Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-03-18
A BOX OF DIAMONDS.


In the year 1867 | found myself at
Rio Janeiro, Brazil, just out of hos
pital, not dollar in my pocket, and
ready to ask the American Consul to
send me TO the United States in the
name of charity. had been out with
an American whaler, and had been
left there so broken in health that no
one supposed that | could live two
weeks. AS the ship had taken no oil
there was nothing coming to me. lu-
deed, was in debt to hor, and but for
the few dollars raised among the men
/ should haye been q pauper on land
ing.
One afternoon, while was on my
way TO tho Consulate TO see what help
could obtain, encountered all Eng
lishman, whom I at once identified as
a sailor-captain or mate lie stopped
and inquired my name. nativity
and occupation and when ] had given
him the information he slapped me on
the back and eXclaimed:
"It's bit of luck that l met you'll
I've got place for you, and We'll
drop in somewhere and have talk. "
lie was a biunt-spollen man, but
cautious one. lie did not unfold his
plans until he had pumped me pretty
dry and apparently satisfied himself
that l was mau he wanted. Even
then | only got n part of the story,
and am still in the dark as to many
particulars. TIE Strangers name was
Captain Roberts, and he had given
up the command OF an English brig
on purpose TO enter upon hunt for
treasure. Two years before, as he
informed me, coastiDg schooner,
which was carving half a million
dollars worth Of diamonds. besides a
large sum in rough gold, between Rio
and Montcyideo, had been wrecked
about seventy miles below Porto A!c-
gre. Why this treasure htd been in
trusted to sailing vessel and whoth-
er it belonged 10 church or state or
some individual | never learned. The
captain had nothing to say about that,
and bound myself to secrecy regard
ing the whoio affair
How Captain Roberts had located
the wreck was Il matter did not ask
about, but did hear it said that all
tho crew were lost. was a sailor and
diver and he offered to stand all the
expense Of the search and give me
$40, 900 in gold if we recovered the
diamonds only. If we got the gold as
well | was to have larger share. lie
.aa s.....a,a..s.s. ....,... >as.ag schooner for
three months, and was then getting
.
aboard whatever lie thought would be
needed. | signed with him that after
noon as mate, and three days after
we had picked up all our crew. For
tunately for US ship came in with
twelve seaman rescued from burn
ing bark at sea, and we took eight of
them and cook. This gave us eleven
hands all told on the little craft, but
wrecking is thing demanding plenty
OF muscle at the cranks, windlasses
and tail ropes. The crew proper were
not let into the secret, Lut signed for
a voyage TO Bncnos Ayres and return.
There was Rio banker behind the
expcdition,as | accidentlly discovered,
but he did not como near the schooner,
and Captain Roberts visited him only
by night. We were so well provis-
ioned and provided that it must have
taken snug snm Of money to fit Us
ont. This the banker no doubt ad-
vanced and took his chances. At The
Custom House we cleared for the La
Plata in ballast but some of that bal
last had been taken aboard under
cover of darkness. We had divers
outfit, Gmbcrs, pimls, sparc casks.
extra ropes and chains, and about tho
last package received contained
dozen mnskcts and lot of fixed am
munition. We slipped out quietly one
night with ;hc tide, and before day
light came We were far away.
Captain Roberts had pretty
fair chart of the neighborhood
of tho wreck, and after
speedy run down the coast we
reached it one afternoon about
o'clock. When We amc 10 work in.
shore we got sight of the mountain
peaks laid down on tile chart, and in
a couple Of hours were satisfied that
the wreck was within mile of MS
north or south. Just there was a reef
about four iailes of shore and extend.
ing up and down the coast for thirty
miles pehlnl this reef in many
places was deep water up to tho shore
line Il being summer weather. with
the wind, light but 'iolding steady,
we anehore Of the reef, and then tho
mea were told taAt we had come to