Search for Treasure

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6788, 20 February 1932, Page 10

Search for Treasure

TO THE SPANISH MAIN A 30-ton trawler put out from Brixham, Devonshire, on December 29 for tho Spanish Main, and will come back laden with doubloons and pieces of eight from the pirates’ lair. That, at any Tate, is her programme, says the Daily Express correspondent. And the nine advonturous men on board mean to carry it out. Somo timo ago Mr. Stanford Jolly, who knows tho wild places of tho world liko the back of his hand, announced his intention of loading the exhibition. At once more than 3000 people, 200 of them women, begged him to tako them with him. Men walked from Manchester a*«l Glasgow to plead their fitness for the voyage. Out of all these wore chosen the nine stalwart .fellows for the great adventuro aboard the Vigilant.

Tho skipper is an old sailing ship and P. and O. -officer; the mate a retired major in the Royal Engineers; and tho cook an ex-lieutenant-commander of the Navy. Three of the rest are ox-naval officers, one of whom was serving in 11.M.5. Amphion, the first ship iu action in the war; another is a former Rugby international. The remainder include a noted engineer, an amateur yachtsman of worldwide fame, and Mr. Cooper, whose official title is that of “gold diviner.” Mr. Cooper was a noted manufacturer who has now handed over his business to 'his family.

The nine men. reconditioned the whole ship themselves, without any outside aid. They installed an auxiliary engine, took out the fish holds, rebuilt tho cabins, caulked tho hull, and overhauled and reeved tho rigging. Tho voyage will occupy at least a year. Somewhere on. the Spanish Main of old lies, in the belief of theso adventurous men, treasure whose wealth is beyond imagination, and should they fail to find it they will make for tho Cocos Islands. Five millions of wealth are believed to bo buried there.