The Osceola times., 1882-02-04
4 BLCCANEER'S BOOTY.
The Alleged Discovery OF the PIunder Ia
ken From Panlma In 1870 by
Morgan,
New York World

Morgan,
New York World
The following dispatch from Kingston
needs an explanation which the JI'oyli
is glad 20 be able to make, inasmuch as
the story hidden in these few lines is
really full ofcurious Interest:
KINGSTON, Jamaica Dec. G-An expe-
ditiOn has Just sailed from Ibis port con
veyed by n British vessel Of war in
search Of concealed treasure on one Of
islands ear the coast Of the lsihuus of
Panama, where, it is stated, the spoils
Of Buccaneer Morgan have been discov-
cred by Mr.. Currie, native of Nassau.
Mp"
The Island here alluded to is the inlet
of Santa Catalina, lying about ninety
miles of the Mesquite coast in the Ca
Tibbean sea and forming one of the little
group known to the few who know any.
thing Of Spanish American history rs
the islands Of san Andres and La Provi-
dencla. II is Just north Of La Proyiden-
cia, more familiar to American readers
as Old Providence a name given to it to
distinguish it from New Providence in
the Bahamas. For many years after the
Spanish occupation Of Central America
these islands were attached alternately
to the captaincy-gcneral Of Guatemala
and to the yice-royalty Of New Grenada.
Lying under fine climate and not des-
utute OF decent harb1rs, tn ey are also
susceptible of profitable cultivation. IL
IS from san Andres, indeed, that the
first seeds Of the since famous sea island
cotton were brought to the coast of South
Carolina toward the end Of the last cen
tury by one of the smuggling, trading.
lighting jamaican adventures who then
irequcnied the caribbean coasts of Span
lsh America. During the seventeenth
century those Central American islands,
lying as they do out of the immediate
control of the Spanish authorities were
continually visited and for wears alta time
occupied by all sorts of iuterlo2ers. and
especially by English, Dutch and French
adventures OF the free and easy type
famous as buccaneers One of the
most eminent OF these adventurers.
Henry Morgan, q Welshman, made San
IA Catalina one of his str0ngholds dur
ing those brilliant operations against the
lsthmus of Darien in 1870 and 1871.
which ended with the capture and sack
ing Of Panama and the spelling Of the
rich Spanish silver galle0ns in th.t port.
One, at least, Of Sir Henry's ships re-
turning TO Jamaica laden with the booty
both OF Panama ana Of Porobelo, is be
lleved to have been pl ndered and de-
strQyed by her crew at Santa Catalina.
and for two centuries past legendary
stories lik Those which cluster in our
northern latitudes around the "lost
treasure Of Captain Kidd have been
current in those parts touching The spoil
hidden ID some corner 2f this remote
islet.
During the winter Of 1879 So while
the Earl Of LousdaIe, then crossing in
the West Indies, lay vita his yacht ct
Kingston q trader Df that place sought
him out and told hun tale uf the dis
cOycry on Santa Catalina hy a certain
Mr. Currle, Of cavern, natural or arli-
fetal, filed with ancient boxes and bar
rels, one or two OF which On being care.
fully opened proved to contain great
quantities OF jewels Of various kinds d
coin ch.eGy Of the Spanish mints of the
seventeenth century. Some very curl
Ous ornamen 5s,ot with diamonds in an
antique fashion and a good many old
Spanish doubloons were exhibited to the
earl as proofs Of the authenticity Of the
story, and he was strongly urged to take
the narrator on board, go IN quest Of Mr..
Currle to the Bahamas, anG then sail for
SAINTS Catalina TO investigate the matter.
lie was assured that Mr.. Curne had been
driven away from the island bv some OF
the inhabitants under the leadership Of
an enterpri-iug Yankee who had got IN
inkling ef the existence Of the treasure
and was determined not 10 allow Mr.
Curne to pro- { by il unless he made q
fair division. Tie story was told so
circumsantiaUy and supported with
such evidence a. to tempt Lord Ions
dale into making a trip, which he prob
ably wOuid have done bad not the heart
of the Jamaican az the last moment
failed him, go that he eyaded sis en-
2agemcnt b. come ON board Of the Yacht
and disappeared From the despatch
which now reaches MS itwould seem that
Mr.. Cuuie has taken pp his own case IN
eucrgetically as TO get The support of an
English mau-of-War IN an attempt 10
secure his treasure ttoye should this
prove t1 be the ease IL really is not inn
probable chat the speculation may turn
ont more aivantageousIy than any quest
for kidd's hidden gains has done Nor
gan, who was kuighted by Charlie, lltor
exploits which iu these DAYS would have
sent him to the ga,lows, died in the
English service at Jamaica, leaving
large fortune behind him, Jnd there is
no doubt whatever that ne and his men
carried away from Panama an enormous
sum for those days iu specie, IN Jew
els AMI in church ornaments OF gold ard
silver.