Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-10-01
NOVEL TREASURE HUNT
American A6venturers Preparing
to Invade South Pacific.
IN QUEST OF STRANGE ISLANDS.
Two Men Who Know Their Location
VIII Lead the Party-Home of Can
nibals and May Tribes of Savages.
but Gold and silver Are Found



but Gold and silver Are Found
There.
Led by two intrepid soldiers OF for
tune. one a Chicagoan. 500 scions of
the best families of New York and De
troit Will start early in December on
an argonautic expedition across the
Pacific, says the Chicago Inter Ocean
The golden fleece in their case is twelve
islands on which the foot of civilized
man has seldom trod and the location
of which is Known only by the men
who captain the expedition
One of these is Alfred Haag. an
American scientist and promoter of
mining enterprises. who discovered the
islands ten years ago while voyaging
around the world. The other is DR.
Emil Dorm. who says he was once the
confidential secretary of the great Ger
man Won Moltke. DR.. Dorm now lives
in Chicago.
These leaders and their followers are
after immense riches. TO be gained only
after escaping perils greater than those
which encompGssed the esrly American
colonists. Haas found the islands pos
sessed a climate purer and more health
full than that OF any other land he bad
ever visited. rich in tropical vegetation
and soil so fertile that the Inhabitants
lived in comparative idleness and lux
ury. The islands contain deposits of
gold. silver and copper. Of whose value
the natives are in ignorance.
Two of the islands are large and
thickly populated. The others are
small in comparison and sparsely set
tied. Savage tribes closely related to
the aborigines of Australia roam over
the country. each organized into a
primitive government. the chief execu-
tive of which possesses powers similar
to those of the headman of an African
tribe. Forty per cent of the popula-
ton is made up of cannibals. by whom
thirty French sailors cast upon one of
the islands during a storm there were
butchered and eaten. Actuated by a
desire to secure some of the wealth of
the islands Haag risked his life eight
years ago in visiting them again. when
he carried on extensive Investigations
into the quantity and quality Of their
mining resources.
on returning to New York he entered
into negotiations with a number of
eastern capitalists, to whom he spoke
of the Importance of his discovery and
solicited funds with which TO acquire
possession of the islands. The project
was accepted by the latter with alacri-
ty. and deal had almost been effected
when Haag was called to Brazil and
lSS hx-S t,SJa TO inta 70 h.a
possession of mining property on be-
half of a European company by which
he was employed Having recently
concluded this business. he resumed
the agitation of his scheme to acquire
possession of the islands in the Pa
cific
DR.. Dorm. whom Haag had known
in Germany. was then asked to assist
in the promotion of the venture. He
accepted and has since done no small
share of the work of preparing for the
expedition The last letter received
by DR.. Dorm from Haag. who is now in
Antwerp. reads as follows:
Dear sir-I received your favor of Aug. ., and
glad TO know your readiness to enter the en-
terprise in regard TO the islands in the Pacific
ocean have not the slightest doubt that We can
buy the whole group for a moderate price The
inhabitants Of these islands live still in tribes
and partially educated Their headmen
mostly easy going people, inclined 10 civilization.
Part Of the Inhabitants are still eannibals. but
the danger troEa these is not great The climate
is TO be compared with that Of Ceylon- The soil
may be fertile, and there deposits
OF geld. silver and copper. These found in
greater abundance than in any other place have
visited the face of the earth Try 10 organize
the company once. that may start early
in December.
The sum of 100000 has been raised
with which to purchase the islands and
provide for their development. xolun-
teers We're recently called for in New
York and Detroit. and so many re-
sponded that ii was impossible TO &C.
cept all. Out of thousand or more
young men between the ages of twenty
and thirty years $50 were chosen. All
are sturdy youths, members of leading
families and well educated
These young men," said DR.. Dorm
the other day, will be sworn TO serve
US under marine law. They will be re-
quired 10 assist in the practical devel-
opment of the islands. TO erect fortifica-
tons. 10 build towns. bridges and rail-
roads. to assist in the education of the
natives and to prepare them for citizen
ship. They win be expected TO fight ii
necessary and will be equipped for this
emergency.
We viii start prepared to purchase
the claims of the natives at a reasona-
bic figure. The form of the government
we will establish will be republican.
and the natives will be admitted TO full
citizenship as soon as they demonstrate
their fitness to act in that capacity. We
expect that about two years viii be
consumed in the organization OF our
government
Our party viii leave San Francisco
early in December The enterprise viii
be OF purely American character
American men viii constitute the crew.
an American steamer will be chartered
for their transportation. and the whole
outfit viii be American. with some
small exception in regard 10 arma-