The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 8, 1898, Page 1

The VOLUME LXXXIII.—NO SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1898 —TWENTY PAGES PRICE FIVE CENTS. CLAIM TO KNOW THE SECRET OF COCOS ISLAND MILLIONS BURIED ON A CORAL REEF Searchers Say They .Found the Treasure of the Incas. Six Explorers Flushed With Success From the South Seas, Return eof the Seheener Vine With Hep Crew of For- tune Hunters, POTS OF GOLD AND JEWELS Positive They Know the Exact Spot Where the Fabuious Wealth Lies. Tarly yesterday afternoon the achooner Vine salled 4 through the ¥ bay. Her chains had hardly stopped rattling through the hawse pipes when six travel-worn passengers ibled over the side into a waiting Whitehall boat and made for the shore. ' utmost air of mystery surrounded as they stepped up the stairs of nd without a word to any itive dock loungers they ed away from this port | of November last ance papers stated, | e to Central American ports of the South Pacific e time she left there was T T about her mission. were then current that she had out upon an expedition that its end the location of a treas- a treature of such fabulous s the weavers of fiction in the ghts of imagination never | med of. | sion, undertaken with all| v that envelops expeditions iture, was to find and dig for | n gold and jewels of a proud | at for sixty years have | “ ther the landing, af its the 1gin hidden upon a rock-bound island of the Pacl Despite the multitudes of obstacles | that confronted them, the men of the party claim they were successful, that | the trea e of $18,000,000 was located, two years from now | | be divided between | his wife, A. E. Gra- Hugh Stewart | s. These six per- | the only people in | 10ld the ret, and ir knowledge it will be im- ny one to v away the ne that in 1838 was stolen f the bark Mary Dea of | , from the Peruvian ( nd buried upon Cocos Island. the story of the robbery as than 38 the bark M ry Dea, under the d of Captain John Keaton, rom Boston for Callao, Peru. 1e of the fi mate of t bark mpson. At that time the Per vian Government was engaged in her bitter s ggle with Chile, and the for- tunes of war were such that when the | Mary Dea urrived at Callao that city | was momentarily expecting an invasion from the besieging forces of Chile; | None of the warships of the former | | | | Government happened to be in the har- bor at the time, and in order to save the funds of the National treasury, the h plate and the wealth of many| te individuals, the Peruvian Gov- | sought the protection of the | tes flag, and Captain at | tuned for a goodly consider to hide the treasure upon his ship | til the crisis had passed. | 1is he consented to do, and the im- treasure, consisting of gold, sil- nd diamonds was secretly brought soard the Mary Dea and stored away. | d was posted to keep watch over | be temptation was more than Cap- hstand, so during of the night the »d and murdered, } } s slipped and the @richor left behind, and the criminal | captain and his band of fellow thieves | and got ay undiscovered. | reached Cocos Island eighteen days later and buried their treasure. Maddened bevond the point of human endurance, and with their blood bofling for re ge for the theft that had been erpetrated upon them, the Govern- ment officials of Peru as soon as they could communicate with their warships sent one of them to catch the ; Mary Dea. The bark was overhauled three Aa raving Cocos Island, the . and Captain Keaton | : taken ahoard | hip to be carried back to Foru to tell where they had buried the treas- | or to suffer the penalty of death. | While the ship returning to Callao it was becalmed, and as fortune would have it an American whaler was F becalmed near it. For some nge reason Keaton and Thompson e allowed the liberty of the deck they saw and recognized the | They managed one | and American whaler. night to slip past the guards and zet | over the rafl to the water. vam Then they | to the whaler and here fortune | B vored them, fpr before thelr | absence was discovered a breeze sprang | up and the American vessel spread her | salls. When the sun rose she was out of sight of the warship. The two men gave assumed names ds and dropped anchor well up in | | the ship reached Panama Bogue | only resn'ted in the most bifter dis- the treosurc, but had never plicel any faith in Young gave him