Smyrna times., 1932-09-28
ELUSIVE CACHES
OF PIRATE GOLD
Delegate Instrument of Sci
ence To Detect the Metal
To Be Used
EXPEDITION is MADE

Washington.-The elusive caches
of pirate gold on Cocos island that
have defed maps and diggings Of
fortune hunters for more than a
century, now must dodge the deli
cate instruments of science. An ex-
pedition now on the island is re-
ported pinning its hopes on newly
developed metal detector.
"Cocos island, which is IS square
miles Of lofty. forest-covered noun
tains and furrowed valleys. owes it's
fame to the activities of pirates
along the coasts Of Central and
South America from the Seven
teenth to the early part of the last
century," says a bulletin from the
National Geographic society.
after Capt. Edward Davis loot
ed Leon, Nicaragua, in 1855, he
sailed for CocOs. buried his treas
ure and rested until his next plum
dering expedition. In the early
eighties, BenitO, former Portu-
guese naval officer who was a
scOurge to shipping in the Carib-
bean. felt that his old bailiwick was
being too well policed by his profes-
sion, rounded the Horn. preyed upon
towns and shipping along the Pa
cific coast and sought refuge on
CocOs. He also buried treasure on
the island before he and his crew
were captured.
Loot Of Lima Magnet,
"Loots Of other pirates have been
reported buried on Cocos. but the
famous loot Of Lima, perhaps. is the
chief magnet of modern expeditions
to the island. Gold and silver and
precious stones worth millions that
were accumulated by the Spanards
from the natives and form richly
adorned Inca temples. were hoard
ed in Lima when a revolution broke.
"The Lima mint was filled with
gold and silver and the Lima ca
thedral was a vault of wealth. The
cathedral chalices were solid gold.
studded with priceless gems. Golden
affairs equipment glistened in the
dim light of the edifice. Diamond
studded vestments beamed with a
new radiance with every movement
Of the priests who wore them. There
were chasubles of gold adorned
with rows of diamonds, rubies, en-
eralds and sapphires.
Fearing seizure of these treas.
ures by the revolutionists. Lima city
fathers sought a ship as a hiding
place. The Mary Dear was riding
at anchor In the harbor Of Callao.
Under cover of darkness the treas
ures were transferred to the Mary
Dear's hold and a guard stationed
aboard. Probably unknown to the
Spaniards, the Mary Dear was COM
manded by one of Benito's pirates
The CLINT Of gold and the simmer
Of jewels crazed the captain. The
guard were massacred and thrown
overheard, and the Mary Dear made
for the open sea. The crew of the
ship was arrested later. but not nm.
til the cargo of riches had been
buried, probably on Cocos.
Sought by Many.
''In the last century more than
score Of expeditions have visited
Cocos. One was headed by the IA
nous British racer, Sir Malcolm
Campbell. Another was led by the
widow OF a friend of the Mary
Dear's captain, while a third was
led by two women philanthropists.
A British naval officer anchored at
Cocos and ordered his crew to find
the treasure, but all he gained was
a severe reprimand from the Brit
ish admiralty when he reached
England.
"Coconuts (from which the island
gets its name) and bananas grow
wild. Wild pigs scamper through
the forests, myriad birds swarm IFS