San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-05

.s--ore. al orueT 10 appear All rTgs5 =
case we were boarded by any Spanish YES
sci in those waters we laid in some cargo
here, and took our time about sailing to
the river.
After we had passed the Babuyan Islands
and laid u course to the south we caught
sight one day at noon of a feipcca APP
preaching Us from the east, having round
ed the cape. She few the Spanish flag, and
Semyo said that she belonged to the coast
service. She had the right to board US and
examine Il papers, and while we had no
Gear of her on our own ]accountit was prob
able that Semyo would be recognized the
mOmen they set eye on him. We had u
plans laid before she fired a gun as a sig
nal TO Is to heave to. SemyO was hidden
in the forepeak, and we burned sulphur in
the forecastle behind him. BY leaving the
scuttle open the fumes were drawn away
from the fugitive, and could be scented all
over the brig. We hove to at the order of
the ~felucca, and were presently boarded by
a Spanish lieutenant. He was a very
pompous chap, and it was probably his in
tention to do great deal of bossing around,
but as he came over the rail a current Of
air carried him the smell of sulphur, and
he exclaimed:
Good Lord, but is your brig on fire in
the forecastle."
1t was explained to him that we had lost
a man of some malignant but unknown
disease and were fumigating the brig.
Two or three of us We're feeling badly, but
hoped to escape the disease by steaming in
the vapor. We were a trader and offered
to open the matches and show our papers,
but he was in a hurry. He didn't even
notice our ~carrOnade, but backed to the
rail n descended to his boat, saying:
"Oh, you are doubtless all right, and l
hope you will lose no more men. AS for
me, the service does not demand that run
the risks of epidemic"
Two days later we came to anotheri in the
river opposite aspot pointed out by Semyo.
The bank of the stream was rough and
broken, but thickIt wooded. Forty rods
inland was a highway running parallel
with the stream, but this was hidden from
us. On the far side of the highway was the
ruin of an old church, and in this ruin was
the treasure cache. AS many boats were
passing up and down it was prudent that
we resort to deception to prevent suspicion.
We got down a topgallantmast, Stacked
dN SOIllC VI lHG IlS-AIS, SOI a SOttSC ONCE
the side for the carpenter and appeared to
be lying there for the sole purpose of
making repairs. We were soon boarded
by natives anxious to furnish cargo, and
on the second day a government CunbOat
passed us without seeming to take any in
terest in our case. Semyo had to lie con-
cealed in the hold during daylight, as men
were coming aboard who knew him well,
and it was about midnight On the second
night after u arrival that we pulled
ashore for the treaSure-that is, two men
pulled Semyo off to the bank to see if it
was all right, and it did not take him
many minutes to make a disagreeable dis
covery. \ party of wOOdcutters had EN-
camped close to the ruin, with every indi-
cation Of a long stay. SemyO was positive
that he could not get at the cache without
being discovered, as the party had two or
three dogs in camp and he was sharply
challenged as he secuted around.
Next day, after some conspiring on our
part, the captain and went ashore to the
camp to make a bold move There was a
gang of thirty natives under a Spanish
boss cutting ebony, and they had a large
lot all ready for shipment. This gang had
been sent from the province Of Zebu, where
the owner of the tract resided, and an agent
was daily expected to sell the output. The
boss we found to be an ignorant, good ma
tured fellow, who could neither'read nor
write. While | claimed to be the real owner
of the land on which they were at work the
captain offered to buy some of the logs on
the sly. Between us we got him to remove
his camp a mile away and to accept about
$50 for logs. We not only accomplished
this during the day, but showed our friend
ship and good will by sending a keg Of
whisky to the camp, and by night the boss
and his gang were as drunk as lords. AS
soon as it was dark four of us pulled ashore
with Semyo, and he led us a straight trail
to the treasure. II was buried in two
earthen jars against a bit of wall, and one
of the camp fires of the gang had been
built within ten feet of the spot. We had
the jars out and on board the brig in
half an hour, and an investigation proved
that SemyO had rather figured under the
actual amount. We had neither seen nor
heard anything to alarm us, but it APP
peared that we had been observed pulling
back to the brig by a native boat, and that
its occupants were meddlesOme enough to
board a government feluCca lying six miles
above and report Our action as suspicious.
About 3 o'clock in the morning the fe-
lucca dropped down with the tide, came to
anchor about two cable lengths away and
sent a boat to board us on the quiet. They
were foiled in this by the anchor watch,
who stood them off until the brig was
aroused. The jars were placed in the cooks
galley. SemyO s]ecreted himself in the
hold, and her the occupants of the boat
were invited to come aboard. The officer
in charge was a lieutenant, and he was in