indis- | putabl vidence that the treasure was in existence and that it could be found. | | | September 13, 1897, in the city of veus-i | | cus Island in the sloop Hays:ed. | all claims | | | WILLIS - AUMOCK, Treasure the Leader of the Cocos Island Hunters. and told some weird story of capture| and harsh treatment to the captain of | the whaler. The officers of the Peru- vian warship when they missed their prisoners supposed that tLey had at- | tempted to swim to the other ship and | that they had been drowned in the at-| tempt, and besides the whaler having disappeared they did not know in which direction to search for them. After eighteen months spent at se; Captain Keaton managed to get back | to Boston with his secret undivulged. The chance of fortune had, however, | separated him from Thompson. Keaton guarded his secret with a jealous silence, and ten years after his return to Boston he fitted out a ship to go and bring back the treasure. The crew was a mixed one, and they managed to get wind of the purpose of the voyage and mutinied, so the disappointed Keaton was forced to return. He was not to be outdone, however, and five years later he associated with | him a Captain Bogue, and the two | again set sail for Cocos Island. They landed there safely and found thetreas- | ure, but such was its magnitude that they were afraid to take it aboard for | fear the crew would learn of it. Con-| sequently they secreted about their per- sons $20,000 ap in gold and diamonds | and started to return to Boston. When | by twenty | accident fell overboard in fathoms of water and was drowned, and that part of the ill-gotten treasure that he had with him was lost. Force of circumstances prevented Keaton's ever again making another attempt to recover the treasure, but be- fore he died he informed his son-in-law, Young, of the secret he had carried with him all of his life and which had \ppointments to him. Young was never in a position nor had he the means to attempt to search for gold. Several vears ago Willis Aumock met Young in Mexico and they became friends. This ripened into intimacy, and in a mutual exchange of confi- dences Young told Aumock of the hid- den treasure and offered for a sum, to sell to him the secret of the spot where it wi buried. Aumock had heard of The bargain was consummated be- tween the two men, and Aumock paid Young a large sum for it. He then took Young to Boston with him, and on burg, Aumock’'s home, the San Fran- cisco M Comps was organized. The memb: of the company left Pittsburg September 13 in charge of Aumuck and W. M. Graham. They came to thi ty and remained here for some time, aring for the trip. The schooner Vi under the command of Captain John Burns, was charterad for $5500 and ght privileges which amounted to 38800, and on Noverhber 13 the entire party set sail, Mate Thompson, who had been with Captain Keaton when they made their escape from the Peruvian warshio, made his way to the Hawalian Islands, where he subsequently lost his mind. He is sopicsed to be alive to-das. It was from him that Augustus Gessler of Stockton is supposed to have got the secret of the treasure also, ard about ten years ago he set sail for “o- This island belongs to the Government of Costa Rica, and inasmuch as the Peru- vian Government long ago abandoned to the treasure, believing that it was lost forever, the former Government claimed it. Captain Gessler proposed to find the hidden wealth if the Government of Costa. Rica would give him two-thirds of it. This it agreed to do, but the captain was unable to find it. He was, however, made Military Governor of the island by the Government in hopes that he might some day unearth the long lost millions, but so far he has been unable to do so. He has, how- ever, remained upon the island, and whenever fortune-seekers have come to its shorgs to find the treasure he has invariably specified that they, if suc- | of Captain Burns. cessful, must pay the Government of Costa Rica its one-third and himsell an eighth of the remaifider. K knew Gessler before he left San Fran- cisco, and when Gessler sailed he laughed at what he supposed was a wild goose chase. Aumack and his party tell of many indignities they suffered at the hands In describing the voyage Aumock said: , “‘Captain Burns, the owner of the Vine, made a good thing out of the trip. | He treated us in the most abominable | manner. He promised an abundance of good, wholesome and substantial food, but instead we only got spoiled beef and ham. We kicked, but it was no good. My wife did her cooking in her own room ot such canned goods as 1 could beg or borrow from the cook. She was refused hou water by the cook upon several occasions. When we had been out two weeks Colonel Hugh Stewart asked for clean towels, and was told by Burns that he got all he had paid for. He must have cleared nearly $5000 on the trip. He got his money in advance. He himself had good fare for his own use at every méal, but he would give us none of it. On the return trip he abandoned the Vine at San Jose de Guatemala and re- turned here by steamer, leaving the Vine in charge of the first officer, A. E. Small. It took us sixty-three days to | ecrawl up the coast to San Francisco. ‘“We reached Cocos Island on Janu- ary 1 and found that its inhabitants consisted of seven persons—all Ger- mans, two women, a baby and four men. They were planting coffee and raising pineapples and other fruits. The rainy season was over, bat the wud was about eight inches deep. The isl- | and contains twenty-five square miles, but only four are under cultivation. Gessler recognized me and asked me what I had come there for and I told him I was there to search for the treas- ure. 1 found over two hundred holes where former seekers of the treasure had dug for it. I at once realized that even if 1 found the treasure Gessler would never let me bring it away, and even if he had I would have been afraid to take it aboard the ship. He watched me very closely, but T managed without | his knowledge to satisfy myself as to the exact Jocation of the treasur that it was there. e, and As soon as I had done this we ran some false lines and dug two holes as a blind to throw off Gessler. I know from the location of the treasure that he can never find it, and that I and my party are the only, ones who will ever be able to do so. “The Peruvian treasure is buried in one place, but there is upon the island $30,000,000. The other was hidden there by pirates who buried it in caves, All the old landmarks have been oblit- erated by time, but still the location of the treasure is known and it will be found.” Willls Aumock and party will return to Cocos Island as soon as the coming rainy season is - over, properly equipped and armed, and in a perfectly legal and legimate manner will treat with the Government of Costa Rica for their share in the treasure for the re- vealing of its whereabouts. MISS CLARA BARTON * ADVISED TO LEAVE. Told by Consul General Lee That Americans Will Not Be Safe 37 in Cuba. NEW YORK, April 7.—Stephen Bar- ton, chairman of the Central Cuban Relief Committee, said to-day that he had received a cablegram from Miss Clara Barton, president of the Nationa? Red Cross Society, who is at present in Cuba, saying that she had been ad- vised by Consul-General Lee to leave the island at once, as it would be un- wise for her or any other American to stay later than Friday. Miss Barton said nothing of the condition of affairs ~in Cuba. SPAIN WILL NOT YIELD AND THE SITUATION HAS LONDON, April 7.—A special dispatch from Madrid |says the Embassadors of | France, Germany, Russia land Italy waited together this evening upon Senor Gullon, the Foreign Minis- ter, and presented a joint note in the interest of peace. Gullon, replying, declared, according to the dispatch, ‘‘that the members of the Spanish Cabinet were unan- imous in considering that Spain had reached the limit of international policy in the direction of conceding the demands aund allowing the pretensions of the United States.” MADRID, April 7.—The guards around the United States Legation were trebled to-day. General Wood- ford was at his desk at an early hour and many Americans called to ask about arrangements made for their protection. The General said he would remain here until directed to apply for his passports or until they are handed to him. Inquiries show that General Wood- ford yesterday believed Spain-would accept the proposed armistice and that orders to that effect would be immediately promulgated in the of- ficial gazette. Other diplomats also expected a satisfactory solution of the crisis, but at the moment when | the Cabinet Council was convening Minister of Yoreign Affairs Gullon | received the following letter from the United States