The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-08-06

parish. Another member OF the ex-
pedition is a Swedish prospeotor, who
IS said to have discovered a book and
maps in the Hudson Bay district con-
tanning directions as to the approx
mate location of the hidden riches.
Mr.. Cullens little diviner is supposed
TO do the rest.
1t was just a hundred years ago
that Cocos Island, according to tradi-
ton, received its first deposit Of
treasure. This is said to have come
from Peru, which was being torn
asunder by a revolution and some of
its citizens took gold from their
banks, precious jewels and sacra-
mental vessels from their church al
tars and gave them to the captain
of an English vessel, who sailed for
Cocos Island and buried some twelve
millions in money and precious metal
and jewels.
Then the notorious pirate, Benito
Bonito, is alleged to have chosen Co
cos Island as his bank After ravag-
ing the Spanish Main and terrorizing
and robbing the coast cities of South
America, he sailed into the harbor at
the little isle and buried scads and
scads of his wealth in a cave and
other cosy hooks. The next year he
was captured by the English and he
and his crew were slain. Busy legend
puts his share of Cocos Island gold
at $2O,0O0,OOO.
During the wars between Chill and
Peru. which ragged about the middle
OF the last century, whenever one
party seemed to be getting the worst
Of II, a flying squadron apparently
was despatched to Cocos Island with
all portable wealth, and another por-
ton of the island was dug up and
planted with gold and silver. Why
they never came back for it nobody
seems to know-either they forgot
where IL was buried or they killed
each other off too fast, perhaps. But
the total buried wealth at Cocos Is
land has been estimated at 500
100000.
Anyway, it seems to be the gen
eral impression that Cocos Island is
young mint--undenground Twice
Earl FitzWilham tried TO find the
buried gold. He was accompanied by
Admiral Palliser. The first time a
premature blast, when the Earl had
actually begun to dig, fractured his
skull and wounded sixteen Of his
men. The second time he lost his
ship and was nearly drowned before
he even got to the island
Another Englishman, Harold w S.
Gray, went to the island with a large
party OF men in 1907, but most Of
Them fell desperately i'll and he had
to abandon the search. Eleven other
search parties, small and large, are
on record. The new venture will be
me thirteenth.
Several women have vainly tried TO
find the treasure among them beau
tful French woman, Mile. Mathllde
Durand, and two English women,
Miss Barry Till and Miss l.. b. Davis.
The latter pair returned after several
months, worn out and empty handed.
An American skipper, Capt, James
Brown, declared several years ago
that he was with an expedition which
took a lot OF treasure from Cocos
mland in 1851, then buried 1t on
another island, at which all the crew
except two mysteriously died. Brown,
the cook and the captain sailed away
In a long boat, but the captain shot
me cook and Brown shot the captain,
20 that ne alone got to Australia with
.about half a million in gold.
That Is the first and only tale or
-Success in winning any OF the hidden
Moot What is this place which has
hncen suoh an irresistible lure 20 the
Maa,evers in pirates goldf IL 70
.