The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-19
A TREASURE HUNT.


sons which I will explain, he had located
a treasure wreck to the east of the Cam
ary Islands between them and the coast
of Morocco. What papers he had is
known only to the other members of the
syndicate. He must have had pretty
plausible yarn, for they bought and out
6tted brig and sailed away on the
search. was second mate of the brig,
and all knew about the voyage was chat
the articles read. "To the Canary ISL
ands and surrounding waters and return. !"
The first mate knew no more than did,
and while the Captain, no doubt, knew
all about it, he was as mum as an oyster.
Shields went along as passenger, and
man named Harper was aboard to act as
agent for the others.
While the object of the voyage was
kept secret, we had hardly cleared Bos-
ton harbor before it was understood by
all that twas treasure hunt. We were
in ballast only, had full crew and one
man over, and the chains and cables aud
diving bell put aboard all went to prove
tGtwe were going to fish for dollars f.
ing Underwater.
It "a long voyage from Boston to the
Can.ries, but we had fairly good run of
i. Our brig was called the Swallow,
and as she was good sailer and we'll pro-
visioned, there was no growing among the
men, when, at times, she lay heaving on the
CLASSY seas without wind enough to flare
candle. The object of the voyage had
almost been forgotten when the islands
were finally sighted. 1t was not until we
ran into Simm's Bay, on the eastern side
of the group, that interest was again at
fever heat. Here we took in fresh water,
overhauled the standing rigging, secured
fresh provisions, and were almost ready
to sail away when large dhow, such as
the Arabians use in the slave trade, and
seemingly carrying a large number OF
men, arrived in the bay and anchored
within cables length of US. The West
African coast of thirty years ago was not
traversed almost daily by the steam war
ships and steamships of several nations,
and the merchantmen never felt perfectly
safe outside the Straits OF Gibraltar.
Whether this dhow was bound down the
coast after cargo of blacks or was cruis-
ing for nobler fry was an enigma. We
carried an arsenal of small arms, but moth
ing in the way of cannon. One of our
men, who was sent aloft for the purpose,
reported that he was certain the dhow
carried two pieces Of ordnance forward.
The dhow came in about ten o clock In
the morning, and as soon as her anchor
was down her boats started for the shore.
What the errand was we could not tell,
but guessed they were after fruits. After
dinner her Captain was pulled aboard of
us. He was an Algerine, with as wicked
face on him as any pirate ever carried,
and though he tried to render his visit
very pleasant he left nothing but distrust
and suspicion behind. One and all be-
lieved that he came as aspy. He asked,
as natural, our port of hail, whittier
bound, our cargo, and so on, and it was
thought best to tell him that we had been
sent out by the American Government to
q
wrecked some time before about three
hundred miles below the coast. We had
put in for water and repairs, and would
soon resume our voyage. This story
seemed to satisfy him, and, after a lunch
in the cabin, he took his departure.
That afternoon he dropped out of the
bay with the tide, and we expected We
had seen the last of him. We were all
glad enough to see him 60, for no man
aboard doubted that he was up to mis-
chief.
The next morning we were ready to
sail, and now I learned more of the OBJ
ject of the voyage than ever before.
Shields had British chart of the waters,
and midway between the northeastern
island and the mouth of the Draha River
hehad made pencil mark. Whether this
stood for shoal or a wreck did not
learn.
At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, having
held course to the northeast since we
left the bay, we took soundings, and
found bottom at FIVE fathoms. This went
to show that Shields had marked shoai.
I heard the Captain and mate talking
about coming to anchor, but no orders
had yet been given whea the dhow came
stealing down upon us from the east,
coming out of the blur which hung over
the water as one might suddenly appear
from behind curtain. She wasn't over
two miles away when first sighted, and
after hurried consultation the brig
head was permitted to fall off and we
headed to the north with light wind
.abeam. The dhow altered her course to
intercept us, at the same time signaling
that she wanted to speak US. Her appear
ance created surprise and CONSERVATION,
and when it was seen that she meant to
lay us aboard a consultation was held In
the cabin as to what should be done. A
decision was reached very quickly. She
could sail two feet to our one, and it was
plain that she could board us whether we
consented or not. There was some talk
of getting up the arms, but this was only
among the men forward. The head of
the brig was brought forward to the wind,
and As darkness came stealing down over
the sea tbe dhow came gliding toward us
like serpent approaching its prey.
From the first appearance of the dhow
I had no doubt that she meant us evil. l
was ready to do my full share toward
beating her off, but when I was told that
there would be no resistance, and when
she was within pistol-shot of us, / en-
tered the forecastle and from thence by