Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-09-16
A TREASURE ISLAND.
fENEILLIOSs OFDoLLARs HIDDEN BY AN
ENGLISH PIRATE.
A SFaags Story Of an nlgOusn Booty Which Dsss
Discovery and Causes Death and Trouble
10 All Who Seek Il.
Philadelphia Press

Philadelphia Press
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, August 5.-A pro-
jected search for hidden treasure in the
Marianne Islands in the Pacific Oeean has
just eons 10 an abrupt termination Al
the besionipg Of the present year an Eng
lish shipmAs,er in this port had built, under
his own supervision and at his own sx-
psnse, schooner which he, named The
Nsrsid,n for the purpose OF cruising among
the Marianne Islands in search of immense
treasure supposed to have been hidden in
ono Of them more than sixty
wears ago. He set sail from Yokohama
few weeks ago, and reached the island
of Guam, one Of the group. Here be went
on shore, intending to sail for zap, one Of
the Carolines. But on returning TO the
point where be had left his vessel it had
disappeared. The only persons on board
were the mate and two Japanese sailors
Ii il evident they had hlibustered the
schoo Ter, with the intention Of cheating
the captain of his share Of the anticipated
treasure. The story Is a. startling and
adventurous rs anything Robert Louis
Stevenson or Rider HsSgard has written
and might easily have been the founda
ton OF the formers story, Treasure Is
land.
In 1923, during q revolution in Peru, o
number Of wealthy residents Of Lima com
bined to charter brig of 800 tons, on
which they placed their property in money
and iswelry, q large quantity Of mouastic
plate being also placed on the vessel, with
the intention of having it conveyed TO
Spain. The treasure Is said to have
amounted in doubloons to the amount of
500 600, beside the vast amount OF
plate. The story of the proposed escape,
however, came TO the ears of o lieutenant
IN the Peruvian navy, an Englishman, who
determined 10 avail himself OF 80 unusual
an opp1rtunity to become rich at bound.
He boarded the brig with q chosen band
aud cut hsr ont within hail OF Peruvian
maa-Of war.
ONE OF THE OFFICERS MURDERED.
He steersd night across the Pacific, aud
IN the course Of time reached the Marianne
Islands, whsrs the treasure was barred,
and course was made for Honolulu. Be
fore reaching this port quarTels broke out
with his two officers and q cabin boy, got
into boat and left the crew. having first
set Are 10 the vessel Oue Of the officers
was murdered and thrown overheard BE-
fore the boat reached Honolulu, where the
party represented themselves rs survivors
of a shipping disaster.
The Lieutenant, it appears, had lady
love at Lima, the wife of q Peruvian
officer who was killed during the rsyolu-
ton, so, true TO the sailors code, he deter
mined to have her share in the treasure be
had by no means given up. He according
ly sent bis csbeR-boy as his ambassador,
bat the lady declared she Would have
nothing farther to do with "a detestable
pirate" aud forthwith gave the hoy over
TO the authorities, who imprisoned him.
The lieutenant and his sole remaining
companion were not 30 be- done out OF the
treasure they had made such efforts to OBJ.
tain. They accordingly chartered ssmall
fore-and-aft schooner commanded by one
Captain Thompson, and proceeded to the
Marianpes for the buried booty. Thomp'
son, who was evidently a pretty acute in
dividual, and had some suspicious rs to
the object OF the cruise, tried 10 f4sten the
heuts nsnt down 70 obtaining charter for
a specified port. Bat the lieutenant in
sisted on = broad charter including the
whole OF the MaTiRDnss
Oas evening when they we're in sight OF
the islands the lieutenant, who was sitting
on the lee rail chatting with the companion,
wss, it is cOnisetured, tipped overheard by
the latter and disappeared, the usual alarm
being raised, but the lieuteusnt's body WAS
never recovered.
Thomson then oysrhauled the murdered
mans effects, apd among them found 3
chart Of the island 0n which the treasure
WA hidden, but with the name omitted.
This caused him 10 be at loss, but he
shortly afterwards met with another small
vessel whose commander WAS q friend. To
him Captain Thomson proposed to search
for this treasure, dividing Il between them,
and giving o share Ito the surviving
pirate on condition that he would direct
them to tho right spot. They, however,
Threatened that II be did not do 80 they
would hand him over to the Spanish
Authorities He consented, and here follows
another of the sensational incidents IN this
rsmAIk able story.
THE PIRATES END.
At concerted moment the pirate was
seized by the tSO captains and asked II he
would indicate the situation Of the treasure.
He nodded. They asked If this wSs the
ialand, pointing to the nearest Of the group
He again nodded. They invited him TO
step into boat which had been lowered
and guide them to the treasure. he nod
ded once more, went below, filled his
pockets with lead and iron, and then,
gsing down the ladder, pushed of the boat
with one foot from the side Of the SCHOONER,
and dropped feet first into the sea. Until
within tSo years ago there was alive one
of the boats crew, who, snatehing At the
suicides hair to save him a. he sank,
plucked from his head . handful Of hair,
bat could not raise the heavily weighted
body.
The two captains were thus robbed OF
thsir hopes. The pirated treasure seemed
to possess the miraculous power Of escaping
discovery. All the original robbers had
come to grief, aud even those who would
have relieved them of their booty were
hoodwinked and disappointed. Captain
Thomson placed the lieutenants charts IN
the hands Of the Spanish authorities, but,
so far a. il known, they have made no at
tampt to recover the lost treasure.
The captain owner of the schooner
Nereid, however, believes that he holds
clues 20 the spot where the treasure lies
hidden. But he, too, hks the rest Of the
seekers after this mysterious wealth, has
been cheated Of his spoil. Probably ths
mate of the Nereid had some inkling OF
his captains purpose, aud so, the oppor-
tunity Offering, took possession ofthe little
craft and went out treasure hunting on his
own account. The Nereid has not yet
been heard Of The captain declares he
LII hnfld apCkhar achoOner and AGAIN