Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-08
Lure
OF THE GOLD

LONDON, March 19.--The latest ex-
petition in search of the pirates treas
nTe on Cocos Island has returned to
Panama confessing its failure. A few
thousand dollars more N money and
year and several lives have been
poured into the quest, and the treas
ure rests as secure against the hands
OF modern argonauts as il has been
for nearly a century.
About two years ago an expedition
organized by two English women,
whose object in searching for the
treasure was to devote it to charity in
which they are interested in London.
spent six weeks in Cocos, and came
away owning that their plans had
gone wrong. But the confession was
not taken seriously. They returned to
England and there succeeded In con-
yincing some hard-headed English
business men that the treasure was
within reach. AS result a new ex-
petition was organized. At the head
of the new syndicate was Mr.. E. G.
Evelyn Mills, himself heavy investor
in the scheme. A 400-ton steamer was
fitted up especially for the search.
Provisions, bins and excavation tools
were provided and best of all, amid
ships, there were built several large
Eteel boxes with combination locks on
the doors in which the treasure was
to be stored. The ship lies in the
harbor at the Pacific entrance of the
Panama canal today, for sale at bar
gain.
Mr.. Mills recounted his adventure at
the University Club in Panama recent
", berating himself as fool for en-
gaging in such an enterprise. Yet,
when he had finished there was not a
man of the dozen at the table with
him but would gladly have enlisted his
resources and strength in another trial
at the pirates treasure. Fortunately
they are all poor and could not raise
the money among them to buy the
treasure ship. The expedition left
England about six months ago, made
the Straits of Magellan and then
sailed directly for Cocos Island, which
lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Panas
ma, about 300 miles distant from the
city.
At this time of the year the surf
runs high at Cocos, and it was impos-
sible to land in the ships boats, SO
with much toll q raft was launched
and by this means the tools and pro-
visions were put ashore. The work
extended over two months There are
two well-known clues to Cocos treas
ure. The first is that the loot taken
from Lima in 1918 by an English sailor
named Thompson and the second
treasure was stolen from Vera Cruz in
1921 by the Spanish pirate, Benito
Bonito fLittle Ben, the good1.
Was Formerly a British ship
The Japanese steamer Koju Maru,
that. some months ago called here
with coal for the Inter-Island proceed
ing to Columbia river to load lumber,
is due to pay a return visitshere for
bunker coal, was at one time Brit
ish tramp steamship, trading along
the coast of Asia. Formerly the Jap
anese steamship Senju Maru, before
changing hands, was the Hartford and
under the British flag, according to
Captain Corwin, her master. She is
less than four years old. The year
after her launching the Hartford had
a narrow escape from being destroy
ed by fire while lying in Imperial
Harbor, North Siberia. Before the
flames could be extinguished the en-
tire forward part of the hull was
badly damaged and had to be re-.
built. The steamer was purchased
by Fujioka G. Co., of Kobe, and put
under Japanese registry Formerly
Captain Gown was in command of
one of the Japanese steamers which
plies regularly between Puget Sound
and the Orient.
Pa
Survey Board at Work on
Burned Bark
To ascertain the amount of damage
done the bark S. C. Allen at the fire
which swept the after part of the yes
sci late Saturday night, Captain John
r. Macaulay, pilot for the port of.
Honolulu and E. ]. Stone constitu-
tie members of special board of
survey, who are today making min
ute examination of the vessel
Until the report from these marin
ers has been received, the loss to the
several owners can only be roughly
estimated. 1t is believed that con-
siderable work will be necessary be-
fore the S. G. Allen can proceed to
sea. The vessel has been in service
for the past twenty-five years. TAX
ing into consideration that the bark
is bath built it is more than likely
that to repair the windjammer will
prove good investment of additional
coin.
Windjammers Prepare for Sea
The schooners Prosper and A. F.
Coates are prepared to sail from Hilo
for the northwest coast, at the time
the Inter-lsland steamer Mauna Kea
sailed for Honolulu The schocners
have been discharged of shipments
of lumber .."..
A Brand New "DolIar'