AMERICA

West Coast Times, Issue 579, 2 August 1867, Page 6

AMERICA

(ITEMS TBOlt TUE PANAMA STAB.)

An expedition is being fitted out in San Francisco for the discovery of treasure supposed to have been concealed on the Cocos Islands by pirates many years ago. The " North Californian," noticing the organisation in Sau Francisco of " The South Pacific Prospecting Company," -says: — "The stated object of the company is to ' recover, buried treasure in Cocos Island' — that is, to attempt to recover, provided the treasure is there. Tn '54 and '55 a company with the same object in view was gotten up at the same place. Stock in the gold venture was liberally sold, as probably many in Marysville will recollect, and the schooner Julius Pringle, well manned and provisioned, sailed away and with a fair wind made a straight for the Pirates' Isle. Some time afterwards she returned with— a cargo of lumber. It appeared that an exceeding strong current was found running around the island, so strong that a landing could not be effected. In fact, there is one place there where a boat can land, and the adventurers failed to discover its whereabouts ; and so, after consuming nearly all their provisions, they headed back for San Francisco, stopping at a place on the coast for a cargo. Another attempt was made five or six years after, with what result we have forgotten. The history connected with the treasure is as follows : — A great mauy years ago the Pacific Ocean was infested with bucanneers, the majority of them coming from Spain. One of them, named Lollonais, rendered himself most notorious by his piracies at sea, and his murders aud robberies on land. After him came Henry Morgan, Scotchman, who by his bloodthirstiness and daring recklessness threw into the shade all the acts of his predecessors, the Spaniards. He lauded at and pillaged all the principal towns on the South American Coast, always torturing tho inhabitants in a most inhuman manner, iv order to compel them to confess where they had hidden their money aud jewels. Twice he landed at Panama, and by horrid cruelty forced from the people a great portion of their wealth. It was after one of these ' raids ' that Morgan with his fleet of twenty-three vessels, went to the island of Taboga, a short distance from Panama, to have a grand carousal. Here some of the crew mutinied, and seizing one of the best ships, went on an independent cruise, during which they fell in with a Spanish galleon bound from a Mexican or Chilian port to Spain, laden with gold coins and jewels, belonging to the Church, of the value of 20,000,000 dols. After transferring the booty to their own ship, they scuttled and sunk the other, first putting to death all on board with the exception of two boys. Next day a man-of-war hove in sight, gave chase, and the pirates steered for Cocos Island (distant from Panama 1000 miles, more or less, iv a westerly direction) where they hastily lowered the boats $0 carry thexreasure on shore. Two boats loads were safely landed aud quickly buried, while the third boat was swamped, and its load (which was but a small portion of the whole), went to the bottom, where it could very plainly be seen through the clear water. All bauds were soon again on board, and all sail mafle upon the ship

But they were overhauled before night and all slain by the victors, excepting the two boys, who were again spared. They were carried to Spain, where they lived and died. One of them had several times attempted to influence somo wealthy men sufficiently to induce a search for tho treasure, but none would believe his story ; and on his deathbed he solemnly assured some friends that the account he had given was true. At the north-east end of the island (on the south-west, or some other part,) is the only spot where a landing can be made, aud that through a tolerably heavy surf. On the beach is a natural basin formed in a rock by the constant dripping of water (drinkable, and pure as crystal,) for so many years. As the pirates were in a great hurry, they couldn't have buried the golden onzas and church ornaments very deep ; but then what changes may have taken place there within a hundred years ! The spot may now be overgrown with thick tangled brushwood, and — but who cau say the freebooters' treasure has not been removed long ago !

A terrible massacre has been perpetrated by the Indians at Fort Burford, at the mouth of the Yellowstone, Upper Missouri. There was o'ue company of soldiers stationed there, under the command of Colonel Yankin. The Indians made an attack on that little band, and it appears from all accounts that they fougkt bravely until out numbered by the red skins, who killed them all but the Colonel and wife. They then took them a few yards from the post, and having built a fire, tied the Colonel's hands and feet and put him in the fire, while his wife was compelled to see him burning. After that was done they maltreated her in a shameful manner, aud having rolled her up in a buffalo robe, they fastened her to a wild horse and turn him loose. God only knows how long she was on the prairie, but it happened very fortuuately, that the mail-carriers for that fort encouutered her in that conditiou, and after they had heard who she was, they took her in charge and returned with her and the mails to Fort Rice. The Indians were eighteen hundred strong — our men only ninety-six. They fought them three days ; but on the third day the Indians took the place, scalped all the dead, and those who were offi^ cers they cut up into small pieces and ate them.

