The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-02-20
A TREASURE HUNT.


treasure wreck tn the cast of the Can
ary Islands between them and the coast
Of Morocco. What papers he had is
known only to the other members OF the
syndicate. lie must have had pretty
plausible yarn, for they bought and out
fitted brig and sailed away on the
search, | was second mate Of the brig,
and all knew about the voyage was that
the articles read: "To the Canary Isl.
ands and surrounding waters and return. -
The first uatc knew no more than did,
and while the Captain, no doubt, knew
all about it, ne WAS rs mum rs an oyster.
Shields wcHt along rs passenger, aud
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 tina. it was q treasure hunt. We were
in ballast only had full crew and one
man over, and the chains and cables aud
diving bell put aboard nll went 10 prove
that we were going 10 fish for dollars ~
iug under water.
II IS long voyage from Boston to the
CanaricS. but We had fairly good run Of
it. our brig was called the swallow.
and ~ she was a good sailcr aud well pro
yisioncd, there was no growing among the
men, VIXEN, at times she lay hcaviug on the
CLASSY sea, without wind enough to fare
a candle. The object Of the voyage had
almost been forgotten when the islands
were finally sighted. Il was not until we
ran into Simm, Bay, on the eastern side
Of the group, that interest was again at
fever hca,. Here we took in fresh water,
oycrhauled the standing rigging, secured
fresh provisions, and were almost ready
to sail away when a large dhow, such as
the ArlblanS use in the slave trade, and
seemingly carrying large number Of
men, arrived in the bay and anchored
within u cables length of us. The West
African coast of thirty years ago was not
tnverscd almost daily by the steam war
ships and steamships of several nations,
and the merchantman never felt perfectly
safe outside the Straits of Gibraltar
Whether this dhow was bound down the
coast after a cargo of blacks or was cruis-
ing for nohlcr 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 aloit for the purpose
reported that ne was certain the dhow
carried two pieces of ordnance forward.
The Ghow came in about ten o'clock in
the morning, aud rs soon rs her anchor
was down her boats started for the shore.
What the crrnud was we could not tell,
but guessed they were after fruits. After
dinner hcg Captain was pulled aboard of
us. He was AN Algcriuc, with rs wicked
face on him as any pirate ever carried,
aud though he tried Ia render his visit
very pleasant he left nothing but distrust
aud suspicion behind. One and all be-
licvcd tina, he came ~ II spy. He asked.
rs natural, our port OF hail, whittier
bound, our cargo, aud so on, and it was
thought bcSi to tell him that we had been
sent out 10y the American Government to
rescue crew of American sailors ship
wrecked some time before about three
hundred miles below the coast We had
put in for water aud repairs and would
soon resume our voyage. This story
seemed to satisfy him, aud, after u 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 go, Tor no man
aboard doubted that hc was up to mis-
chief
The next morning we were ready to
sail and now learned more of the oh
jcct of the voyage than ever before.
Shields had British chart of the waters,
and midway between the northeastern
island aud the mouth Of the Draha River
had madca pencil mark. Whether this
stood for u shoal or a wreck | did not
learn.
At 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 a shoa,.
heard the Captain aud mate talking
about coming to anchor, hut no orders
had yet been given when the dhow came
stealing down upon us from the east,
coming out Of the blur which hung over
the water rs one might suddenly appear
from Dcnlnu Il curtain. Shc WASH 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 a 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 rs 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 rs darkness came stealing down over
the sea the dhow came gliding toward us
like n serpent approaching its prey.
| From the first appearance of the dhow