Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-06-01
The LOOTING OF
A treasure ship
A Sea Episode In the Harbor
of Rio de Janeiro.

spangled dome, while southwark blaZed
the constellation of the Southern Cross.
We were to sail the next morning for
New York, and it was known among
us that we We're to carry 5000. 900 of
gold coin to New York. No one should
have known of this treasure except
the officers. The secret came out in
this way: The men wanted to go
ashore for q final spree. The captain,
who was a weak man, in order to ex-
cuse himself for not permitting them
to go told of the treasure. But the
weakest thing he did was to let them
go after telling them the reason why
they should stay. The captain, the
first mate and l second matte remain
ed aboard. The captain was smoking
on the poop deck; the first mate was
ing over the gunwale amidships look
ing down into the water. Slipping off
my clothes. | descended by the ladder
and plunged in for a swim.
l was some POO yards astcrn when |
heard the sound of oars and, raising
my head, saw a dark object coming
from the city. l did not doubt that it
was the boat containing the crew com
ing from their spree. l was surprised,
however. that they were so quiet. Usu-
ally on such occasions they were very
noisy.
| started to swim to the ship, but
they reached it before me. l heard
tho 11onto cipr c,t s.IQoo+ ,l,o-,., 1-.
did not hear the answer. The boats
crew climbed the ladder and went
aboard. | heard a scufi1e. and a mo-
ment later a heavy object dropped in
the water. The tide was going ont
but l kept ahead of it in the direction
of the ship. Presently something float
ed by he BY the light of the moon.
which by this time was we'll up above
the horizon, l saw the upturned ashen
face of the first mate. l soon heard a
second splash and knew that the cap
tain had met a similar fate.
1t was now all perfectly plain to me.
The men who had gone ashore had
been babbling in their cups and had
been overheard by ONE person OF Der-
sons WHO had taken advantage of their
absence to capture the treasure they
had talked about. I knew the robbers
hdd possession of the ship, and what
to DO myself | could not determine,
Possibly might swim the distance to
the shore, but ! didn't like the idea
of leaving these men to make away
WIN the treasure. there being no evil
dence OF their identity. While I was
celebrating | heard the anchor chain
rafting through the haWSc pine and
knew the captorS were Intending to
max sail, or. rather, drift out of tlle
narbOl, Tor there was no wind. lis
tened. hoping to hear the sound of
oars indicating the return of the crew,
but heard no such sound. The shin
drlfted toward me stern on. and nor
Knowing what else to do. clunr to rho
"udder. But, realizing that there was
hothlh@ there to support me for any
length OF time. | let go my hold and,
keeping close under the side OF tho
snip, waited till the bow driftcd TO mo
theh srasped a chain under the bow
spirit. There | was better protected
from being seen and might cling for
a long while.
When day dawned a breeze spranp
up, ana the ship hove away westward,
keeping close to the coast. Ahont s;v-
ty miles from Rio they ran her ashore
DOW on. Knowing that should be
discovered where l was. l swan bock
10 the rudder. keeping under water NIL
except my eyes. With which | saw the
robbers carry the treasure ashore.
There were FIVE Of them. one With red
halr and beard directing their move
ments. | noted his face ana that of
ever! one OF them. so that | should
KNOW them again. AS soon as they cot
ashore each man started off. stag-er-
ing under a bag of gold. | gave them
tlme TO get a start, then swan TO the
ladder, climbed aboard and after Get
ting provisions followed them. Thnv
were talking most of the time. which
enabled me to keep at a safe distance.
They moved eastward and after going
about ten miles stopped at a deserted
hut, went inside and when they came
out had left the treasure. | knew they
had hidden or buried it inside.
After a hurried lunch from a basket
they had brought with them they start
sd on to the eastward, walking rapid
~. felt sure they were going to Rio
and wished to get there as soon as DOS
sible in order that they should not be
missed. Striking a road, they hired a
countrynan to drive them and were
thus lost to me.
However, l made my way to the city
and hunted up the crew who had sedn
the ship sailing away. Soon after they
had left the dock to return to her I
took them to where the treasure had
been placed; then after securing it we
went on to the ship. which at high tide
we managed to get afoat, and set sail