The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-09-22
SAY TREASURE
WAS A MYTH
SCHOONER HERMAN RETURNS
TO SAN FRANCISCO AFTER AN
EVENTFUL CAREER.

the schooner Herman has turned out
exactly as almost everybody in Homo
lulu expected. The vesesl has aban-
doned the expedition after the fabulous
treasure that Captain James Brown,
the master of the vessel claimed 10
have knowledge of and has returned to
San Francisco with the pockets of her
hackers very thin and Captain Browns
stomach fat with the good things that
their money bought him to eat and
drink
The party arrived at San Francisco
September II from Tahiti after an
eventful career, of which the finding of
any alleged treasure buried did not
form part. G. w. Sutton, John Chef
wood and DR.. George j. Luce returned
on the Mariposa as did Captain Brown.
The men had a story of duplicity to tell
against Captain Brown.
G.. W. Sutton told of the wanderings
of the Herman in the following words
to the San Francisco Examiner: when
we left San Francisco all was peace
and happiness on board. We were sail
ing for--we knew not where-but we
were content, as we had confidence in
our shippers ability to take us to the
At Honolulu we had some troubles
and two of our party came up here on
the steamer Alameda and raised funds
from the company here. The schooner
then proceeded to Apia, and it was on
this voyage that our troubles began.
Captain Brown showed a disposition to
be quarrelsome and fought with MEM
bers of the crew. At Apia the schoon-
er was held up by the American Con-
sui, but we managed to eXtricate our
selves from the difficulty and left that
port.
1--WE wanted Captain Brown to take
us to the island, but he insisted that
the stormy season was coming on and
that it would be dangerous to cruise in
the South Seas. He suggested that we
winter at some port and though we OBJ
| jected, we finally gave in and the Her
man was headed for Sydney. At sgd
ney Captain Brown became arbitrary
and wanted to abandon the hunt and
sell the schooner
THE American Consul removed him
from the command and 1 was placed in
charge of the schooner. He shipped as
| supercargo, but because he persisted in
| giving LIQUOR to the crew l disrated
him. Then the real troubles began; he
threatened to kill us on several occa-
!
crew. We reacha> the Paumotu
group of islands anu after patching In
a peace asked him where we should
head in order to reach the island. lie
| tainted us by telling us of several and
in the end would confess that he was
joking. He was taken sick and we put
in at Penhryn Island.
From Penhyrn we proceeded to Pa
peete, Tahiti, and there Captain Brown
absolutely refused to go further with
us unless he was given full charge of
the schooner.
Il now believe that his story of bur-
led treasure is a fake and his arbitrary
conduct was assumed in order to evade
taking us to an island which really
does not exist. We have spent $685.
in this expedition and all 1 have is a
good knowledge of the South Seas,
which 1 consider very unromantic."
In telling of his reasons for embark
ing on the enterprise John Chetwood
said: Il only invested in the eXpedi-
ton as a gamble, l had my doubts
about the captains story, but in main
1 thought he was telling the truth.
He refused absolutely to give the
name or location of the island of the
island and we relied upon his honesty
He told us how to equip the schooner,
plant along in order to melt the plate
so that it could not De claimed by any
foreign government. He also suggest
ed a launch, stating that we would
have to anchor off the island and could
only get inside the reef in a small
boat. l thought his story plausible at
the time. 1 see it in a different light
now"
When the Mariposa locked yesterday
an attempt was made by Sutton tC
have Brown under arrest. The Japan.
csc steward was unable to secure q
warrant as the Federal courts were
closed, and the captain was. finally re.
leased from custody IN board the ship
Sutton and Chetwood insist that they
will have him arrested on Monday a.
soon as warrant can be gotten in tbs
Federal courts.
Captain Brown told the story of the
burial of the treasure on the island il
the South Pacific, stating that he was
the sole pOSSeSsor of the knowledge o.
the location of the island, as the mer
who were with him on the expedition
are now dead. Il shall organize an
other expedition" he said. These mer
, by their conduct, lost an opportunity O
becoming wealthy. They might hav,
had millions, but they now come bacl
empty-handed. They shall never know
my secret of the location of the treas
ure. | did not trust them and therefor
would not lead them to the spot wher
the treasure is buried"
Brown claimed that there was $50,
100000 in the treasure. He threatens t,
institute suit for large amounts agains
the men who made charges agains
him.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS
The following is a schedule of exam
nations for civil service position,
which will be held IN this city on tn,
dates indicated. For further informa
ton consult Mr.. Mc.,oy, or Mr.. Ken
AXE at the Postofficl Prof Alexande
of the eGodetic Survey, or Mr.. r. c
Sta pl<a bla or prof Tporonc A.