The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-29
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PIRATE HOARDS,
Enormous Wealth Concealed on Pacific
Island.

The yacht Hayseed, under the com
mand Of Capt. August Gisler, recently
sailed from Stockton, bound for Cocos
island, four hundred miles southwest Of
Panama. The object of Capt. Gisler's
visit to the distant isle is to endeavor TO
discover the spot where gold and silver
coins, plate and jewelry to the alleged
value of sixty million dollars were
buried by pirates nearly seventy years
ago.
Capt. Gisler, says the San Francisco
Chronicle, expects to reach his destina-
tion after thirty-two days sailing The
length Of his stay at the island will de-
pend upon the work undertaken. The
island will first be surveyed under the
direction Of Capt. Gisler, who owns con-
siderable property on the place. The
buried treasure will be hunted for on a
secret plan in the captains possession.
Capt. Gisler spent four years on the
island, and during that time made a
vigorous search for the gold. He is con-
fident of success, and is determined to
keep up his search. This will be his
fourth trip to the island. He left there
in May. 1890. On that visit he and three
companies subsisted for five months on
wild hogs, fish and sea birds while
awaiting the vessel sent to Valparaiso
for supplies.
The captain made contract with the
Costa Rica government to populate the
barren island within five years, and he
proposes to do this worls in connection
with the search for the hidden wealth.
A month ago he went to Stockton to
meet A. 0. Viertong, who claims to
have "gold indicator" by which the
presence of the buried gold can be dis
covered. Capt Gisler looked upon the
indicator" favorably, and made an
agreement under which viertong will
accompany him to Cocos island.
Capt. Gisler will have with him
Joseph Refine, blacksmith; John
Hamlin, an English man, and an old
sailor, who will be the mate of the
Hayseed; August Weiste, the cook, and
Andrew johnson, an able seaman. These
men, with the exception of Refine, have
accompanied Capt. Gisler TO Cocos
island on several previous trips, and
they know what to expect on such an
expedition. They believe they will be
successful, and are willing to make the
trip without a dollar of wages and
take chances on unearthing the gold.
The cook, Weiste, is SO certain of sue
cess that he came roundabout way
from Germany to join the treasure
seekers. He learned that Gisler was
organizing company, and TO reach |
California he sailed TO Australia, and |
from there worked his passage to Cali
fornia. When he arrived in this port |
he was told by the German consul that |
Gisler was in Stockton, and he found |
the captain there at work on the Hay
seed. Two men who could not be ac-
on the yacht will 90 by |
the Pacific mail steamer to Costa Rica,
where the Hayseed will stop and pick
them up.
Gisler will carry about fifteen tons of
supplies. He purchased in Stockton
about two thousand pounds of flour.
dried fruit and canned meats and other
articles A lot of supplies will be
shipped by steamer to Costa Rica to be
sent for as required. The cost of fitting
put the Hayseed and supplying Capt
Gisler with small fund to deposit in
Costa Rica was two thousand dollars.
The expense was divided among more
than twenty men, and consequently
the speculation will not distress any
member of the company. When Capt.
-iisler left Stockton he was in a happy
mood and seemed almost certain Of
inding the treasure. He gives his
lime the same as the rest Of his party,
Ind cannot make dollar unless sue
,essful.
The story Of the buried treasure has
been told many times and in many
ongues. The treasure was buried by
pirates who operated In the brig Relam-
,ago in 1922. Cocos island was selected
IS the treasure repository after the pi-
ate ship had been driven in the Pacific.
The island is about four miles across
md contains sixteen thousand acres of
oclSy and rolling land, well watered.
The pirates, after capturing q number
4 Spanish galleons, buried church
late, jewels and coin in two places. On
he northeast end of the island the pirate
rev buried one hundred and seventy
I've tons Of silver dollars. At another
pot gold-hilted and jeweled swords
vere deposited In third excavation
hey deposited fifteen million dollars
vorth of gold bricks. The captain him.
elf buried large number of cmeralds,
iamonds. rubies and pearls. The
'holc treasure, placed in various vaults
4 TIE sandstone and hidden in the sand.
estimated, according to the story OF
wo of the briggs piratical crew, as
mounting in value TO more than sixty
lillion dollars. The pirates were
He'd off before they could return 20
ocos island. and the story OF their
uried riches came from two English.
len who were the only men left to tell
the hiding place of many millions of
jolen gold. Their stories came out "a
eathbed confessions