Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-23
FINDING THE TREASURE.

ace and had made one voyage in the
Golden Gem out and home TO the West
Indies and Honduras. The Golden
Gem was schooner-rigged and was 4
little thing of about 250 tons burden.
She was owned by the captain. Welsh
man named Thomas Thomas. and had
made many voyages in the West In
dian trade.
On our second voyage we took out
!! general cargo from London to Santos.
on the South American coast; we had
a fair average passage out. and it was
the captains intention after he had dis
charged our cargo there, to run up to
Honduras and load up cargo of ma
hogany for home, as usual.
However. when we were diScharg
ing at Santos he changed his mind,
and. instead of going for mahogany,
we sailed TO Rio Janeiro and there
loaded lot of war material-guns,
cannon, gunpowder and other stuff
for Valparaiso, for the government of
Chilli.
This was longish voyage for the
little Gem. but the Chill government
were anxious to get their ammunition
round quickly, and offered such
tempting freight that our captain could
not resist the chance of making big
haul.
All went well. and in due course we
arrived at our destination and dis
charged our cargo successfully. We
learnt at Nalparaiso that trouble was
brewing between Chill and Peru and
that hostilities might break ont at any
time. This, of course. accounted for
the anxiety displayed fer the war MT
! terial we had brought round.
Captain Thomas had intended going
to Callao, in Peru, for 4 cargo OF guauO
for some port on our way home. but
with such 4 close prospect of war be-
| tween the two countries he concluded
to give the idea mp
We had been discharged some few
days and our captain was on the point
of sailing in ballast when messenger
| from his agents came down 10 the
schooner and asked him 10 go up to the
Office.
Nirht passed and we saw nothing of
our skipper till next day. when he
came on board with n stranger.
Of course we were all a1or to know
what was going on. Every man of us
| felt 4 keen personal interest in the lit
tie craft. and when the mate was sent
| for to join the captain and the stranger
We guessed something special WAS on.
After awhile The mate cam" forn ard.
! aud we all clustered round him to hear
| the news.
Have any o! you any experience in
| divinE?" said he. Il mean" he con-
;inued, going down below in divers
| dress"
Yes. sir" answered Two Il taa men
| Bob Green and Tom Swift. They
had been employed in some harbo,
works in England and knew all about
The business.
That's first rate" replied the mate.
"The captain is thinking of going 5u 4
| little expedition where Won vii! be %
| service. and if the job turns ont :; sue
cess there will be nice little bonus
all round for US"
1t appeared that the stranger had
| chartered the schooner TO sail for Am
| brose Island. which was 4 little bit O..
an island about 600 miles northwest Of
Valparaiso
The stranger was a Spanish granlee
named Don Carlo de ASti~ara, and
| from what had trauspired in the cabin
| it seemed that Spanish merchantman
| had. many years before. been wrecked
| on the island and become total loss
and none of her crew had ever been
| heard Of
Two suits of diving dress were sent
on board, with the accompanying
pumps and other arrangements. and
| another experienced diver was en-
| gagged to superintend matters.
| After we had got our supplies Of
fresh provisions on board the anchor
was weighed and we stood ont 10 sea.
The rEn was soon accomplished and
bv noon of the third day we were
| at anchor off the western side of the
island After making all snug aioft
1 49, s,T-,
| the captain. Harris. the diver whom
we had shipped ut Valparaiso aud four
| men. of whom i was one, started Of
| for the shore
| The island was surrounded by belt
| of coral reefs. which in ordinary fine
| weather did not make their where
abouts visible. as they lay quiet and
treacherous under about fataom OF
| SO of water.
But when the sea ran ut MI higil-
aud the long rolling swell "i the Ia,
cific Ocean broke from IL Gentle mood,
then the vicious. wicked-,ooklng SHags
showed their ugly teeth.
When we got ashore we pulled the
boat up, and then, under the captain :
instructions. we separated and spread
any remains or signs of the lost Span
lard.
After a short time we heard hail
from the northern end of the island.
and hurrying uY we fpun1 the captain
and others grouped around mass u
black and rottiug limbrvs. which we
Immediately recogrize4 as the de bcis
of wrecked vessel. This was evident
proof that at some time or another 2
vessel of considerable size had been
cast up at this spot.