The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-23

rsan-of-war, who were intent on the pur-
suit OF the longboat n
As soon az summers hid Henderson
landed, thty pulled the boat up In the
heavy uniergrowth and SELLING the chest
l'etween hem made OF into the woods
They htl gone only snort distance when
they biunisrcd upon a natural cave.
They entered this AZ far as they dared,
and after hiding the opening as well as
they were able, they dug hole in which
they concealed the chest They remained
IN the cave pntil the next day. whom
they crcpt down 20 tho beach and found.
much 10 their satisfaction. that the man
of-war was no longer In sight.
The entire crew OF the brig had been
captured and taken away as prisoners.
and neither Summers nor Henderson ever
learned what was their fate. A chart
inspection had shown the Spaniards the
character OF the Lark and she had been
scuttled I'm the hsrbor.
The longboat had also been sma shed
10 pieces, but the small boat I'm which
Summers and Henderson, had escaped.
had been undiscovered and was still in
tact
A days exploration OF the island upon
which they had landed proved that IL was
uninhabiter and the castaways determined
TO Try TO get 10 one OF the larger Islands
OF the group.
They both decided not 20 risk taking the
treasure in the sman boat. as some ac-
cident might happen to II, and. leaving
IL In the cave. they sailed away 60 the
north. Two days later they reached the
largest island of the group.
IL was a long time before ship touch
ed at the island 10 take them of. ana
during this time Capt. Summers caught
the smallpox and died. Henderson de-
termtned to return home and organize
an expedition 10 go after tho treasure.
COULDN'T RETURN TO ISLAND.
Many misforunes and yicissitudes be-
fell him before he saw the United States
again. lie had no money, and was COM
PEELED TO work his way from place 10
place. and Il was not until ls6S that he
hnally reached his native town OF jack
son, Ohio.
There he told his story and endesvored
10 secure the money neetied 10 NJ out an
expedition TO go after the treasure, but
the people laughed At him, and he could
find no one To- advance him the money he
needed. And so, fairly eaung MS heart
out at the delay. he went back TO his pro-
fession AS sailor and endeaVored 10 earn
the money he needed.
Fifteen years later. in 1885. he bough,
and fitted out the Flora Il. Fine, ana
sailed in her from Baltimore.
But I'm rounding Cape Hatteras the ship
ran into hurricane which drove her on
captain and crew being saved with tie
greatest difficulty Captain Henderson
lost every cent he had I'm the world. and
was compelled 10 start over again.
Ii was not until the lst OF January. 1898.
that Captain Henderson was in position
to undertake "A second expedition. Thir-
ty-hve years had passed since the treas
ure had been buried. and amy one else
would have been utterly discouraged by
that long period or waiting.
But Captain Henderson was not. lie
went 10 New Orleans and purchased the
Louise b. which he overhauled and re
christened the Rover The PicaNune IN
of the boat that "she Is an old friend
under a new name, and In a brand new
dress"
The vessel had been undergoing ex-
tensive repairs in the bayou St John AT
the head OF DE Soto street was the old
Louisa r.. one Of the fleet OF the South
crn Yacht club. and before she became
the Louisa B. she bore the name of the
Frolic.
After the ship had been fitted up Capt;
Henderson came back TO Jackson ana
persuaded one OF his trusted friends TO
make the voyage with him.
Then on the 22d day Of February. the
59th anniversary of his birth. the Rover
dropped down the Mississippi and started
across the gulf on her long voyage 10
the South Atlantic. where, in latitude IS
degrees IA minutes south. and longitude
81 degrees 32 minutes east. the treasure
lay buried The voyage was a rapid one.
and was not marred by single accident.
Early I'm the morning of April II the
treasure island was sighted The first
thing that attracted the attention Of
Captain Henderson was the wreck OF the
Lark which lay i'm the lAnd-locked cave
much as she had been left 81 years be-
fore With what easerness Henderson
guided his little craft Into the cove an
chored and directed that "a boat be lower
ed can readily be imagined.
FOUND BONG HIDDEN WEALTH
lie took with him yhls only trusted
friend Charles Thompson Of Jackson
and rowed as nearly as possible 10 the
exact point where he and Captain Sum
mer had originally laid their chest
Springing ashore they made they way
through the underbrush. and in ten min
utes stood AT the mouth of the well-re-
membered cave.
1t was the work of only "A few mome1ts
20 clear away the brush in front OF II,
and half an hour later Henderson aud
Thompson rowed back 10 the Rover
with the chest in the boat with them. IL
was not until they had locked themselves
in the cabin that they opened the chest.
The lock was so rusted that IL refused
to work So the lid was wrenched Oft,
and the contents stood revealed. Every
thing was I'm perfect rondition and an
hour later Henderson knew that he was
the possessor of Sl73,S20.
The RoverS prov was turned nome
ward without delay. and early I'm june
reached Philadelphia. one thousand dol
lars Capt. Henderson distributed among
the crew $4,000 he deposited IN the
Third National bank at philadelphia; 5000
he gave To Claude Thompson, and the re-
mainder he brought home with him TO
jackson I'm cash.
Since that time he has been living