging to the Chilian
navy who were slayen in the recent san
culinary naval combat with the Peruyians,
Was . man named James Davis, who was
distinguished for the reckless daring of
his character, and of whom q most remark.
able incident 10 told. In Noyember 1868,
she schooner Laura May entered this port
from Santa Cru.e. As the small-I OK was
then raging in the latter port the vessel
was detained in quarantine of BLACK Point.
When released she raised her anchor, and
the captain was surprised to find hang
ing to one Of the fukers strong canvas
bag containing $500 in Mexican silver dol.
lars. No one appeared to make any claim
10 the money or explain how it came there.
This angular occurrence was only small
part of the remarkable incident in the ca.
reer of Davis. The story, briefly told, is
that Davis and another seaman named
JOIN Smith concocted plan to rob one of
the steamers playing between this port and
the Mexican coast, which frequently
brought up large shipments of treasure
from the Sanora and Sinalos mines. In
pursuance of this scheme, Smith worked
himself into the position of quartermaster
on the C. o. and NJ. steamship Siesra Ne
vada, in 1875, and Davis went to Mazatlan
10 obtain information regarding the ship
ment of treasure for this port. In October,
1873, the opportunity for the conspiritois
came. The manifest of the Sirra Nevada
on that trip showed only $l5,75O in coin,
but il has since been learned that the firm
of Emiliano & Trinadad Davaloz, Of Quay
mas, At that time shipped on the steamer
eight boxes containing $211 900 in Mexi-
can gold coin. After very stormy pass
age the steamer arrived at La Paz on the
night of October, 1s. During the night
Smith and Davis, who had shipped as
deck hands. got out these boxes by means
Of keys which gave them access to the
treasure room. They tied up the boxes
ON an inch thick tarred line, leaving about
three fashoms ofline between each box, and
paying il out 40 the vessel moved along
sunk the whole in the harbor of La Paz
The bag Of silver dollars they had in a
coal bunker and .ried to get q man named
Huntson, who was In their confidence. te
smuggle 1t ashore in bag Of potatoes a
Mazatlan.on the return trip, but he re-
fused. They were unable to get ashore
as they contemplated fishing up their treas
ure At La Paz and were compelled to come
on to this city, where they threw the bal
overheard while the steamer lay in quar-.
snsine. Detective Noyes, of this city, hap
pening to be at Mazatlan about this time OF
business. Huntson told of the "plant" and
Noys went fishing for it, bus was unable tt
find it. Information was sent back her'
for the arrest of Smith and Davis, and a.
rsngements made for their capture if they
appeared at Mazatian, but they managed
70 elude the officers, got back in company
With younger brother of Davis, fshed VI
their booty, divided and separated, the bro
theirs going 10 Chilli, where the younger
still survives, and Smith to Philadelphia
where he spent his money lavishly and en-
tertsined bis friends with wonderful &C.
counts of his lucky strikes in the Califor
mia gold mines. He is still living there
San Fyaucisco Chronicle.