British & American Treasure Hunters Battle On Cocos Island

[BillA]

Hi Kanacki,

Never knew, Richard and I only spoke of Cocos in passing; wonder what happened to his library - one of the daughters most likely.

 

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[KANACKI]

Hello Bill

I cannot say about rats on the island but if sailing ships visited most like rats followed.

I do not know who told you there are no pigs on the island? Perhaps today being a national park they have be eradicated? But they was there in the past right up to early 90's. The 3 soldiers stationed on the island had instructions to shoot them. Since then Park rangers may of eradicated them as feral pests?

There is records of the British explored George Vancouver leaving pigs and goats on the island during a vistas food source for shipwreck sailors. In 1832 Dr Coultard referenced while visiting the island in Wafer bay met a Hermit by the name Stevenson ( No relation to Author of treasure island ) Who was hunting pigs for food in the hills behind Wafer bay.

Next reference to pigs is 1872 when a party was hunting pigs accidentally shot the mate while hunting in the dense scrub.

August Gissler in his 20 years on habitation of the island had problems of his crops being damaged by wild pigs. When he was on trips to main land some times months at time his wife and broke her arm but she survived by herself snaring pigs for food.

I have a picture of some treasure hunters living on the island in early 1960's hunting pigs. One of our business partners shot one in late 1980's.

There is also at one time feral deer on the island a pair was placed there by the president of Costa Rica in early 1930's

Kanacki

 

[KANACKI]

Hello Bill

I could not fault Richard Ray's generosity.

I was fortunate to have obtained much information from him. He was very kind enough to give much of his research to me. I think he was happy just share with some one the passion he had. He had many quite a few discoveries for example while hacking through the island he found the remains of a WW2 American aircraft in the center of the island.

But definitively he rediscovered in the modern era the remains of the cave Keating had found treasure in the 1840's and others had later followed dug out almost beyond recognition. He even mapped the cave.



Kanacki

 

[SanMan]

Don't remember this ?

"Two park rangers in Costa Rica were patrolling a national park after a recent storm when they uncovered five wooden chests, among other treasures. This find is one of the most extensive in modern times. The treasure consisted of gold and silver coins, ingots, jewelry, candlesticks and religious items. Historians believe that the entire collection is worth about 200 million dollars.

The national park is located on Cocos Island which is near the Pacific Ocean off the shore of Costa Rica. The area has long been known for its history of possible buried treasure; mostly legends until recently. Since the 1970s there has been a law in place forbidding treasure hunting.

The specialists found that there are 89,000 coins and artifacts. There were also 36 crosses, three chalices, and two life-sized gold statues of Mary holding the baby Jesus."

Ok,...... if that's baloney,.... I guess I'm wondering where all the top flight treasure that is on exhibit in the museum there on the island?

In my mind,.....I figured some treasure had been recovered, the government claimed it, and
that is what is on display at the museum.

I suppose the government, knowing the strong interest so many had in the history of
treasure on the island, they could pull together some nice pieces to display from more
than one source. Big attraction for visitors, tourist, even people living on the island
would go see what's there is to see.

It would be the first place I would go if I was visiting there.


Wait,.....



I was looking for a picture of the museum and came across this picture and story,.....

200 million dollar treasure hoard found in National Park in Costa Rica

"Who doesn’t love stories of ancient buried treasure? Two park rangers in Costa Rica were patrolling a national park after a recent storm when they uncovered five wooden chests, among other treasures. This find is one of the most extensive in modern times. The treasure consisted of gold and silver coins, ingots, jewelry, candlesticks and religious items. Historians believe that the entire collection is worth about 200 million dollars.

The national park is located on Cocos Island which is near the Pacific Ocean off the shore of Costa Rica. The area has long been known for its history of possible buried treasure; mostly legends until recently. Since the 1970s there has been a law in place forbidding treasure hunting.

The specialists found that there are 89,000 coins and artifacts. There were also 36 crosses, three chalices, and two life-sized gold statues of Mary holding the baby Jesus.

One legend was that of Pirate Captain Bennett Graham, who supposedly buried almost 350 tons of gold stolen from Spanish galleons in the 18th century. Another pirate was a Portuguese captain named Benito Bonito, who supposedly buried treasure in the area in the 19th century.

Although some believe that the treasure was from pirates, historians believe it could be some of the missing treasure of Lima. An army under the command of Jose de San Martin was heading for Lima in 1820. Viceroy Jose de la Serna entrusted the treasure to the British trader Captain William Thompson in order to keep it safe while the Spaniards secured the country. The original plan didn’t go as well as anticipated; Thompson’s crew ended up killing Viceroy’s men and sailed to the island where the treasure was buried.

Because of this legend many attempts were made to recover the hidden treasure and, for the most part, all failed. One of the men who tried to recover the treasure was a Prussian named August Gissler. He actually lived on the island from 1889 to 1908, trying to find the treasure. He only managed to uncover several gold coins. (World News Daily Report)

Considering the treasure was found in a national park, all of the treasure is the property of the Costa Rican government. It will eventually go on display at one of the national museums in San Jose. Luckily for the rangers, they will get a reward for recovering it. According to the legend, with the army of José de San Martín approaching Lima in 1820, Viceroy José de la Serna is supposed to have entrusted the treasure of the city to the British trader, Captain William Thompson, for safekeeping until the Spaniards could secure the country. Instead of waiting in the harbor as they were instructed,Thompson and his crew killed the Viceroy’s men and sailed to Cocos island, where they buried the treasure.

