The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-11-11

did not dream that Captain Thompson,
who SO bravely Haunted the English
flag, had sailed in earlier days under
the Jolly Roger with Benito Bonito's
cut-throat crew. But with $11,000,000
battened down in his hold the old law
less spirit Of his buccanneering days
famed up anew in Thompson, and he
could not resist the temptation to turn
robber again. In the night watches he
and his men slit tho threats of the
guardians of the treasure, slipped
their cables and put to sea.
The Mary Dear bore up for Cocos
island and dropped anchor in Wafer
bay. Some portion Of the spoil was
distributed among the crew. The re-
mainder Thompson carried In IL boat
loads around the headland which sep
arates Wafer bay from Chatham bay
and there landed 1t upon the beach.
He sent the boats back to the brig,
keeping two men with him. With their
assistance he carried the treasure into
the tropical brush and slowed 1t in
Benito Bonito's old treasure cave.
Then he shot the two men.
He spread to the winds every stitch
Of canvas and headed the brig west
ward in mad hurry to escape pur-
suit, but before the tall peaks of Co.
cos island had dropped below the ho-
rizon a Peruvian gunboat hove in
sight and sent shot acros his bow.
When capture seemed inevitable,
! Thompson surrendered. Perhaps his
cunning brain foresaw the immunity
that must be granted to the sole pos
SCISSOR Of the key to the hiding place
of millions of dollars. At any rate
he and the mate Of the Mary Dear
| were spared that they might guide the
| Peruvians back to the Cocos island
treasure. The other ten men Of the
| Mary Bears crew were strung up at
| the yard-arm.
The warship proceeded to Cocos is
land and Thompson and the mate we're
| landed under an armed escort. But
/. the desperate was a man OF resource,
and he. and the mate contrived to es-
| cape and kept in hiding In the caves
and underground. For four days arm
ed parties searched for them through
| the length and breadth of the island,
pouring volleys into every piece OF
/ thick scrub or likely hiding place. At
the end of this time, thinking that
perhaps the fugitives had been killed
1 by the broadsides with which the jun
giles had been raked, the captain of the
gunboat sailed away.
The two marooned men eked out q
precarious existence on berries and
birds eggs until vessel called at Co
cos for water. Passing themselves of
as shipwrecked sailors, they were
given passage to the mainland. The
/ mAN died soon afterwards Of yellow
| feWgT at Punta Arenas. Thompson es
caggd. One story has it that he went
to Samoa where he lived under the
| name of, Mace omber. According TO an
other taAe he made his way to Eng
land.
Nothitnwas heard Of Thompson
again unse 1874, when on voyage
from England to NeWfoupdland ne Eel
in with Heating, who was to become
heir to the secret Of ths Cocos islans
treasure.
Soon after Thompson had confide,
his secret to Heating he died. Hi
death aroused no suspicion at tn,
time. but long afterwards in the 1igh
of events Heating was suspected Q
!, having murdered him. Heating tool
over Thompson's effects, including ri
map of Cocos island. By Thompson
death, Heating became the sole pos
!, SCISSOR in all the world of the secrvt o
the Cocos island treasure. How Keat
/ ing lifted the treasure on two voyage
to the island already has bean told