ISLAND TREASURE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 75, 29 March 1934, Page 15

ISLAND TREASURE

COCOS STORY DOUBTED

ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE

(By Telegraph) (Special to the "Evening Post.") DUNEDLN, This Day. Cocos Island, at one time a haven of refuge for pirates who operated in the vicinity of Panama, is still believed to. conceal within its romantic confines a huge Lima treasure of which Mr. D. B. MeViear, of Wellington, claims to hold the key, but the belief is questioned by Mr. George Chance, a wellknown photographic artist, of Dunedin, who was associated with an expedition to Cocos Island in 1906. "It's the same old story so many men seem to have 'revealed' on their death beds—a 'secret' that will enable treasure to be found," declared Mr. Chance. "This Cocos Island treasure is developing into something resembling the famous (but mythical) Spanish treasure that was exploited some years ago. I am certain that treasure was . actually hidden, but I am equally certain that it is not there now." There had been some twenty expeditions to the island in search of treasure since he was there, said Mr. Chance, and the island had been completely and methodically ravaged by these various fortune-seekers. No treasure had actually been discovered at all. Mr. Chance joined an expedition with Captain Voss, of Tilikum fame, when he was eighteen years of age. "Almost every expedition starts off hopefully with a supposed clue or a letter," he said. "In the case of Captain Voss it . was the old story of a dying shipmate giving him a document which -was to ■ have led him to the exact location. ; None of these clues ever seem to have ; come to anything." The Costa Riean Government, under whose sway Cocos Island came, seemed to do all.it could to encourage these searchers for treasure, and parties which made the ; venture had to pay a certain concession | for the privilege. At the time Captain Voss was in those waters the Govern- ; ment had accepted payments for three ; expeditions, and a man named Turner was already on the island. Then Earl . Fitzwilliam turned rup with another ■ expedition, and between the two there ■ was a bitter fight which resulted in casualties. Although it was given out ■ to the world that they .were due to a premature explosion, the Voss party ; knew the contrary to be the case, be- \ cause they were later told the truth by . men who had taken part in the affray."