Cocos Isle
p. 31 · Read in the full issue
On the Track of the Pirates’
Treasure
THE romantic square-shaped island of A Cocos, six miles long, and lying 600 miles south-west of Panama, has for many years lured the adventurous treasure hunter. Another expedition has just sailed for that place.
Densely covered by tropical growth, from its 2,000-feet peaks to the water’s edge, and only six degrees north of the equator, its stupefying heat makes any lengthy stay there an ordeal not to be endured by the weakly or listless, while the bewildering equatorial currents and uncharted rocks have rendered the island forbidden to the casual voyager.
Rain squalls follow one another in rapid succession, leaving the toiling treasure seeker clothed in constant moisture.
History reveals that in the year 1821, while Peru was striving for her eventual liberation from Spain, bullion valued at £7,000,000 in gold plate, money, and silver was removed by the Spaniards from the Fort of Callao.
It was placed aboard the Bristol brig Mary Dier, a fast-sailing merchantman, but while the final boat-load from ashore
was being shipped the crew overpowered the guards, cut the cables, and, “clapping on” all canvas, headed for the open Pacific.
The Mary Dier made for Cocos Isle, where the twice-stolen treasure was buried.
Four days later the Mary Dier was captured by a Spanish frigate, and all but three of the crew were killed.
These were spared to disclose the whereabouts of the plunder. One died under flogging, while the other two slipped overboard during the night and swam to an American whaler near by.
When about to grasp the whaler’s lines, one of the men was grabbed by a shark, leaving only Thomson, the former mate of the Mary Dier.
Some years later, when dying in a Lon don hospital, he disclosed a chart made from memory, which has helped to lead the several expeditions of the past seventy years.
Captain Bonito, the Portugese pirate, is alleged also to have chosen Cocos Isle for the safe keeping of the fruits of his illicit trade, worth £3,000,000 and hidden in various places; and there is also said to be £2,500,000 worth of treasure which was the proceeds of the sacking of Mexico City, hidden near Wafer Bay, The last expedition was equipped with electric indicators, which were damaged during bad weather, on the passage to Cocos.