COCOS ISLAND TREASURE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18528, 15 October 1934, Page 7

COCOS ISLAND TREASURE

SEARCH PARTY’S PROBLEMS ACTION BY COSTA RICA PANAMA, October 13. A dispatch from San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, to the Star-Herald, stated that a detachment of 100 soldiers and police had embarked for Cocos Island to force a party of Englishmen to abandon their search for pirate treasure. The dispatch said that the expedition had been instructed to demand respect for the sovereignty of Costa Rica over the island. The force also had orders to dismantle camps on the island and forbid exploration. A message from Cristobal, iti the Canal Zone, states that the yacht, Queen of Scots, on which are a party of treasure hunters en route from Cocos Island to England, was held up at Cristobal on Saturday by the Canal Zone immigration authorities. Officials demanded a bond to cover the repatriation of the 17 treasure hunters remaining on the island and two stationed here.

Commander F. S. Worsley, who is in charge of the expedition, said the bond would arrive from England soon. Commander Worsley, who attracted attention when he raised the Union Jack over the tropical island, and claimed it for Britain, said he had experienced no difficulty with the officials of Costa It'ica. lie said ho was not aware that Costa Rica had established any claim to the island. He said he would return to the island in January, with a sailing ship, having found a yacht too expensive to operate.