A Search for Buried Treasure.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3644, 15 April 1882, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Search for Buried Treasure.

Some months ago an article was published, which excited cousidorable attention, on the buried treasures of the Buccaneers, Riving an account of one Currcy, who had succeeded in persuading'many people in Jamaica that lie had discovered an immense treasure cave on the island of St. Catalann, in the Carribean Sea, which was filled witU doubloons accumulated by the Buccaneers on the Spanish Main in tho seventeenth century. It was stated at the time that, strange and incredible as the story seemed, he had succeeded in securing influential supporters, who promised to help him to realise his treasure trove. That promise was fulfilled by the despatch of 11, M.5. Phcenix from Jamaica tv St, Catulina to assist in the unearthing of the buried hoard of Morgan and his piratical companions. The following account of the search for the cave, extracted from the journal of an officer who took part iv it, will be re.id with interest: - On Sunday morning, Dec. 4, ISBI, as the sun commenced to gild the summits of the IHue Mountains of Jamaica, 11.M.5. Plicouix might have been seen steaming from Port ttoyal, towing astern a Hailing sloop, ttic Lord VVurdcu, uaviiig on boara the gentlemen who have been induced by the representations ot Currcy to boiievo iv the story of tua treasure uuriod in the island by the old buccaneers. Ever since tlie Government agreed to permit oue of Her Majesty's ships to accompany a search expedition, Curroy showed symptoms ot" disinclination to go, and up to tho last moment it was quite on the tapis that he would retuso. lie professed hinuelf, however, to be very sanguine of the success of the expedition. "Look hero, sir," he said to me ; " here's a plan of Ihe island that 1 sketched ; here's the spot that holds the treasure ; and if 1 were on the bench there (pointing to a murk on tho plan) I could walk to the place blindfold, though I would guarantee to put all the WOW of tho t'hoiuix within 10 yards of the hole and they would never' find it/ I" order to put him to the proof, 11. M.S. I'lm'iti.v stood out to sea, exchanging the foul stenches of Port Koyal fur the fresh seabreezo. On Tuesday, Dec H, at noon, we sighted the Wand of Did I'rovuleneo, and shortly afterwards we reached the seticluicut ot Isabel, situated at the top of a picturesque bay at (he foot of a mountain of pyrauiidical shape. Here, dose to the smaller island of Catalina, we anchored, the Lord Warden following our example. The steam cutter was ihcu despatched to the sloop for Messrs Levy and Currey, and after consultation with them, t'apt. Greenfell, accompanied by some of his officers, went on shore to interview the islanders and ascertain what amount ot opposition might be bo expected from them. Half nn hour after leaving tho ttiuonix in the cutter we were skirting tho coast of St. Uatalina, and passed close to the remarkable rock, which is supposed to resemble Morgan, who must in that case have been remarkably ugly. Rounding die corner of Catulina, we landed for the first time on the island of Old Providence. A number of islanders, curious to know our business, soon gathered round us, and on learning that it 'iad reference to the treasure Mipposed to be in the neighbourhood seemed mightily tickled. They were good enough to say that they had no idea ot preventing Currey from taking it if he could (md it. The general impression seemed to be that Currcy was a madman. The town of Isabel is situated in a very picturesque spot ; palms fringe the sandy beach,and the mountainous ridges in the rear ot the settlement are clothed with bright green tropical vegetation. The islanders all speak Unglish, although under the Government of the Ropublic of Colombia, and appear to 1 • a conicntul, well-to-do people. Some a them may possibly be descendenls of the old huecanters, while many have evidently Spani-h blood in ther veins. Aftor some conversation with the prefect, Mr Hawkins, we said good evening, and returned to the Phiunix, getting on board about seven o'clock. On Wednesday, at (i..'!o a.m., the captain and some of tlie ollicers of the L'bicnix accompanied Currey and the gentlemen from the sloop to the island of St. Catalma. A landing was effected nn the beach a little to the houthward of Morgan's Head. Currey then led tha way up the .side of a hill, and on reaching its summit descended to the beach a few yards to the north of the head. Here he pointed out the cave, und running in made for the back of it, and commenced searching iv the sand for a hole which he sUtcd led into a sccutnl cavity. After "roping abou: for a short time he informed the members of the expediti-n that the hole had been blocked up by debris washed in by the sea, but, said lie, pointing to what appeared to be the solid rosk, "The treasure's Jin there." Mr Currcy then seated him~clf on a larcc stone at the mouth of the cavern, and seemed to have no further interest in the matter. Crowbars and picks were then broushtiuto requisition, and with these a oertam amount of limestone and clay at the back of the cave was knocked away, the excavators standing up to their knees in the water while they worked. By 10 a.m., as the tide was ilowing in, it was no longer possible to continue operations, so half the part) returned to the Phuniix, aud the remainder stopped on the island until ebb tide, when it was proposed to coutinuo the search, although by this time the gentlemen from Jamaica were beginning to think that Currey was humbugging them. That worthy individual haa retained his position on the big stone all the morning, looking as stolid as the head of Morgan; and when asked to explain certain little inconsistencies — such as his declaration that if lai.ded he could place his hands on tlie fiftecL millions of dolla.s in five minutes— ouly deigned to answer, pointing at the rock, " The treasure's in there, I tell jou." A few of the islanders in their canoes presented themselves during the day. One man, evidently believing that lie was about to secure some o£ the booty of the buccaneers, had cou.e provided with a large bag; while another, with an eye to business, brought with him cocuauuts aud milk, which proved most acceptable to the treasure-hunters. At 3 p.m. several of tho party returned to the cave to proceed in the prosecution o f the search. On this occasion the steam cutter with the gig in tow went at once to tha mouth of tho cavern, and the explorers experienced some difficulty in getting ashore. Currey now showed a little n.ore interest in the business, and actually went so far as to swim through the broken water to the entrance. The work of excavation was got on with, although all concerned were almost convinced that they were tha dupes of an adventurer. At last tho arrival of a gentleman (a geologist) on the scene, who had been absent during the day exploring the island, settled the matter. Ho waded through the water at the back of the cave, and exuming the rock which the indefatigable treasure-hunters were digging away at, pronounced Currey's story of the blocking up by debris false. "This," said he. looking at a handful of tlie stone and showing it to Currey, " has been here for hundreds of years." Currey's only reply was, "The treasure's in there, I tell you." However, the party at once desisted from

their attempts at tunnelling the island of St. Cataliua, and'somu of themembeis expressed in very plain language their opinion of Currey's conduct in b'inging them on such a wild-goose chase.

KruTii trus worthy sources I understand that during the past iive yearn this man Currey has teen living at Jamaica on the charity of the people he has deceived. At various times lie has received nearly £500 from gentlemen on the strength of his promises to show the spot where the treasure was concealed. One poor woman, a widow, alone gave him £200, her all. By his plausible representation he induced Her Majesty's Consul at Colon to believe in the story of the lizard and the enormous find of doubloon?, which were seen by Mr Edmund. Levy and others in Kingston. Thursday.— Sailed from Old Providence for Port Koyal, leaving Currey on board the sloop to lind his way bock. No doubt on his return he will endeavour to persuade another party to go down to St. Catalina, for he persisted to the last that the treasure was in the cave ; but it is very likely that before he takes another trip he may see the inside of a prison, as it is determined to prosecute him for obtfiing money under false pretence.— Pall Mall (luzette.