The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-04
is SEEKING
VAST LOST TREASURE

started In tho course OF the present
month Naturally tho Undertaking
IN Moscow. whose ecclesiastical author
tiles hope TO regain priceless altar fur
n!tire and historic objects Ions since
deemed irrevocgbly !os.-
This search on the part Of TO Rus
alan government for tho GOLD ana
gems hidden for hundred years IN
the depths OF the Bereslna. is likely
70 prove "a great deal more prohtablc
man that undertaken by the rival eX-
petitions. ono headed by Nine MAthll-
dc Durand Of Marseiiics. and the other
by Miss Genevieve Davies OF England.
TO the Cocos Islands. on steamers
Chartered ana equipped for the pur-
pose Tho treasure which thcy VIII IN
deavor 70 iind s. the loot OF tho no.
toriors pirate Benito Bonito. who 300
IN" second decade OF tho nineteeui %
century sprend terror along tho Pacific
coast OF South ana Central America.
y" be eventually caught ana hanged
BY tho commander OF British man
81 war HIS treasure. estimated at
some twenty or thirty millions OF doll
lars. is said 10 have boon concealed
somewhere on ;he Cocos Islands. some
hundreds OF miles southwest of tho
lsthmrs OF Panama
About eight years aro. tho Earl ritz-
william. born i'm Canada. and ono OF
the wcalthiest members OF Tho British
pccrngc. purchased fh,. 0O0-tou oc..n
out FOR the purpose OF discovering this
Cocos Island treasure. His expedition
was most deliberately equipped, and
among his associates on hoard was
Rear ADMIRAL Henry Pal!scr. Of the
Royal Navy. The venture was, how
ever. as unsuccessful as those previous
~ undertaken. differing from them only
IN that IL was attended hv mo- loss
OF life. though Lord Fi,zwillinn and
fourteen OF the party were seriously
Injured during an attempt TO aynam!t.
the blocked ontrance TO a cave in which
Bonito's loot was supposed to bc con
cealed. The explosion brought down
from tho blum above huge nass,.s Of
rock which We're followed by several
successive landslides that ohlitcrated
all trace of tho entrance to tho cave.
Lord Flizwill!nm. hnving spent "a large
sum OF money in drilling and mining
as hopeless, and returned TO Panama.
where he loft the steamer for sale
ana several OF his crew In tho hospital
The only case on record Of SUCCESS
fm search for pirate gold. is that Of
William Phipps. Of Boston Mass son
OF a Bristol gunsmith, and ia his early
Gays ships carpenter. Financed by the
Duke of Albemarle, son Of that General
Monk who brought about the restora-
ton of Charles H.. Phipps in 1851 set
sail in ship OF 200 tons for a small
islet of the West indies ana Succeeded
in recovering gold, pearls. precious
stones. and tons OF silver. valued at
S6.0oO.OOO. On his return to England
pressure was brought to hear upon
the King to seize his cargo. under the
law TINT makes all treasure trove the
property OF the crown. The SOVEREIGN.
however. declined such n high handed
proceeding. and left Phipps to share
the wealth with his associates and
hacker. the Duke of Albemarle Phipps
honored with knighthood. ana equipped
with a goodly percentage OF tho recov-
cred gold, served n term as II Sh Sheriff
of New England. ana Governor OF Mas
sa chusctts, and retired to England
where he died. He was the founder
OF the House of Phipps which has
played an important role In English
affairs since then. and which Is now
headed by his descendants in the direct
male line. the Marquis of Normandy.
Copyright, 1912. by the Brentwood
Company