The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-20
threats and restrictions of the various Eu.

tAti ~ IA Nv lSu
ropean powers.
During the period extending FROM 1871 I,
1853 the buccaneers reached their creates
union and power. No water from Californi,
10 Chill on the Pacific side of the New
World, or from Labrador to Capc Horn on
the Atlantic side was entirely safe from
their depredations. Thor maritime power
increased with their prosperity, and they
became as daring in their exploits on ths
high seas as any brave and disciplined navy
Of n recognized government. About 800 OF
them crossed the lsthmus and took posses.
sion of n small fleet of Spanish ships that
had crossed the Pacific. Under Sawkins,
Sharp. and Waiting they wandered north
and south, ravaeing the islands and coast
of Peru. Silver and gold were wrested
from the defenceless inhabitants and car
ried to sea by the m~arauders. They We're
united in one body under Davis and Eaton.
and they made such vigorous onslaughts on
the commerce around Panama that few
ships could ever expect to reach the port
they were destined for.
In 1855, however. the disintegrating per-
iod began. The French and English bucca-
neers separated n pursued their robberies
i'll different directions and Independently
of each other. A series of mishaps followed,
and during this last epoch in the history of
tie pirates their power declined and faded
away almost as rapidly as 1t had come into
existence.
The real fall and decline of the bucca-
ncers were not due 50 much to the agrees
sive policy of tho European powers as to
inward dissentions and disintegration. The
very nature of the strange brotherhood
marked it from the first to speedy decline.
for there were no general ruling principles
to bind them together and to hold them
into the indissoluble ties of the settled
community. Very few instances are on
record where the buccaneers preyed upon
each other; but even this moral code could
not hold n nnicn fnuafharN yvhpce fnrpaQ
were spent and dissipated by consta mt
diving. The whole policy Of the buccaneers
was that of destruction, and nothing of
permanence was aimed at during their long |
career. such n suicidal principle rooted
out ell ideas of prudence, ard a hand-to-
marked their existence. Wealth was plum
dered from ships and cities and property
destroyed recklessly, but very few of the
buccaneers ever became rich. Their sud
denly acquired gains were quickly wasted.
or soon accumulated into the hands OF the
few prudent or far-seelng ones.
III the sack of Panama. Campeachy, Leon
and Realejo, the buccaneers secured treas
ures of almost unlimited value, and it takes
a long stretch of the imagination to believe
that they were all wasted in extravagant
living and gambling. The reckless ones,
to some safe port where an unlimited
amount of rum would soon make them for
get the hardships of their sea fights; but the
more e~nterprlsing ones would search
out some lone islet i'll mid
ocean, and bury their ill-gotten stores.
Deep sunk i'll many a desert shore, in
an ocean island. there must be mill
.ons OF good and lawful gold and money,
which the buccaneers of other days hid
from the eyes Of all the world before rotting
n chains at harbor mouths. Imperfect de-
OF the place and undecipherable
lieroGlyphics were the only wills these gem
CT fortune left behind them. but
hey have been the occasion of az much
and unsatistied ambition as
he more perfectly drawn wills of million
ares of more modern date and Intelligence.
The charts have seldom proved quite cor
or they were incorrectly interpreted,
the exact spot OF the hidden treasure
never be accurately located.
Treasure hunting, though enterprising
III, and the millions of doubloons, silver
gold plates, jewels ANA precious stones
enain hidden from the eyes of man, vast
ng their wealth of light and sparkling
'eautf on the darkness of their unknown
'urlal places. The wealth of Peru and
1exlco awaits the successful treasure hun
er who can solve the mystery of the ages 7.
nd locate accurately the hidden treasures
+ Il Morgan or Kidd. Wild romantic tales
f ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS charts that the
reat bnccaneer chiefs left behind them will
solve the problem, for these are only
he Inventions of some unbalanced mind.
he key to the buried fortunes was long :
lnce lost. and nothing but chance Will ever
aveal TO tie astonished eyes of man the
wealth of the buccaneers.