The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-23
AFTER SANTA ANA,s COIN.
An Expedition VIII Search for Treas
IRE Hidden by "BIncIS Jack"
From the New York Journal.


Key West.-An expedition will leave here
about the list of July TO search for some
of Santa Ana's gold. William r. Chap
man of Duluth, Mimi, win guide the par
ty, and he says that he knows the exact
spot where the treasure-consstlng OF two
barrels Of geld and one of silver coin-is
buried. The treasure has been IN its pres
ent hiding place since 1Si7.
In the spring of that year Chapman
who was at that tins boy of 3D. shipped
on the brig Dolphin as cabin boy He
met the master Of the vessel, Capt. Simms,
in Jackson, Miss. and there made ar
engagements to ship with him. chapman
thought the Dolphin was coast trader
but the vessel had not been out of port
long before he found out that instead of
being that she was in the slave trade and
that her commander was no less person
than the famous BLACK Jack" one of the
most noted slave traders on the Atlantic
The crew We're rough lot that were will
ing to do almost anything for money
They were bound to each other by an
oath. which Chapman was compelled TO
take.
Capt. Simms was a grandson of the
pirate Simms who made life burden for
small vessels about the time of Kidd Ac-
cording TO Chapman, the grandson was
tunity offered. The Dolphin sailed for the
coast of Africa for a cargo of slaves, but
finding too many warships on the look
out for slave traders, they returned to the
United States without the usual cargo of
800 or so of blacks.
Soon after they had arrived In American
waters sail was made for Vera Cruz The
vessel lay at anchor in that harbor for
three days. On the evening of the third
day three men, i'm small boat hailed the
Dolphin and came alongside. They went
into the cabin and had a conference with
Capt. Simms and the first officer of the
Dolphin Chapman heard the conversa-
ton but was unable 20 understand much
of It,, as it was carried on I'm Spanish. He
heard the name Of Santa Ana mentioned,
however, and knew enough of the lam
guage to understand that they were talk
ing about money.
When the conference was over the three
men went ashore, but soon returned with
three barrels, which were holsted on board
and put with the ballast In the hold. The
three strangers again returned to the
shore, returning in short time with two
young women, who were gagged. The
women were helped on board, but Can't
Simms ordered that the men be proven led
from following them. While the second
trip was being made preparations for
sailing were made on board the brig, and
as soon as the women had been taken
care OF the Dolphin got under way. The
three men pleaded, begged and cried to
get on board. but the vessel sailed with
out them
The Dolphin sailed for the West Indies
After the vessel was well under way the
captain and first mate went into the .old
to examine the barrels and their contents.
Chapman was taken along to hold a lamp.
When the heads of the barrels were
Knocked out they were found to contain
gold and silver coin-two of them with
gold and one with silver Some documents
which Chapman thinks were official rec
ords of some kind were also in the bar
rels. The Dolphin arrived off the coast
of the island of Barbados a few days
later and at night landing was made.
The barrels, with their precious contents,
were put into the ships long boat, taken
ashore and buried. From that day to this,
according to Chapman, the treasure has
never been disturbed.
Chapman left the vessel at Barbados,
running away In the night and keeping
under cover until he was able to ship in a
vessel bound for New York. He then quit
the sea for number of years, but finally
shipped from New York on a Whaler. He
made several changes and one day In 1875
he shipped on a vessel bound from Liv-
erpool tosthe West Indies. He intended to
leave her as soon as she touched at any
port In the Lesser Antilles and then go
In search Of the treasure. After the vessel
had been out a few days he discovered
that one of the crew was no less a per-
son than the former first mate of the
Dolphin. The mate recognized him and
told Chapman that the Dolphin had been
lost in a storm. All on board had gone
down with the vessel including the ladies,
except himself and one member of the
crew, who had died from exposure after
ward. The mate was picked up and carried
to Liverpool. While there he had been
mixed up In some business OF a suspicious
nature and at the time of shipping had
just finished a twenty years term In the
penitentiary.
Chapman and the mate went to Barba-
does, where they made an examination Of
the place where the treasure Is buried and
found IL to be intact. The mate could not
stand prosperity and went on drunken
spree and was killed In a brawl, thus leav-
ing Chapman the sole survivor of the Dol
phIn's crew and the only living person who
knew about the buried coin.
Chapman went TO the United States con-
sui and told him of the treasure and asked
his advice, but did not tell him where II
was buried. The consul Informed him that
under the British law, no one but the own
er OF the land or It's lessee was entitled 10
anything that was found on the property,
and that II he attempted to recover IL in
any other way and II was discovered Il
would be taken away from him.
Chapman tried to interest some Ameri-
cans who were on the island. but they
were sceptical. He made a few inquiries
about the price Of land in different parts
OF the island, but the story of the buried
treasure soon leaked out. and real estate
went up in price at great rate. Just
at this time a keg OF gold coin was found
on the shore of the island. where some
dredging was being done. This added to
the excitement, and Chapman says that
almost every place but the right one was
dug over. He was afraid 10 talk TO the
person who had the desired land leased.
as Il was a native. and he was afraid of
being deprived of a fair share of the
treasure The title 10 the land was held
by two sisters by the name OF King, who
lived IN Boston. Mass. He went TO Bos-
ton, but could get no trace Of them.
Since that time Chapman has organized
three expeditions. but none OF them
proved successful. The inhabitants are 30
suspicious OF strangers that none OF the
parties could accomplish anything. Their
every movement was watched. on the last
trim. however, Chapman ascertalned that
the treasure was still where II was buried
and through the United States consul, DR..
-.