The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-07-27
ICopyright, 1905, by r. C. McClure.1

SeNA-OA
he could put no faith in the natives or
the white sailors who deserted their
ships. There would be considerable eX-
pense, and there must be absolute Sc
crecy. Why he trusted Haynes and
Bruner was perhaps because he had
become desperate in his desire to over
haul the treasure, and as they We're de-
serters from q man-of-wa he had rea-
son to believe that they would not dare
serve him any trick for fear Of being
reported and recaptured. Whatever the
motive, however, he told them story
and suggested an expedition, and few
weeks later one left the port Of Ming
po. The party was made up Of SuprS.
Haynes, Bruner. an Englishman named
Webb and two Chinese laborers, and
their craft was junk.
It was two weeks before the wreck
was found. The only way to get down
to her was to descend a cliff sixty feet
high. When she was at last found and
visited the report Of the treasure was
found correct. She had been fighting
junk, carrying about sixty men. and
the variety Of the plumber on board
showed that she had robbed right and
left Her name proved that she had
belonged to the piratical feet of Old
Chingtoo, a we'll known pirate Of that
date. and one who was subsequently
blown out Of the water by a British
cruiser There had been great fall
of earth and rock around the treasure
wreck This was tunneled through
and her hold found full Of cash and
plumber. In fact, cash and jewelry to
the amount Of $4,000 was taken out
before landslip occurred which killed
one of the laborers. 1t was then seen
that the outlet was deficient. They
must have blasting powder and tools
and tackles, and It was resolved to run
back to port and secure them. Supr:
was left on the island to guard the
treasure, and the others set sail for
| Ningpo. The man left behind had no
| firearms, and how he was to act as
| guard is hard to see.
The junk reached NingpO all right,
but as soon as the sailors began to buy
this and that suspicion was aroused.
Just as they had secured what they
wanted and were ready to return to
the islands they were arrested and
thrown into prison as suspects. The
three white men refused to give up
any information, although the bamboo
was often applied to the soles Of their
feet, but the Chinese laborer was whip
ped into telling all about it. He could
tell all about the islands and the treas
ure, but he could not locate them.
The Chinese government took hand
in the matter and sent out two or three
vessels to scout around; but, while
they visited many other islands, they
did not land on the Humans. Twice a
week for two months the prisoners
We're brought out and bastinadoed, but
all We're firm. At length the English
man died under the punishment, and
ut the end Of three months, when the
government had determined OIL torture
of the most savage kind to compel i
confession, Haynes and Bruner gave
the story away There was some delay
about getting an expedition off, and
taken altogether, 1t was nearly SIX
months before one sighted the shores
Of the islands. All three of them were
carefully gone over, but Supry coult
not be found
The wreck was there, but not as i
had been left. A force of men hat
been there and cleared away the de
bris and looted all the treasure No
so much as a ''cash" had been left be
hind. Things had happened just as thu
Chinese government might have looked
for. Old Chingtoo was still doing bust
ness, and 1t was certain that lie would
and did hear Of the finding Of tin
wreck If she had been given up TO
lost she was now located where HI
; could find her and recover the plumber
. 1t is likely that he sent an expedition
as soon as the matter became public
The Frenchman was found on guard
, and the pirates made short work 0
; him. There was hope for a few year
that he might have been made captiv
and would be heard of again. but thir
, ty-flye years have elapsed, and no new
has come from him.
The government expedition had it
trouble for it's reward, and when it re
, turned Haynes and Bruner We're con
, fined in cages and carried around III
country like wild beasts. They wer
treated with the utmost cruelty 70
three years. and then Bruner died un
; der it and Haynes was rescued by III
| American consul. NJ. QUAD.