Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-24
QUEST FOR BURIED TREASURE.
Sea Captain Tells of Trip to Cocos Island
With Numbering Pirates.


by for squalls at a moments notice
l didn't propose to let him kill me
too, if l could help it,
I'VE scuttled the ship, loaded what
sail for Australia. On our voyage the
steward sickened mySteriOusly and
died and we pitched his body over
board. I guess the captain settled
him. pretended to be mighty friend
ly with the old man after that, but
deep down in my heart ! knew he in
tended to murder me next and land
the treasure alone. We raised the
coast of Australia and as we drew
near shore the captain drew a pistol
and aimed at me point blank and
fired. There was a little sea running
and the rocking of the boat upset his
aim and he missed me. Before he
could fire again I had drawn my own
weapon and killed him. 1t was with
no little satisfaction that l fed that
murderous old cut-throat to the sharks
II landed the treasure a little later
and buried it. Then l went into Mel
bourne and gradually, little by little
managed to dispose of my gold with
out arousing suspicion. 1t netted me
over 100000. On this snug fortune
I lived a life Of luxury and ease for
several years. but l finally lost every
thing l had in unfortunate specula-
tions."
So runs this wild yarn of the bucko
mate.
In 1902 Captain Brown, having
drifted home to his native village on
the coast of Maine, induced a num-
ber Of wealthy men to fit out an eXpe-
dition to sail to the island where he
said he and his comrades had buried
the treasure from Cocos and from the
Melbourne ship. His vessel was wreck
ed off the coast of South America ana
he never reached the island. Several
wears later he tried to raise money 1or
second expedition, but failed. SO
whether his story is true or not re-
mains vet to be proved. But the ola
sea rover still swears he alone in all
the world now holds the key to the
secret of the Cocos Island treasure,
and he stands ready, despite his 81
wears, to lead an expedition to the
South Seas to recover 1t.
The first treasure was buried on CO.
cos Island in 1921 by Benito Bonito'
who has been called the last of the
great pirates. Bonito began his career
as q lieutenant on Spanish priVa-
teer during the Napoleonic wars. In
1916. while he was mate of Portu-
guese trading brig, he murdered MS
captain. seized the vessel and turned
nitrate. He cut an English SLAYER
named the Lightning out of MatanZas
harbor one night, renamed her the
Relampago, which is Spanish 1or
chainlightning, burned his old brig
and transferred his flag to his prize
He made all the crew of the Engllsh
vessel walk the plank except TWO
men. who asked to be allowed to join
his forces One of these men was
Bugs" Thompson and the other a
Frenchman named Chapelle.
In the long, low, rakish Relam-
pago, which could show a clean pair
of heels to anything sailing southern
waters, Bonito had prosperous
career as u freebooter. plunderinG
ships and laying cities under tribute
ND and down the eastern and western
coosts of South and Central America.
His most notable achievement was
the sacking of Vera Cruz, whcre ne
and his men obtained S12,OOO,OOO In
plate and money. With this treasure
he sailed TO COcos Island and burled
il in a cave. While on the island MS
crew mutined because they wished
the plunder divided, and battle was
fought on the beach, in which, II Is
said. Is men were killed. Soon after
while the ship was in Caribbean
waters, Bonito was captured by a
British gunboat and hanged at the
yardarm.
THOMPSON disappeared from history
until 1888. when. as captain OF the
English brig Mary Dear, he anchored
before Callao. \ revolution was un-
der way in Peru at the time. The
government authorities obtained per
mission from Captain Thompson tC
place Sll,OOO,O00 in treasure under
the British flag aboard the Mary Deal
for safe-keeping. This treasure con
sisted of money, plate and ornaments
stripped from the churches of Lima
dating back to the days Of the span
ish CONQUEST. Four Peruvian soldiers
were left on the brig as custodians o
the treasure. Thompson murdered
them. and, sailing to CocoS Island
slowed his plumber in BOnito's ole
cave.
He was captured a little later by
Peruvian war vessel and all his mel
| were put To death. but Thompson wa
| taken back to the island to point on
| the nlulnS place ol lIlc 'lC''D"i''
| escaped to the brush.
Thompson was next heard of in I'M
in st. Johns. Newfoundland. Ther'
he fell in with James keating, sail
or. To Heating he gave a map SHOW
| ing the location Of the CocoS lSlan'
| hoard and told him how the treasure
might be found. Soon after this dlS
closure Thompson died suddenly
Heating was later suspected of haNlni
killed him. Heating organized an cN
pcditiOn to CucoS in partnership witt
a Captain Boguc. After reaching TN
| island the crew became mutinouS an'
demanded Il share in the treasure
| Having made the sailors drunk on
night. Heating and BOguc went ashor
in a boat. found tn" cave. and lOadct
their boat with gold. Heating Sailc'
To the Mexican mainland with hi
treasure. but BOguc was missing, il
attempting to climb into tn" boat wit
his packets and sea- boots filled wit
| gold. Roguc. Heating declared. ha
been drowned. Heating was g"ncr
ally thought to have murdered hin