The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-09-24
MARVELLOUS STORY
or COCOS ISLAND

ceoded to get zap muuuy among part
of his crew Tney cut the throats
of the honest men, and ningine ont the
black das set mp as fun nedged pie
rates. The leader changed his name
TO Benito Bonito, and for four years
led a successful career as % bucaueer
The Spanish government finally got
busy and started to hunt him down
Finding the Caribbean too hot for him.
Bonito hoached his ship along the Gulf
of Darieu and burned her Bonito
and his men then marched across the
swamps To- the Pacific side, where they
seized another vessel Sailing up and
down through about sixty degrees Of
latitude. this crew became the terror
of the West Coast overhauling trea.
sure snips, landing at cities, sacking
churches, minis, and palaces. Bonito
even had the temerity to invade Me.
Xico during the reign of Emperor Itur-
bide. His loot was becoming so heavy
that he was finally forced to seek a
safe place of COnCealment 1t is even
said that his greed overcame caution
TO such an extent that he threw over
cannon to make room for the spoiI
Bonito had visited Cocos MANY times
and undoubtedly had heard of caches
made there bv otber ptrates. ca his
thoughts turned to this safe retreat
He and his merry men now had proot-
err wealth than any similar o,,orn IN
the worlds history md u.bv tba,, dio
not retire is mystery.
Arriving at Cocos island tbe niratos
killed wild hogs and tanned the skins
TO make bags which tbav ,iead to ,,aol,
and store the beaps of cold and iauals
These sacks were pIaced in a cave and
the spot carefully marked aftar which
they sailed away for new adventures
Their career after This was short. fo9
the vessel was cornered nv the Es.
piegle. a Spanish eunboat and to as.
cane capture Ronito blaw ont bie
brains.
Only one Of Ronito's mon ascanad
execution, Thomson. an English re-.
negade sailor. It appears that Tbomn.
son knew all about tho hiding n1oco ne
the treasure. but if does NOT amman.
that he tried TO take If for seventaan
years. When next heard from he ,yae
in charge of a British brig the Mary
Dear, anchored in the harbor Of Cauao
| in 1898 during the war between Perm
and Chile. The Chilean war fleet was
approaching and the Peruvians went
into a panic over possible loss Of their
valuables as loot bv the invaders To
preserve it they decided on plading if
aboard the Mary Dear. under protec.
ton of the British flag and tbe ev-
pirate. From Lima. the Capftal were
brought crosses. affairs. rails and STA
tues Of silver and cold hell i'm catbe-
drals, along with much money and
Jewels belonging TO old families This
was dumped on board the brig and
there is said to have been acuauv
tons of the treasure
Bug Thomson was not of STRONGER
moral fiber than had been Bopito. his
old chief, and he also succumbed IN
der temptation. He promptiv rn,Ir.
dered the six Peruvian guards who
had been left on board and set sail for
Cocos Island. twelve hundred miles Nh
| the coast. 1t is not quite clear WHY
he committed this new crime when he
had vessel and could have taken
the larger treasure without danger
Thompson opened the hole where
Bonitos hoard was concealed and
thereto added his own takings. There
are Peruvian records that show
Thompson got away with valuables
amounting to fifteen million dollars.
He now had the secret Of the riches
hidden treasure in the world, and per
hans had drpamS of haing tho CrOasu,