The San Francisco call., 1897-11-04
QUEST OF COC0S
ISLANDS CACHE
British Warship Back
After a FruitIess
Search.
One Hundred Men Spend Two
Days in Digging for
Treasure.
Force Left on Guard to Await the
Coming Of the Cruiser
Amphion.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL.

VICTORIA, Now 3.-H. NJ s. Impe-
rieuse has returned from South America
after an unsuccessful search for $50 900, 900
in gold, silver and precious stones whl ch
Charles Hartford claimed to have located
on Cocos Island Lieutenant Lee and 100
men spent Two days digging for treasure
under the direction of Hartford. AS fast
as they dug hole the water ran in and
filled it. Several of tn Sc engaged in the
search say that the slate covering the
hiding place of the treasure was discoy-
cred.
The weather being very bad and the an
chorage en- .irely unsuitable for such
large vessel as the I'm Derieuse, Admiral
Palliser decided to abandon the search.
On the way down, while nearing San Jose
de Guatemala, one of the Imperieuse's
crew was washed overheard and drowned.
Although returning without the treas
ure of Cocos Island the trip of the I'm
perieuse was not made without consider
able promise that the secret of the treasure
trove OF thePaciic has at last beenwrested
from the sand banks of the desert island
This view of the case is borne out by the
fact that an armed party of fifty blue
jackets under a commanding officer was
sent a. Shore when the warship sailed north
10 hold the island against all comers
Not only this but Fl. NJ. S. Amphion is
now under orders 10 sail south imme-
diaIely. Her visit to the island will, ac-
cording to the officers, form part OF pro-
gramme which, although this is the last
move, will not be in com pliance with any
written order.
The flagship left Esquimalt on Septem-
Der 90, under orders from England to rem
devious at San Jose to Guatemala, in
order to protect British interests during
the recent emeute in that country,
but as the fighting was we'll over on its
arrival, the admiral remained but few
days, when he again put to sea and headed
for Cocos Island.
On the flagship when it sailed from here
were E. Harris OF Lowen berg, Harris &
Co. of this city, and Charles Hartford. the
man W no claims 10 have located the treas
ure. He interested Harris and together
they Interested the al mlral and officers OF
the flagship in the treasure to sucn an ex-
tent that the ad miral decided to make the
search. Harris was taken down as guest
of the admiral, and during the voyage
was known as a news correspondent"
as an "interpreter."
As soon as the island was reached an
armed party went on shore under Har-
ford's direction and commenced opera
tions. but, although large party was at
work. owing to the deluge OF rain the ex-
cavations in the sandy soil flied as rap
idly as they were made. Afer the few
days hard work little headway was made,
and as there was no anchorage Tor the
Imperieuse Admiral PaIliser decided to
discontinue work for the present, although
satisfied that the treasure had been To-
Gated, and a detachment OF fifty men
under lieutenant was put ashore to con-
tinue The work.
When the warship arrived at the island
Gustave Gess.er, a German belonging 70
Stockton, who is engaged in searching for
the treasure, was at Puntas Arena with
Gus Livingston, one OF the Victoria seal
ers who was left there by the Aurora ex-
pedition, after provisions. Captain Whid-
den, another Victorian left by the Aurora
expedition, had also left the island. The
only people on the island were two Ger
mans, the wife of one of them md the
wife OF Gessler. AS soon as Hartford went
ashore he covered his face with handker-
chief, but Mrs. Gessier knew him at once
and shouted to him:
81 know you, Hartford. It's useless for
you to cover up your face, and don't you
dare to put spade in this island"
Admiral Palliser stated to-day that the
Amphion had been ordered south and
would go as far as Coquimbo. but declined
to say that Cocos Island would pot be
visited. 1t is generally understoodso on the
vessel that her sailing orders, while not
Indicating a visit to the island, would per-
nit of such trip. and il will be taken.
Harsord was landed at San Juan de
Guatemala on the trip north and the chap
lain of the Imperieuse says that the Off
GERS Of the nited States Steamship Alert
which was at that port, had sgr ed to pay
a visit to Cocos Island with Hartford on
board, he having located the signaI-stone
which. according to the directions left by
those who buried the treasure, marks the
spot where the millions were hidden.