The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-10-15

uncertain way OF the nndlng OF sl,VVV,
600 in Spanish gold and silver on the
island of Cocos, near Veraguas. There
has always been much mystery abou
the treasure which was supposed te
be hidden on this island. A pirate
who was vaguely known as Captain
Martin roamed the sea early in the
present century. One OF his cruise:
Law along the coast of Peru. Aftel
dropping anchor at many of the prin-
cipal ports along the shore his crew ol
freebooters boldly invaded the
churches of the town and took with
them ecclesiastical treasure of great
value. Houses were robbed and
burned, stores were pillaged, and the
| rich men who fell into the hands OF
the pirates were forced 10 purchase
their freedom at an exorbitant price.
This booty, it has been popularity
supposed, was hidden somewhere
about the rugged shores of Cocos isl
and and near Wafle bay. Close to the
beach is an immense arch, formed by
two cliffs, whose SUBMITS meet in one
| peak. Somewhere along the surface
| of this arch, on the west side and
along the base OF the rocky cliffs, it
was believed there existed pivotal
| rock, which, when released, would re-
veal an opening TO the vault of the
long concealed treasure of the Incas
! and Peruvians. The nearest point on
the Central American coast TO Cocos
Z q ro tao
about 800 miles away. The distance
from Panama is fully $50 miles.
Early in June, 1898, Captain Gels
ler, of Stockton, accompanied by ten
New York capitalists, chartered the
steamer Acapulco for an exploration
of the island, the captain being salts
fed that he could find the treasure
hidden by the pirates. 1t was on the
afternoon of the 10th of that month
that the vessel came TO anchor il
Waffle bay, on the north side of the
island. Upon the shore of bend in
the bay the treasure-seekers saw a
small building, and straining their
eyes they beheld smoke tumbling
from the chimney. Boats were low
cred and preparations made to land.
AS the voyagers neared the beach two
men ran from the door of the cabin
to the beach. With all the ardent
energy of his nature Captain Geisler
hurriedly took the party to the spot
where he believed the treasure to be
hidden. They could not find the piv-
otal rock, however, and for days and
days they lived with the two men
whom they found upon the island.
Baffied in their efforts to find the
gold and silver, Captain Geisler
gloomily and reluctantly weighed an
chor and returned 10 San Francisco.
Seekers for treasure on the Isle of
Cocos were known before the Acapul-
CO dropped anchor in its bay. Early
in 1892 the schooner Eliza Edwards
was fitted out for a mysterious voy-
age. She sailed away from the har-
Dor of San Diego with eleven men on
board. Among them was Ex-Mayor
Barber, of Santa Barbara. The voy-
ayers were provided with an immense
stock OF provisions and carried with
them z formidable assortment of
nation OF the schooner wss Cocos Isl
and. The vessel was three weeks on
its way, and during all that time, al
though frequently hugging the shore
closely, not house or living creature
was seen on land.
EX-Mayor Barber and his men found
no treasure on the island, although
they remained there until their pro-
visions were nearly exhausted.
Still another strange and wierd
story about the stowaway wealth OF
Cocos Island was told in 1894 by
Charles Henderson of Weuseon, O.,
who claimed that while boy he ran
away to sea, serving as an apprentice
under Captain Summers on vessel
plying between New York and Liver
pool. Before the late war, and while
yet lad, Henderson claimed that he
was on board q privateer aud Shaving
vessel called the Lark. He was after
ward appointed sub-offieer OF the ship.
The Lark mace many trips between
Africa and the East seas and was al
ways successful. The captain became
rich, but no one knew what became of
his money. The Lark continued to
make trips after slaves and one day,
while Dear the coast of South Amer
lea, a United States man-ofwar at
tackled the Lark. The SLAYER was or
dered headed for a rendezvous known
only to Henderson and the captain.
In their haste to escape the war ship
they ran the Lark upon a rock and
she rapidly sank, scarcely giving the
eight men time to escape.
The captain told Henderson that he
had s72, ,0Oe in gold on board the ship,
and that If he would help him secrete
it from the crew he would share it
with him. All on board the vessel
escaped in boats, the captain and
Henderson>eecretlyt taking the treas
ure with them. According to this !
foggy yarn of Henderson they made |
for an island and there in cave hid |
the gold. While on the island, so the |
story runs, the csptsin and three Of
the men died OF smallpox and two !
were drowned by the capsizing Of a
small boat while returning to the ves-
sci. Henderson, so he says, was pick |
ed up by passing vessel and taken to |
New Orleans. He afterward tried to |
get some vessel owner to help him |
recover the treasure, but without sue
GEES. Henderson afterward fitted out |
q ship to 60 to this mysterious island |
supposed to be the Cocos), but it is |
not known that he found more than |
an island upon which gulls roost and |