Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-24

F 1Ak4AG
aENDED IN CAPTURE OF ALL
BUT THE TWO MEN MOST
WANTED.
Special 70 the Register.
CHILLICOTHE, O., September 20
The fling of a petition in the county
court of Jackson has brought to light
the details of a remarkable story OF
buried treasure, found again after
almost increditable hardships. 1t is a
story to excite the envy Of Captain
Mayne Reid or Robert Louis Steven
son. and beyond everything else the
fling of the petition proves that it IS
true in every detail.
Charley Henderson was born at
jackson sixty-three years ago, and
while yet a boy determined to be a
sailor. So at the age of sixteen he ran
away from home and made his way to
Philadelphia, where he secured a posi-
ton as cabin boy. Notwithstanding
the hardships Of the life, he grew to
like it more and more, and at the end
of five or six years had advanced to
the position Of second mate.
Just before the outbreak of the wal
he was in Baltimore looking for a po-
sition, and one day while walking along
the wharves he was accosted by a mar
who said that his name was Captain
William H. Summers. He said he was
master of the ~clipper-built brig the
Lark, and offered Henderson the posi-
ton of first mate. The brig, Summers
said, was engaged in the spice and
fruit trade. Henderson accepted the
berth at once, and two days later sailed
out from Baltimore on the Lark. But
1t was only a few days until he dis
covered that the Lark
WAS A SMUGGLER.
He at once demanded that he be set
ashore, but Captain Summers laughed
at his scruples and told him that he
would soon overcome them, which, in
deed. turned out to be the case. The
Lark piled her trade with unvarylng
success, and when the war broke out
added the profession of a ~privateers-
man to that of a smuggler. The brig
was we'll armed and during the next
two years had many exciting adven-
lures, but did not, so it is asserted, OBJ
serve the laws of the high seas as
strictly as might have been done. At
any rate at the end of that time the
business had become so perilous on &C
count of the Lark's reputation that
Summers and Henderson, who had be-
come fast friends, decided to quit the
sea and retire into private life.
1t was in 1864 that the Lark left Ric
Janeiro or her last "trip homeward and
scarcely had she cleared the harbol
when a terrific hurricane struck hel
and drove her before it to the south
and east. For over a week the storm
continued with unabated fury, ant
during all that time no observation
could be taken to determine the ships
position. But on the tenth day the
weather cleared, and at loon it wa:
found that the brig was only a shorr
distance south of the Tristan d'Acimhf
islands. Land was in sight to thu
northward, and as the brig turned il
that direction a shout from the look.
out electrified all hands. For a man
of-war had been sighted in the dis
lance, headed directly for the Lark.
Now the crew of the Lark had many
reasons for not wishing to be inter
viewed by a man-of-war of any ma
tionalfty. So all sail was crowded on
But it was soon evident that the bris
was no match for her pursuer, and af
ter a hasty consultation with his mate
Captain Summers headed the brig fol
the island ahead as the only way o
giving the man-of-war the slip.
AS they neared the island they saw
a small cove right ahead and into thi.
they steered the Ozark" The pursui
had been a hot one, and a few minutes
later the
MAN-OF-WAR HOVE TO
outside the harbor and dropped he.
boats into the water to continue tn,
chase. The crew Of the bark did no
wait for them, however, but tumblinl
into the long boat, rowed franticall.
for the shore, leaving Captain Sum
mers and Henderson alone on the brig
The former was evidently deeply agi
tated, and at last approached Hender
son and said:
"Mr. Henderson. I believe that yol
are an honest man and that l car
trust you. l have in my caOin a ches
in which is nearly $175.0 900 in gold ant
notes. I want you to help me to saw,
this, if possible. and if we succeed il
doing so, half the money is yours"
Needless to say, Henderson jumpet