The San Francisco call., 1913-07-20
RyT. r. r. 7.eeacMechen.

n RUCH treasure has been spent III
NI seeking the famous buried
treasure OF Cocos Island. That myste-
rksm sea-sEept land on the coast cl
Chilli has haen dug ever many times
by gold hunters seeking the fabulous
millions believed to have been cached
there by pirates. It's cost in lost hves
and suffering has made Coeos Island an
Island Of Despair.
Now comes an amazing new phase OF
the celebrated mystery of the lost loot.
1t isn't buried on Cocos Island at al
now, and hasn't been there for years
according to a remarkable story told BY
Capt. James Brown, eighty years cid
but full OF yigor after a hfe of adven
ture studded with tragic and romantic
incidents.
1t was dug up ana hidden on lonely
and remote isle OF the South Seas
years ago. buried in caves on coral
island rarely visited even by the row.
ing traders!
So convincing was the narrative to
several hard-headed business men that
q steam yacht has been fitted up secret
ly in an inlet near to New York, and
even now may be on its picturesque
cruise. The expedition was organized
by George e. Crater jr. of Bensonhurst,
who is lawyer with an Office in Nah
haitian, and who also represents the
Pail Mall Safe Deposit of London.
Some of Mr.. Crater's friends who are
prominent in banking and business
in New York have financed the haz-
ardous venture. Edward f. Carruth-
ers, prominent business man of Chi
cago, Is also of the party. and others
are from st. Louis.
Capt Brown, white-bearded and
straight as an Indian despite his age,
has provided that his secret shall not
die with hin.
Charts giving the islands exact
longitude aud latitude and diagram
matte key to the cavern that hides the
treasure have been placed in the
vaults of the United States Safety De-
posit Company, only to be opened II
nothing Is heard from the treasure
seekers after six months. In this
event the secret passes to the immedi-
ate relatives of those furthering the
quest. II successful Brown receives
one-half of the prize.
Nothing could be more gripping than
the old seaman's recital Of the crafty
scheme by which, after securing the
treasure, every member of the crew
was sent to his death except one
That one was Capt Brown, whom the
pirate gold has Knocked through life
of misadventure, to be defeated in his
pursuit OF the yellow loot that once
trickled through his fingers
Here is the grizzled Captains story
as he dictated 1t to me at the home o.
Mr.. Crater:
mo treasure will ever be found on
Cocos Island. helped dig 1t up.
saw II and handled 1t, between three
hundred and four hundred tons OF 1t,
with my own hands. | figured 1t out
TO be sixty millions or thereabout
The treasure is gold sovereigns, gold
bars, bullion, silver dollars. Some Is
gold crosses, gold plate and gold angels
that they took out of churches, and
plenty of diamonds. was first mate,
and when II came on board | took
count and entered 1t on the book.
well, we start. | shipped as first
mate on the schooner Sea Foam-wait
I shipped In New York on board yes
sci bound for Kingston, Jamaica.
Signed as second mate. We arrived
at Kingston and fell in with a skipper
who was Henry Smith, commanding
the schooner Sea Foam, 400 tons reg