Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-04-22
FINDING THE TREASURE.


/ was about twenty or twenty-Ont
years of age and had made one voyage
in the Golden Gem out and home tt
the West Indies and Honduras The
Golden Gem was schooner-rigged anC
was little thing of about $50 tons
burden. She was owned by the cap
tain, Welshman named Thomas
Thomas, and had made many voyages
in the West Indian trade.
On our second voyage we took out
a general cargo from London to San.
ton, on the South American coast;
we had fair average passage out,
and it was the captains intention,
after he had discharged our cargo
there, to run up to Honduras and
load up a cargo Of mahogany 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 IJaneiro and there
loaded a lot of war material-guns,
cannon, gunpowder and other stuff
for Valparaiso, for the Government
of Chill.
This was longish voyage for the
little Gem, but the ChiliGovernment
were anxious to get their ammunition
round quickly, and offered such a
tempting freight that our captain
could hot resist the chance of making
big haul.
All went we'll, and in due course we
arrived at our destination and dis
charged our cargo successfully. We
learnt at Valparaiso that trouble was
brewing between Chilli and Peru and
thai hostilities might break out at
any time. This, of course, accounted
for the anxiety displayed for the
war material we had brought round.
Capt Thomas had intended going
to Callao, in Peru, for cargo of
guano for some port on our way home,
but with such close prospect of war
between the two countries he con-
cluded to give the idea up
We had been discharged some few
days and our captain was on the point
of sailing in ballast when a messen-
ger from his agents came down to the
schooner and asked him to 60 up to
the office.
Night passed and we saw nothing
of our skipper till late next day, when
he came On board with a stranger.
Of course we were all agog to know
what was going on. Every man of us
felt keen personal interest in the
little craft, and when the mate was
sent for to join the captain and the
stranger we guessed something
special was on.
After while the mate came for
ward, and we all clustered around
him TO hear the news.
"Have any Of YOU any experience
of dIving?" said he. II mean," he
'goIng down below in
divers dress"
Eyes, SIR" answered two of the
men-Bob Green and Tom Swift.
They had been employed in some
harbar works in England and knew
all about the business.
''That's first rate" replied the
mate. THE captain is thinking of
going on a little expedition where
you will be Of service, and if the job !
turns out success there will be a
nice little bonus all round for u.s."
1t appeared that the stranger had !
chartered the schooner to sail for |
Ambrose Island, which was a little
hit of an island about 600 miles north
west CT Valparaiso.
The stranger was a Spanish |
grandee named Don Carlo de Asti-
CARA, and from what had transpired |
in the cabin it seemed that Spanish |
merchantmen had, many years be-
fore, 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 |
IN 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 |
vas weighed and we stood out to sea.
The run up was soon accomplished |
and by noon Of the third day we were
ut anchor of the western side of the |
island. After making all snug aloft |
we got a boat cut and Don Astigara,
the captain, Harris, the diver whom |
we had shipped at Valparaiso, and
four men, of whom / was one, started |
Of for the shore.
The island was surrounded by a |
belt of coral reefs, which in ordinary
line weather did not make their !
whereabouts visible, as they lay quiet
and treacherous,under about a fathom
or so Of water.
But when the sea ran at all high,
and the long rolling swell of the Pa
ciflc Ocean broke from It's gentle
mood. then the vicious, wicked look
ing snags showed their ugly teeth.
When we got ashore we pulled the
boat up and then. under the captains
Instructions we separated and spread