The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-10-04


dangered the safety OF the crew. While
suspected that this was a subterfuge, I
was not quite satisfied about IL. II I
was something to be summed and afraid
Of. why should l desire to escape2 II
taken off l had no home to 90 to, no
friends TO welcome me. was lonesome
and somewhat afraid here, but was,
nevertheless, enjoying the novelty OF the
situation.
built me a rude shelter wandered
over the island. tished, set snares and
captured parrots aud monkeys, and
after the first week was quite content.
| had been on the island three weeks be-
fore the second mystery occurred A
peninsula or neck on the western end of
the island was composed of sand, and
bare of tree or bush. IL was about 300
feet long. There had been heavy blow
from the south. with big sea rolling
in, and after this had lasted two day IS
there was an unusually low tide. |
caught sight of a timber heaved up on
the spit, and went out to inspect IL, and
while surveying the banks which the
tide had uncovered | caught sight of
some queer little boxes half buried in
the sand. dug one out, to iiud il so
heavy that | could hardly drag it away.
They were of wood, hooped with iron,
and ten or twelve inches long by eight
or ten inches high. | had little curiosity
rs to the contents, aud the idea that
they contained treasure never crossed
my mind. got out four before the tide
turned, and there were several more in
sight. After | had them all together
above high water, began to wonder
whether they contained nails or bullets,
and set about breaking one open. When
rows upon rows of silver coins greeted
my eyes ! came near losing what little
sense had. Two Others contained silver,
the fourth one gold. 1t was English
money. every piece of IT, aud as ] had
never seen any before ! was Mt loss to
estimate tn value
Before the discovery of that money |
wanted nothing but u pair of shoes, and
the sigh, of sail would rot have affected
me Now was wild to get at the other
boxes, and my eyes were constantly
.carching the sea for sight of relief.
dragged the boxes TO my house, and most
of each day for the neNt week was spent
on ,hc neck in hopes of getting at more
treasure. The water continued high,
however and got nothing more. On
the eighth day after | got the treasure,
and about thirty days after my landing,
the third mystery was revealed. At
about clock in the moaning, while the
tide was setting in strong, | observed a
ships boat drifting in from the south
cast. ii was not ten minutes after saw
her before she was cast on the beach, and
rs she rolled over two bodies were flung
ont. To my amaIemcnt and horror
recognized them as the bodies OF the
Captain and mate of the Albatross,
though it was more by the clothing than
by their features. IL was plain ut u glanc {
that they had died of exposure aud
want. There was neither food nor drink
in the boat, and the bodies were little
better than skeletons. 1t was the Cap.
tain's gig, and it seemed that these two
got away alone. They must have drifted
here and there for days, for there was
neither sail nor oar.
! was scOoping out grave for the
bodies when turtle sloop rounded the
island aud was in the cove before | saw
her. She had n crew of three men and 0
boy, and they had come for stay Dc &
week or two, it being the season wher
the turtles came ashore to lay their eggs.
They were not from the mainland, but
from larger island to the north, and
were native West Indians. The Captain
spoke English fairly well, and | CAV,
him full explanation, even to the find
ing of the treasure. They could hav,
knocked me on the head and safely
taken all, but they did not do it. Tn,
Captain looked over my money, and sale
| had about S23, 600. and il was agrcct
that, in repayment for passag: t.
Porto Rico was to surrender all right
to the ships boat. III four days those
poor turtle catchefs, none of whom haC
ever had Sj0at once. took $50, 600 out o
the sands. There were more boxes left
or it was so believed, but they required
other outfit to secure them. was no
only landed in Porto Rico, as agreed bu
told how to take care of my money
most of which was exchanged for paper
and my passage on sailing vessel bounC
for New Orleans was secured.
| did not go near the owners of tn
Albatross. She had been reported lost
with all on board, and to this day no
one of the crew has been heard of.
could have gone to the authorities will
my, story, but who would have believed
it! Those who had plotted against m
had been overcome. and had SprIn;
from poverty 10 wealth at Il bound. An'
so | repeat Goods ways are full O
mystery. ."-Neo York. Sun.
The Change in Watch Crystals.