Treasure in the Pacific Islands.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XIX, 9 May 1903, Page 1279

Treasure in the Pacific Islands.

PROCEEDS OF A PIRATICAL EXPEIDTION. Some interest has been given to stories regarding treasure islands in the Pacific by a recent suit in Equity in Sydney-, the suit being the outcome of an attempt to recover some £0,000,00 worth of specie, said to have been deposited at Cocos Island. Mr James R. Thomson has communicated with the Sydney “Telegraph” giving some particulars of another lot of treasure supposed to be concealed at this highly interesting island. Mr Thomson’s story relates to the proceeds of a piratical expedition led by a Scotchman named Chapman in the 40’s down the east coast of South America. The matter was referred to in the “Glasgow Herald” somewhere about the year IS6G, when Mr Thomson was an apprentice in the Scottish manufacturing town. On seeing the report in the paper Mr John L. K. Jamison, who has been superintending engineer at Panama for the Pacific S.N. Company, said the facts were incorrect and he then wrote what he stated was the true history of the matter.

According to this account, says Mr Thomson, the pirate Chapman went down the east ccast of South America, robbing and plundering wherever he got the chance, and not scrupuling to steal the valuables from churches. In this way’ he secured a great quantity of valuable plate, chiefly- silver. In course of time the pirate and his crew began to be afraid of pursuit, and then doubled the Horn, and sailing up the west coast hid their treasure on the island of Cocos, taking the bearings of the hiding places so that they could go back when convenient and lift it. The portions allotted to the crew and that held by the captain were planted in different portions of the island After securely concealing the treasure they set sail for a port on the west coast of South America, but on the way thither were wrecked and the erew scattered.

Some years afterwards Chapman returned to Panama with crucibles and other plant intended for turning his plate into bullion, when he secured it. While at Panama, however, he fell desperately ill of fever and went into a hospital there. lie was attended tc by a Dr. McDowall, who was physician to the Pacific S.N Company at that port. Chapman soon got into such a state it was obvious that he could not recover, and he then confided his story to the doctor. He produced a plan and a chart which elaborately described the position of the treasures on the island, and these he gave to Dr. McDowell. Shortly afterwards he died.

The doctor told several people in Panama the story- and showed the chart and plans to several friends. lie apparently showed them to one two many, for they were stolen from him. Notwithstanding this, however, he determined to make an endeavour to locate the treasure, and a syndicate was formed, in which Mr Jamison joined, to search the island. One of the steamers of the Pacific Company, the Morrow, was chartered by the searchers, and she made two or more expeditions to Cocos Island. But the treasure was never found, and the searchers became disheartened and gave up the venture.