Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-09
THE TREASURE SHIP.


schooner, the Jane, which lay anchored
that fine moonlight night t. Fort Bodcga,
Cal. Tho Jane was but II small vessel, but
1t had on board treasure In tho shape Of
gold dust worth over $4,000, and tho
noxt morning had been fixed for Its sailing
to London.
Tint night the captain had given his crew
lenve to go ashore TO spend fow hours in
jollity before commencing their homewnrd
voyage. They had not yet returned, aud
the captain was on board alone, with u
couple Of sailors and the mate, 10 whom
no was speaking
Saying that ho would turn in, the zap
tain went below while tho mato walked
the'dcck on tho watch.
1t was about In the morning that two
boats SGT of from the shore, having in ono
of them and In the other IL men, and
In tho darkness--for tho moon hud now
set--were rowed off 20 tho place where tho
light of the Jane glimmered over tho dark
water
BOAT ahcyi Who arc youf"
II was tho mate Of the Jano who sang
out as he leaned over tho side Of the vessel
and saw q boat approach.
In answer there came what seemed some
words spoken as II by u drunken man, and
thinking the men were the sailors returned
from their jaunt the mate saw the boat
pulled to tho side of tho ship. He did not
notice that another boat had softly made
its way TO the stern, the men rowing ST.
lently, and the dull sough OF the waves
drowning tho splash of their oars
SIS that JenkinsonY"
The mate was forward watching tho
men in the boat. Hardly had he called out
before ho heard noise behind him, his
arms were gripped, n hand was placed over
his mouth, while the butt ond Of pistol
came down with u crash upon his head
There was dull splash in the water mo
Inent Inter 1t was the body Of the mate
cast into its wntory grave.
The Jane had been boarded by robbers.
Stealing along like shndows-for the men
had their feet bare-the thieves rushed
across the deck to tho ladder leading below.
The leader, tan man, with heavy,
black beard, whose face was almost hid
by piece of black cloth tied across tho
upper part, with two holes cut for him to
sec through, grasped his pistol in his hand
as he prepared to go below, while his fol
lowers held long, cleaning knives in their
hands
If you struggle, you are "a dead man"
Captain Blake had been asleep and
started up as light flashed upon his face,
and looking about him he saw a man
standing beside him, one of his hands up
on his throat while in the other no held
pistol.
"Wo won't hurt you II you don't strug-
gle,' said the robber. "But we want the
gold you have ON board Give us the keys
of the chest, and n swear you shall be
safe"
Resistance would be useless, and tho
captain was so0n lying on the floor of his
cabin bound hand and foot with a strong
| cord.
While these things We're going on on
| board tho Jane the crew of the vessel had
gathered together ON tho shore and had
put oil in their boats to return to the ship.
They were astounded as they turned the
| quaysido to see the Jane in the growing
daylight far OFF at sea, all sails sot, and
making way before good breeze at a rate
which forbade all hope of their overtak-
| ing her
The sailors were some hours later than
they should have been in seeking the YES
sci, and now they imagined Captain Blake
must somehow have got others to man her
and set OF without them. Thcy therefore
rowed back to shore.
While some of the men who had boarded
the ship, many of whom had been sailors,
set the sails and took her out to sea tho
others were busy searching for the treasure.
No threats could make the captain speak
word as to where 1t lay, and leaving
him the robbers began to look about for 1t.
"Hurrahp'
With axes in their hands, three or four
men were with fierce shouts breaking open
tho stout boarding at the bend of the cap
tain's abin.
Behind IL, as they peeped through gap
they had burst open, they found a dark
recess. 1t was tho place where the treas
ure lay.
They piled their axes furiouely, the
board gave way, and tho eyes of tho thieves
CLEANED with delight as they saw before
them the pile of bags and small wooden
boxes In which was the gold for which
they had undertaken the desperate ven
ture, ana the cabin rang with their wild
shout Of joy.
What Is here will make us rich for life
boys!" cried the leader Its In our grasp
now. Let us drink TO our good fortunel'
And no ordered some of the mon to search
tho ship for what liquor there was on
board.
a cask of rum WINS soon found, and
kno king out the head of 1t the rufiians
draAk to one another In glasses of the fiery
spirit.
And now to the boatsI'
Staggering under the weight Of their
burdens, the men carried tho boxes and
bags of the precious gold to the side of the
ship and lowered them into the boats
alongside.
In u short time all the treasure had been
laid in thcm, and tho place where it had
been slowed in tho Jane stood empty
Get ready to push off there, said tho
black bearded man, looking over tho YES
sells side, to his companions in the boats,
and as they gripped their oars and waited
for him he disappeared below.
He looked In at tho cabin door and threw
glance at the captain lying there, still
bound hand and foot. Then he disappear
ed and made his way to the hold.
Now row for your liyesp'
The man took his place In one of the
boats, and 1t few from the sido of the
doomed vessel. 1t had not got far before
terrible sound rose over the noise Of tho
waves, and as 1t caught their ears tho men
laid down their oars and looked toward
the vessel they had left
huge cloud Of smoke hung overit, and
fierce flames shot from the rapidly burning
schooner.
Then there was second explosion. Pieces
OF burning wood were scattered far and
near and foil in shower over tho place
whore the Jane hud 1oated.
The gunpowder has done its work, " TO
mnrkpl thu rItaf ft1fba I'M