The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-20
BURIED TREASURE
ON COCOS ISLAND
Vast Fortunes on a PARKWAY
Spot in the South Sea.
STORE HOUSE FOR PIRATES
Gems and Gold Hidden There Said to
Amount TO Millions Upon Millions of
DollaTs-Other Treasure EsIes-Stories
Which Read Like Romances.

" nich Read Like Romalces.
Cocos Island is desoiRte spot buried in
the heart of the South Pacific, and yet
there ig more real romance connected
with this unpretentious island than is
often accorded to a great and mighty ma
ton, Cocos Island is invested with all
the glamour OF the Arabian tales, for it is
supposed TO have concealed somewhere
in it's breast a secret OF hidden gems and
gold estimated to be worth millions upon
millions of dollars
For nearly century this isolated ISL
and has been the focus of countless eyes
in every part OF the world. From Eng
land. many parts of America, and from
Australia men have voyaged to it and at
tempted to wrest from its grim silence
the secret of its hidden treasures, but it
has bsfaed them all, AM still remains as
inscrutable and seductive as it was at
the beginning OF the last century
Like Chapter in Romance.
That this solitary island holds treas
ures far beyond the dreams OF ayariee is
beyond ali doubt. and the story OF the
hiding of these treasures reads like
thrilling chapter OF romance.
In the early years of the last century
one Of the most successful of the pirates
who preyed on Spanish ships was Don
Pedro Bonita, whose brig. the Relampago,
was the terror of all honest men who
went down to the sea in ships" One
rich 81 <1II IL
clutches. Spanish gaIleons laden with
treasures of all kinds, and after filing
his ship with them Don Bonita would take
them to Cocos Island and bury them there
while ne sought for more
Among bis spoil were 13e tons of sill
yer, nearly 1000 heavy ingots OF gold.
vessels full to overlooking OF gold coins.
and hundreds of swords incrusted with
jewels.
Hanged Prom YaTdarm
But neither he nor his crew ever sur
vived to enjoy their flI-gotten gains. for
they fell out, as thieves sometimes do,
and slaughtered each other; and those
Who were left were captured by a Brit
ish warship and hanged to a man from
the yardarm. The ship which thus
UAOASHA LAE VlsstIG6 G6IEGE 70 an EIu
went to Cocos island and recovered a
small part of the buried treasure, but the
bulk OF 1t defed discovery
few years later, IN 1885, when an
English ship, the Mary Dier. anchored in
Caliao Harbor at time when Peru and
Chile were at war, the Peruvian govern
ment sent its treasures for security on
board the vessel. But It proved a false
security, for one night the English ship
disappeared 1t. too. made for Cocos Isl
and. and there its piraticaI crew buried
the millions that had been Entrusted to
them-eIeven boatloads in all. and each
load representing the ransom Of kings
But their shrift was short. for the YES
SCI was driven by storm onto the Pc
ruviaD coast, the crew was captured. and
all but three were hanged
OF the survivors none lived to reclaim
any part OF their spoil, but ore OF them,
revealed The secret to q friend OF the name
of Keatcn, and he, IN company with a
Captain Bogue, went to the island and
carried away Ell. 600 In gold As they were
leaving the island. however. their boat up
set, and Captain Bogue- sank under his
burden of gold, while Keaton. clinging TO
the boat, was ultimately saved
The Island Of Trinidad
In the South Atlantic there is another
treasure island, Trinidad, which is said
to hold as many millions even as Cocos,
and a sunptuousiy equipped expedition is
now being prepared to discover them.
These twentieth century gold-huuters will
go on their quest under conditions OF lux
ury hitherto unknown. Their vessel will
have all the appointments and comforts OF
q frst-cIsss liner, from an excellent chef
to grand piano. baths, and refrigerators;
and even the charm of feminine society
will not be denied them
For those who wish for new field of
treasure-hunting there is an unlimited
choice, for the beds of the seas are
crowded with deposits of gold and jewels
on the Peruvian coast there lies an old
Spanish gaIleon in whose hold are 10
cases of gold, zoe cases of silver, each
containing $4,000. and Jewels and plate
valued at SOC 600: and near Texel is a
foundered East Iudiaman. with $50, 600
In gold on board
on the Spanish coast lies another vessel
laden with millions Of crusadoes in gold
and diamonds; and near the Cape Verde
Islands Spanish register ship foundered
in 1888 with 1000, 900 piasters, 200, 600
ounces Of goiG. and jewels and plate