The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-23
Baltimore Man Who Wants His
Share Of Tho Fortune.
PART OF HIS FATHERS LOOT.
Wealth Was Taken frsm n Island Cave
Where II Was Concealed for
Thtrt-fW Years.

Howard Il. Summers OF Baltimore, Md,
has filed a remarkable petition In the
county court In which he asks that the
sum OF sSs,6 ,660 be set aside 10 him from
the estate OF Captain Charles A. Hender-
son, as his share OF pirate treasure
which Henderson secured a little over
year ago on one of tho islands OF the
Tristan d'Acunha group I'm the South
Atlantic. Captain Henderson denies that
Summers has any claim upon the money,
and as the matter could not be com
promised. It has been carried into the
courts for settlement.
Howard +. Summers claims that he Is
the son OF Captain William H. Summers.
who, before and during the war, was
master and owner OF the clipper- built
brig, The Lark. engaged IN smuggling
and privateering. In 1864 The Lark start
ed homeward from South American
port, but ran into violent hurricane
and was never heard OF again.
IL WAS supposed that she had foundered
with all on board. Captain Summers
wife, who Was then living. knew that he
carried n large sum OF money with him
on the ship, but supposed that IL had
gone To the bottom of the ocean
~ Mrs. Summers has since died and IL
was only recently that Captain Summers
children learned that The Lark had not
foundered, but had been driven ashore ON
one OF the islands OF the Tristan d'Acun-
ha group. and that his fortune of nearly
$1,000 was saved. and H. now I'm the pos
session of Captain Henderson of Jackson
As soon as they learned thes Facts they
took steps 10 recover possession of a por-
tion OF .he money, and the present suit
Is the result
Captain Henderson admits that the
money which he secured I'm the South
Atlantic belonged originally TO Captain
William ~. Summers, but he refuses 10
believe that the plaintiffs in the present
suit are the latter's heirs. as Captain
Summers during his lifetime never made
any reference 20 them.
STORY OF PIRATES FORTUNE.
Henderson tells the following remark
able story OF the loss and recovery OF
the treasure:
He was born at Jackson 50 years ago
and ran away from home at an early age
TO go TO sea. He made his way To Phil
adelphia, where he secured a berth as
cabin boy, and made "A number OF voy-
ages. At the end OF five or six years he
had worked his way up TO the position
OF second mate. which he held on a small
ship I'm the West Indian trade.
just before the outbreak OF the Civil
war he left this vessel and found himself
in Baltimore without a position. While
wandering along the water front one day
he was approached by man who gave
his name as Captain William III. sum
mers
Summers said he was master and owner
of small clipper brig named The Lark.
engaged i'm the fruit ana spice trade, and
he offered Henderson the post OF first
H..
and few days later The Lark sailed
Her crew was mixture OF Americans.
Spaniards and Lascars, and Il was not
many days later that Henderson dis
covered he was on a smuggler. The brig
was provided with guns fore and aft and
was equipped to make a determined re-
sistance should occasion arise
Henderson was dumfounded AT this dis
covery and demanded that he be put
ashore at the first port touched: but Cap
tain Summers laughed az what he called
the silly scruples of green hand and
refused the request. So Henderson made
the best OF the situation and soon grew
accustomed 10 the life.
The war broke out short time later
and TO the trade OF "A smuggler Summers
added that of a privateersman. and for
three years he piled his trade with uni
form success. BY the end OF that time.
however. The Lark had become so well
known that tho business became extreme
~ perilous. and Summers and Henderson.
who had become fast friends, determined
TO quit after one more rum
She left Rio Janero with a contraband
cargo, but had scarcely got clear of tho
harbor when she was struck by a terrific
gale. which blew her TO the southeast
for nearly a week. During all that time il
was Impossible to make an observation;
but on the seventh day the sun appeared
and II was found that the ship was only a
short distance south of the Tristan a.
Acunha group. IL was decided TO steer
for those islands. as the supply of water
was very low.
4 few hours later the lookout reported
what appeared 10 be .aan-of- war head
cd directly for them and rapidly over
hauling them. Now. the crew Of The
Lark had great many reasons for not
desiring TO meet a man-of-war OF any
nationality. so al sail was crowded on.
but IL was soon evident that The Lark was
no match for her pursuer.
small island was sighted ahead. and
tho brig was headed for II, as the only
chance of escape. AS she drew near a
natural harbor was discovered on the
south side, and into this the brig was
run.
THE LARKs CREW PURSUED
few minutes later the man-of-war.
which proved 10 be a Spaniard hove In
outside the cove. which was too shallow
TO admit her. and her boats we're dropped |
into the water and Instantly manned 10
continue the pursuit.
The crew OF The Lark had not waited
Tor them. however. but. tumbling into the |
longbost, had rowed for the shore. only |
captain Summers and Mate Henderson |
were left on board Captain Summers |
seemed 90 be in the greatest distress. and |
nually approached Henderson and said TO |
him
Henderson. have every confidence I'm |
your honesty and steadfast faith where /
I am concerned. ana I have a secret 90 \
tell you In The cabin OF The brig I have /
"a chest in whick " over $40 oy1 IN coin
aud notes
The brig i doomed. Dut believe ". 4
can save this wealth lf yOu will assist
tne. half of the money II yours. II am
captured aud yOu succeed in escaping.
90 10 all yours What So you say
Needless 10 say. Henderson jumped az
the chance The small boat VAS lowered
-. he .ftf-t