The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-08
ISLAND TREASURE HUNTER
DID NOT FIND GOLD
DOnzeI StOney Returned to San Fran
cisco From Cruise ON Southern
Seas to Resume Practice of Law.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
San Francisco. Cal, March 7.-Donzei
last July to hunt for treasure in the South
Seas, Is home again as brown az berry
ought 10 be and as silent az a clam. He
will not say word about his trip. His
friends tell Of him cruising six seven
DAYS In an open boat among the small
islands OF the Marshall group. and his ar
rival in Australia so sunburned that lady
fellow passenger on the bound Sierra
declared his complexion was like Maori's.
Though he will say nothing for publica-
ton. there can be no doubt that there Is no
story to tell of treasure trove.
Il know what l KNOW says Mr.. Stoney
when asked to tell of his trip with Captain
Brown in quest of Kids treasure. But
naught else viii! he say. He will not even
deny that he went with Captain Brown in
search of the mythical isle. But his friends
declare and avow that, he did.
Hunting for the treasure cached by the
more or less mythical Captain Kidd and
men OF his Fix seems to be as bootless as
the search for the North Pole and almost
as expensive. Last July a little company
was formed by a few young men OF this
city and Boston for the purpose of an ex-
petition to scme unnamed South Sea island.
to unearth n fabulous sum OF money, in all
kinds of foreign coin. that had once been
cred and reburied by Captain James Brown
a more or less ancient mariner Of modern
times.
HOME E.MPTY-HANDED.
The entire party of treasure hunters is
home again except Captain Brown. who is
believed TO be cruising in Australian waters
and ehuckling in his sleeve over his mos,
treasure hunter none seems to care to tell
the tale.
Among those financially interested in the
italist: Mr.. Sheriff., Attorney Donzel
Stoney. Ogden Hoffman and former Judge
nothing to say of the expedition, He does
not say that he does not know all about it.
but he does say that he will not tell
1t about the middle of July last that
the schooner Herman CLEARED at the Gus
tom-house without designating her destina-
ton and at once . every union sailor on the
treasure hunting expedition. AS to the first
port of call and the second there was no
them 10 81" TaHiti but after that = her course
was to be shaped SOU SOU by SOU east to
the Marshall group perhaps. or perhaps
When the vessel had dipped below the
horizon the, story was told that Captain
James Brown of Boston. who had braved
had somehow tumbled across the cache or
one of the many caches OF the famous New
Forthcoming with cabalistic signs, a lonely
tree and many PAGES carefully marked of
on it to show just where the booty lay. but
Captain Brown is credited with having told
the story of his ,ong life. including his
many wanderings among the South Sea is
lands. and when some OF the get-rich-quick
SCISSOR of the valuable secret they had no
difficulty in confirming every part of the
record except that which most needed cor
roboration.
COSTS SEARCHER $4,000.
It cost about $4,000 to purchase the
schooner and fit her for the trip. With
what sardonc humor the venturesome. sex
agenarian Captain watched these prepara-
tions and ''bossed the job" some OF the
members may now perhaps recall.
Silent Mr.. Stoney will not discuss his
many days spent In an open boat looking
anxiously for the isle on which Captain
Jim Brown had rehidden that treasure. He
got to Australia somehow. and even now
his complexion has not, by far. returned
to its normal whiteness. A goodly portion
OF the human outfit got to Australia and
there they took leave of Captain Brown.
The story of the parting has not yet been
told
Ogden Hoffman wishes to draw a veil over
his memorable trip and to keep It as secret
as the hiding place of the treasure that
Was found and lost again. When an effort
was made last evening to Induce him to re-
call the days of his treasure hunting. he
looked weary. If not panied, and softly said;
The matter is a personal one with me.
and must firmly decline to discuss 1t In
any form whatsoever" He would not even
say whether he went to Cocos Island
The Herman will probably settle down to
carrying freight and making money.