Minister: “Having fruitlessly awaited since noon yesterday for the decision of the Spanish Goverument, it is my duty to announce ‘~ you that I will still await antil nuidnight. ‘I beg of you | to kindly communicate this decision | before midnight, and I hope the de- cision may be couched in terms which | may prevent the sad consequences |that I should graatly regret, but | which I believe inevitable if things | continue in their present state.” The letter was sent as a private | communication. During to-day’s | meeting of the Council Minister | Woodford sent in a note, in which he | declared tnat when he sent the con- | fidential notes yesterday he had not | received a dispatch from President McKinley announcing the postpone- ment of the presentation of the mes- sage to Congress and ‘“as that | changes the aspect of affairs, he Continued on Second Page. POOPOOOOOO0660606606S | NEWS OF THE DAY. San Fran- southerly ‘Weather forecast for clsco: Fair on Friday; changing to westerly winds. Maximum temperature for the past twenty-four hours San Francisco. Portland . Los Angeles San Diego Sacramento PO000P0P9PP99P999PPP999990 O@@@@@@OO@@@@@@@@@@@@@@;@@@@0@&@@@@@@@@ POO000009090909 90 8 fegrees 2 desyees FIRST PAGE. Cocos Island Treasure Found. Spain Turns Warlike. SECOND PAGE. Did Lee Ask for Time? Spanish Minister for War. Spain Must Free the Cubans. Congress Will Act on Monday. Senators In Fiery Mood. Naval Men Look for War. Peace Party All Gone. THIRD PAGE. Fighting the San Jose Gang. England Gets Wei-Hai-Wel, t FOURTH PAGE. A Hot Day in Congress. Stockton Hisses the President, Furope Makes Its Protest. Silver Clubs in Session. FIFTH PAGE. Sam Wall's Story of Death. Coffins Carved in Ice. Rich Finds on Two Creeks. A Concert Singer Jailed. Too Ready With a Gun. San Rafael's Rose Queen. War for Kings River Water, “SIXTH PAGE. L Editorial. Something to Investigate. ‘Another Fallacy Exploded. Mongers of Doubtful News. Whither Do, We Drift? As Was Expected. A Brightening Prospect. % Stories From the Corridors. Answers to_Correspondents. SEVENTH PAGE. News From Across the Bay. News Along the Water Front. EIGHTH PAGE. Racing at Emeryville. Holliday Is Missing. A Chinese Elopement. NINTH PAGE. Births, Marriages and Deaths, TENTH PAGE. The Durand Inquest. Detense of the City. Chief Lees' Favoritism. A Paving Deel Sequel. Another Block to Be Paved. Phelan Stops a Blg Bill, ELEVENTH PAGE. Lees Walts on Hawkins. No Protection for Deputies. Workmen's Convention Over. A Musical Wonder. TWELFTH PAGB. The New Charter. g NINETEENTH PAGE. The Commercial World. TWENTIETH PAGE. The Masonic Festival. Good Friday Services. Mrs. Kreling a Prisoner. | { | | | | | | i | DOOPOPOOOVE0000DDOOPVOVPVD0PDIDIDDIPIOODODPIOPDPPIVIPIVIPDPVIIVOPVVPVOPDDODPOOPOPOOO PO @ 00600000 GALLGROGOLIAI NEW YORK, April 7.—The Her- ald’s Washington correspondent tele- graphs: War at any price. Curious how the situation fluctuates. Last night there was a big peace move on. As a result of the developments here to-day most everybody is talking war again. The President and his official ad- visers are looking graver and talk- ing seriously and almost hopelessly of a peaceful outcome. This effect is partly due to the com- bined action of the powers in soliciting the reopening of negotiations with Spain, but mainly to the failure to re- ceive news from Madrid announcing the issuance of a proclamation by the Queen-Regent declaring in favor of an armistice along the lines of President McKinley's demands, which were pre- viously refused by the Sagasta Min- | istry. As stated in the Herald this morning, iwthe President had been led to expect | that the Queen intended to issue such proclamation, and information which reached him yesterday was to the effect that the formal proclamation was to be published to-day. This expectation, coupled with representations wlich it is knowre the combined powers would make to-day, was one of the principal reasons for delaying ihe President's message. The situation in Havana, as described by Consul-General Lee, was only partly responsible for holding back the mes- sage. The failure of the Queen Regent’s proclamation to materialize has caused the President to regret that he did not let the message go to Con- gress yesterday. He will hold back until Monday and trust to fate for some peaceful solution in the meantime, which does not now seem