THE COCOS ISLAND TREASURE IS A MYTH

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 25

THE COCOS ISLAND TREASURE IS A MYTH

I learn that yet another treasure hunting expedition has set out for Cocos Island. Whether it meets with any success or not does not concern me —there may be a dozen treasures buried in that far-off lone island, writes Admiral B. M. Chambers in the "Daily Telegraph." I do, however, wish to enter the very strongest, protest against the authenticity of the story on which the existence of* the chief treasure is based— that of the Mary Dier. It involves a- charge of black treachery ,against a British seaman, and one which if uncontradicted will, and no doubt has been, eagerly seized upon by Continental papers, as further evidence of British perfidy. Having taken some trouble to investigate the story, I can confidently state that the Mary Bier treasure, "amounting to £7,000,000 or £8,000,000" never existed.

The horrible act of piracy whereby the treasure was seized is unknown at the Peruvian Legation. It was equally unknown when I spent many months in the port of Callao only sixty years after the supposed act of piracy. I never heard a word about it, though any story which could- Tedound to the discredit of the foreigner was welcomed Bicardo Palma, r. painstaking collector of such stories, gives no mention of it in his "Tradieiones' Peruanas," though he gives a very full account of another piratical affair of about the same date. Neither the Eegistrar of 'Shipping nor Lloyd's know anything about a ship of the name, or even approximately to it. In 1821 Captain Basil-Hall was upon the coast in H.M.S. Conway, and his well-known journal was written in the years 1820-21 and 22, at the time of the occupation of Lima by San Martin. We find' from his account that the treasures of the city, instead of being put on board ship—(whether Mary Dier or another) —were sent away to the interior. With Cochrane in the offing, Spanish

treasure would have been considered far from safe afloat. One can hardly imagine such an energetic and moneyloving a personality as Cochrane permitting seven or eight millions in gold and silver to be spirited away from under his nose, even by a brother Scot. Neither he nor Basil Hall make any mention in their writings of piratical excursions, though it is almost certain they would have done so had any big affairs taken place at the date. In conclusion I would like to quote the horrible story as told by Captain Campbell in "My Greatest Adventure," as a proof that I am not protesting too strongly against such a libel upon our nation and its seamen in particular:

"Lima was at that day a city of unbelievable- riches. Her cathedrals and churches were full of solid gold images, hor inhabitants dined off gold and silver plate, her traders and nobility were millionaires. "The Anglo-Saxons' reputation for fair dealing and honesty always stood high in South America, and the Governor decided that the safest place foT the principal treasures of the city would be on board the Mary Dier, under the protection of the British flag." - The story goes on to tell that the sight of so great a treasure was too much for the honesty of Captain Thompson. "Lai!e that night Captain Thompson and his men buTst open the cabin doors of their passengers and cut their throats as they slept. It was a butchery of the most disgusting OTder, with none of the bravery of victory in pitched battle to redeem it. We can think more kindly of.Morgan's torturings by rack and fire in Panama than of Captain Thompson's murders." The story finally brings us to the hiding of the treasure at Coeos, where it filled twelve boat loads. Thdugh the tale has every hall-mark of an absolute invention, it is repeated over and over again in print without one suggestion that it is false from first to last.