Year: 1872

which the wealth of century had beer
pouring from mines of gold and silver
In that town were boarded, in banks ano
in private houses, countless silver dol
lars, and its churches were filed with
golden ornaments consecrated to God
If they could only pillage that town
they might CLAIM to themselves the
honor Of a Pizaroo and possess sufficient
to make each desperate a respectable
Cresus.


"They dropped their. anchor in the
placid bay, and with protestations Of
friendship they embarked to the land.
Eliza, then blooming girl of nineteen
years, and a few others only were left
on board. The people of the town were
feasted and in a neighboring wood the
sounds of revelling were heard night
and day. -Four days they continued
their fatal spree, until all control was
lost by their chief. Drunken sailors
are not likely to keep secrets long. and
it happened that the true intent of the
band of pirates was learned by the au-
thorities. A force of Spanish soldiers
was called out and a surprise was plan
ned. In the night theyrushed upon the
unsuspecting outlaws, and horrible
carnage began. The pirates fought
wildly and to no avail. They were
shot down one after another, in the
melee until only nineteen remained
alive. The survivors were captured
and put in irons, where they were
closely guarded until they could be
handed over to the British Government
Their story is short. The chief was
slain in the bloody fight, and the survi-
vors were taken to England and execu-
ted in London, as warning to all snch,
who dare to array themselves against
the world at large. Not one of them
was left alive to tell the story of their
adventures or the hiding-place of their
treasure.


II was on shore when the struggle
began. With out losing moment of
time, 1 fled to boat and to the brig.
Taking Eliza with me again rturned
to the land and penetrated the woods,
where we we're concealed for some time.
We made our way to small town and
were cared for by charitable people, who
were moved to compassion by the story
of our captivity. A passage to our
native country was soon secured, and
again we trod on England's soil.


81 will not detain you much longer.
All our nearest relations were dead.
Eliza married a man named Abram
Richards, who afterwards died in New
York. We met again and married her.
When about twenty-four years of age
having converted my property into cash,
l bought ship and we went to New
Zealand, where 1 stayed until my fortune
was gone, then the California gold fever
broke out, which led me here.


"By singular fatality I have been
always prevented from attaining the
present object of my life the recovery
of the hidden treasures of the pirates
The story which have told has induced
many to fit out expeditions in the vain
hope of finding the secret cave. They
have failed always. 1t would be only
the merest chance-one chance in mil
lion-that they could succeed. I know
the spot, and can go to it without the
slightest difficulty.


SIN 1867 the South Pacific Hidde1
Treasure Company was organized, ant
started with crew and party wht
were to be jointly interested in the re
suit. My wife went with US. Befor'
we had been one day out was take1
suddenly ill, and was delirious for thre'
days. afterwards learned that con
spiracy had been formed to poison me
The Williams thought that they coul'
find among my papers all the clu
necessary for the discovery of the treas
ure. and thus keep it to themselves.
! resolves not to trust them, and put il
at Panama. where discharged the mel
and broke up the expedition.


, "With what little funds I had at m
disposal 1 resolved to attempt the voy
age to the island, in small craft whicl
} 1 fitted up, and which was only fou
tons burthen. After being out som
time we were obliged to put into Punt
} Arenas, in distress. Again we started
J soon the little craft began to leak badly
and we were in imminent danger. B.
the constant request of those with me
returned to Panama. Again I fittet
ont, taking With me this time man
who represented that he was a brother
to prominent gentleman in this city
whose name I desire you will no
publish. After being out three days
discovered that he was an impostor
and from his actions was led to feal
svil designs on his part. I again re
turned to Panama, and being without
means I was obliged to remain il
Central America two years.


aIn October, 1870, Captain Cummins