It is rumored that Sir George Bowen, Governor of Queensland, will replace Sir Henry Barkly at the Mauritius, and that tho 'latter will be transferred to Sydney, in room of Sir John Young.

The Otago " News Letter " says :— " I hear that botli Judge Chapman and Rector Simuionß will shortly depart from Otogo, and Mr Simmons, I ' believe, will find bis destination in Wellington, where Judge Chapman goes, I know not."

The value of house property in Hokitika shows but little depreciation notwithstanding the dull times that folks so much complain of. On Tuesday Mr G. W. Binney sold the West Coast Hotel by auction, and the property rea« Used the very handsome sum of TJioO. Tho furniture belonging to the establishment will be disposed of to-day by tbo same gentleman.

The " Grey River Argus " says that " A rush, which is stated to be of considerable importance has taken place to a terrace, about two miles from Razorback, distant about twenty miles from Cobden, on the road to Fox's, The workings and prospects arc similar to those at Welshman's terrace, at .For's, and large numbers of men have proceeded to the spot during the last few days." *

The " Wakatip Mail " of the 13th saya :— " In an important caso hoard at the Warden's Court, Arrowtown, some points of interest to the miners were decided upon. The case led to the taking out of an additional number of miners' rights under clause 8 of Goldfielda Act, 1866, which states that ' It shall be lawful to issue any number of miners' rights not exceeding six, to any person applying for the same, and the holder of such miners' rights shall be entitled to occupy, either separately or conjointly, a corresponding number of claims : Provided that there shall be employed * theroon at least one man for each claim so oe- . cupied.' This poiut was raised by Mr Manders; and the Warden (Mr Broad) held that persons holding interests in different claims should have more miners' rights than one, unless they had their claims represented by others holding buch rights."

Wo take tho following mining news from tho " Brighton Times "of Saturday :—": — " The only important news of this week is the opening of now ground at the back of the Red Jacket Terrace workings, where a party at a depth of about ninety feet struck the lead afresh with very fair prospects. This new discovery has attracted the attention of several other parties who have pegged out the grouud in a line with tho now shaft, and are already sinking in very deep ground. Tho direction of the new lead it) inland from the old workings, and should those parties succeed in tracing the auriferous drift in that direction, nu may anticipate a rush, .which will bo equal to the original Welshman's lead discovery. Tho distance between the Ked Jacket to the Belfast terrace is fully half a mile, and never was well prospected, and we do not see nuy reason why there should not be a good payable lead joining the two terraces. Our conjectures regarding a lead - joining the White Horse to the Red Jacket Terrace aro also the samo, and we feel confident that all these leads will be traced before the ensuing summer is over. On account of the late heavy rains water is plentifully supplied to all parties for washing, and tho .shares of claims on Belfast and Dayleslord Terraces are now worth double in value, many parties having only been lately enabled to test their washdirt, aud consequently to appreciate the real value of their claims, wiiich are iv some instances better than the best of Welshman's Terrace. On the Dublin Terrace, in consequence of the great slopo of the surface, the ground has given way in several places. Every day brings changes iv the surface ; tho buildings, the huts, the trees, tho shafts, everything is in motion, and the miners seem to think nothing of it. „ JnSonvthe disposition of the drifts, and from thq manner they arc undormined, we have good reason to think that the whole of the hill is bound to slip down, aud perhaps at the least expectod moment. Tho lato rains will no doubt render the workings yet less stable, aud wo feel alarmed at the thought that 200 or 300 men are in danger of being buried alivo at any moment. Many tunnels and shafts have already fallen in, aud some parties cannot outer their claims without stripping from the surface,"