possible., The exchange of notes between the representatives of the six European powers and the President has been the great event of the day, but it has not enhanced the chances for peace as far as Washington is concerned. Briefly the point in the joint note of the powers was in the nature of a suggestion for re- opening negotiations with Spain. The President deftly ignored the suggestion, and conveyed in unmis- takable terms that if there were any I 0000000000000 000006000600066606 0000000000000 06060066 POV VOPIPPOOOOVOVVO0ODOVOOGO00000060660 ::00000@@0 POOPOPPO00PP0OCOPPOOOIODPOODY @ ®e <o GENERAL LEE WILL LEAVE © & 2% HAVANA ON SATURDAY. o 94 s ® S04 NEW YORK, April 7.—A Tampa (Fla.) special to the Herald © o6 Savs: The Mascotte did not arrive from Havana to-night. It came € PO as far as Key West, and then returned to Havana to bring all o® @ 66 the American citizens away that are desirous of leaving. The Oli- @ o6 vette left to-night instead of last night, as had been reported, on. @ 06 regular schedule time, and will proceed to Havana to escort Gen- @ eral Lee and the rest of the American citizens to this country on ¢ @9 gaturday morning. They will arrive here Sunday night. This is & 9. supposed to be the last boat that will enter Havana harbor before € z: the President’s message goes to-Congress. @ @ @ @ further negotiations thcy would have to come from the other side and would necessitate a yielding by Spain to the demands which have been made. It cannot be learned whether the powers will now join in an effort to force Spain to comply with these de- mands, but I have high authority for the statement that France, Italy and Austria and also the Pope are exerting their best efforts to induce the Queen- Regent to issue the armistice proclama- tion which was promised yesterday. The authorities appear to have no further concern about the possible joint action of the powers in opposition to the President’s intervention plan, which it has been fully and finally determined to put in force just as soon as Congress carries out the recommendations of the President, providing, of course, there is no complete backdown on the part of Spain between now and Monday. It is perfectly well understood by the President that Great Britain is in entire sympathy with the deter- mination of the United States to put an end to Spanish misrule in Cuba, and without the assent of that nation there is no reason to fear that the majority of the other powers would unite in any active opposition against the United States in the event of war with Spain. As to the view the administration takes of the joint action of the powers to-day, it'can best be told in this author- itative statement given me to-night: “ There will be no changes in the |recommendations of the President. | | | 90000000000000000006 0 | GROWN VERY MUCH GRAVER EVEN THE PRESIDENT IS NOW ALMOST HOPELESS OF PEACEFUL SOLUTION Lee Will Sail for Home Saturday, and on Monday the Message Recommending Intervention Will Be Sent to Congress. THE AMERICAN LEGATION AT MADRID. 20000000 000000 @ ®e COOO000 S SPAIN REJECTS LEO’S MEDIATION. BERLIN, April 7.—The Mad- rid correspondent of the Co- logne Gazette says: ““The papers of the American Consulate have already been intrusted to the care of the British Consulate. At midnight the. Pope madé fresh confidential representations to the Spanish Government and a second Cabinet council was then held. But the reply was to the effect that the Pope's interven- tion had come too late, as a de- cision had already been arrived at. PPV POPPPPPPPPPIPP DP9 PP VPPPPVPPPOOPOPPOPPP Q0000000000000 060000 If anything, he will strengthen his message. His recommendation is for immediate intervention, and it is his purpose to send his message to Congress on Monday. “If there is to be any further pressure 1_')y t!]e powers in the interests of peace it will have to be upon S»ain and be- tween Spain and the insurgents. The President’s note is polite, but firm. Since the rejection of the tender of good offices made by the powers there have been no new negotiations, and the President does not intend to reopen them on any basis short of complete compliance with his demands, which were previously rejected. When Min- ister Woodford asked President Me- Kinley what self-government meant he replied it was independence from Span- ish misrule. “There has been no change in thia