The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-03-03
a WONDERFUL LAND.
Treasure Huntsrs Tell OF an Island With
Hot House Climate

Treasure Hunters Tell OF an Island With a
Hot House Climate.
SAN Francisco, Cal, Feb. EFT
has just leaked out TINT the largest and
best equipped expedition to search for
the alleged pirates treasure on Cococos
island sailed in the summer of 1892,
and that this treasure hunting trip
was the real purpose of the fitting up
Of the schooner Ellis Edwards, which
was seized by the government at Santa
Barbara and held for several weeks UNI
der suspicion that she was engaged in
smuggling Chinese and opium FROM
British Columbia. Beyond the fact
that the Edwards sailed and that her
owners returned after six months with
out their vessel nothing has ever been
learned of her cruise. Now the
story is told by Captain
Van Bremen, the organizer OF the
party. He lives at Santa barbara, but
Formerly lived ut Vancouver. His two
| partners were DIR. Winchester and OK
Mayor Barber of Santa Barbara, both
men of large means They bought the
tchooner and fitted her out ut Van.
,ouver, but they did not want to clear
ut any port lest their secret destination
be discovered. So the vessel cruised
ap and down the coast and finally
dropped in at Santa Barbara to take on
ments had excited suspicion and She
a seized by revenue officers. Tho
government spent several thousand
dollars In vain attempts to get evidence
against the owners, while the latter
,ost the wages of eleven men who were
IDLE on board. Finally the vessel vas
released and departed.
A straight course was laid for Coco
los island, which is 800 miles from
Costa RIGA and 800 from Panama. The
party went to work at once Mt Wray-
lord bay, where Danpier and other
pirates had camped and are alleged to
have buried their plumber. They had
maps and sunk deep shafts and hori-
sontal tunnels, but never struck gold
turing four months work. They found
ihe island very healthful and vegeta-
zion wonderfully luxuriant. They
picked string beans nineteen days
.fter planting and mustard greens SIN
10 eight inches high on the ninth day
lftcr planting the seed. Captain
Van Bremen thinks plants on the vol
.anlc soil of Cococos island make a more
,rodigious growth than in any other
place in the known world, for the at
nosphere is like that OF n dollhouse.
with showers every day. When provis-
ons ran low the party sailed for Pan
una, where the schooner was sold.
Van Bremen thinks the United States
would do well to secure Cococos island
,or a coaling station, as it has Il fine
ieep harbor, plenty of fresh water and
8 on the direct line of vessels
,ounding Cape Horn. The
sland belongs TO Costa Rica,
put could be bought cheaply. Van
Bremer is now organizing another eS-
petition to the island, which will sail
in June. He intends to take hydraulic
mining apparatus and wash the whole
canyon to bed rock. II no treasure is
washed into the sluices then it will be
proved that Dalnpier and other pirates
lied about their hoard. Water can be
secured from q lake 500 feet above sea
tevel. Van Bremen will take with hun
an Englishman who has a treasure
finding apparatus. 1t consists of some
chemicals hat become agitated when
brought near gold.