Hundreds of attempts to find treasure on the island have failed. Prussian adventurer August Gissler lived on the island for most of the period from 1889 until 1908, hunting the treasures with the small success of finding six gold coins.

Since it was discovered in a National park, the totality of the treasure is now the property of the Costa Rican government, and it should be exposed at the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, in San José. The rangers who discovered the treasure have been promised a reward for their role in the finding, but the amount of the reward remains undisclosed".

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/04/25/200-million-dollar-treasure-hoard-found-in-national-park-in-costa-rica/


Ahh, displayed "At the national museum".
Not some small time museum on an island.


I'm trying to find pictures of what is on display in the Cocoa Island museum.

 

[KANACKI]

Hello SanMan

Cocos island Costa Rica visitors can land by far as I am aware there is only a ranger station to report to when arriving tourists stay on the two boats contracted to take Eco tourists there. For other visitors on private yachts its by permit. There is no museum or tourist facilities there. As far as I am aware you cannot even camp on the island anymore.

No doubt the rangers have worked tirelessly in eradicating feral animals on the island such as rats, goats, Pigs and deer. The results of such efforts over the last 30 years.

The museum in San Jose Costa Rica once held artifacts found on Cocos island. Are they there today is anyone's guess. There is no treasure on display because there has never been any official discovery of treasure. The story in 2016 bellow was fake news story from as fake news site.

"Who doesn’t love stories of ancient buried treasure? Two park rangers in Costa Rica were patrolling a national park after a recent storm when they uncovered five wooden chests, among other treasures. This find is one of the most extensive in modern times. The treasure consisted of gold and silver coins, ingots, jewelry, candlesticks and religious items. Historians believe that the entire collection is worth about 200 million dollars."

When googling Cocos Island you invariable get Cocos island an Australian Indian ocean territory come up. Some time pictures of that island which has hotels gets mixed up with Cocos island Costa Rica site. To confuse the issue there is another cocos island in Guam. Also lessor known ones, one in Vanuatu and another in Solomon islands.



Kanacki

 

[SanMan]

Oh brother,......

The picture of the little museum I saw had to be from one of the other islands.

Well, that does it,.... I'm canceling my trip to the island.
Had my heart set on viewing some treasure, not getting a suntan.

 

[KANACKI]

Hello San Man

Today on the island they have dedicated trails. One from Chapman Bay to Wafer Bay. But you can wander the beaches and waterfalls when visiting. If your into diving you will have some amazing dives. The rangers do not want people trying to cut their way through the jungle as the island is steep and very slippery. So for safety reasons they like people to keep to dedicated trails. Yet to go there even just as visitor the island has an magic atmosphere that your walking in the footsteps of buccaneers.

And no not a place for sun tan it rains nearly every day even in the dry season.

Kanacki

 

[KANACKI]

Interest in buried treasure on Cocos island is all but dead these days. Sad because in some respects regardless of treasure the story. The history of the many would be treasure hunters shattering their dreams on the island is an amazing story in itself.

Their failure can seen as a valuable lesson in what was common found in all treasure legends. The failure to research for the truth. A common denominator of all the 400 or so expeditions that blindly believed assumptions from the others that had gone before them. If they had not done so they would of had a very different story than the treasure legends we hear today.

I have no doubt there is still small treasure hoards hidden on the island but the treasure that in the cave was long gone.

Perhaps one day the truth will be revealed?

Kanacki

 

[Bum Luck]

Ok,...... if that's baloney,.... I guess I'm wondering where all the top flight treasure that is on exhibit in the museum there on the island?

In my mind,.....I figured some treasure had been recovered, the government claimed it, and
that is what is on display at the museum.

I suppose the government, knowing the strong interest so many had in the history of
treasure on the island, they could pull together some nice pieces to display from more
than one source. Big attraction for visitors, tourist, even people living on the island
would go see what's there is to see.

It would be the first place I would go if I was visiting there.


Wait,.....

View attachment 1767251

I was looking for a picture of the museum and came across this picture and story,.....

200 million dollar treasure hoard found in National Park in Costa Rica

"Who doesn’t love stories of ancient buried treasure? Two park rangers in Costa Rica were patrolling a national park after a recent storm when they uncovered five wooden chests, among other treasures. This find is one of the most extensive in modern times. The treasure consisted of gold and silver coins, ingots, jewelry, candlesticks and religious items. Historians believe that the entire collection is worth about 200 million dollars.

The national park is located on Cocos Island which is near the Pacific Ocean off the shore of Costa Rica. The area has long been known for its history of possible buried treasure; mostly legends until recently. Since the 1970s there has been a law in place forbidding treasure hunting.

The specialists found that there are 89,000 coins and artifacts. There were also 36 crosses, three chalices, and two life-sized gold statues of Mary holding the baby Jesus.

One legend was that of Pirate Captain Bennett Graham, who supposedly buried almost 350 tons of gold stolen from Spanish galleons in the 18th century. Another pirate was a Portuguese captain named Benito Bonito, who supposedly buried treasure in the area in the 19th century.

Although some believe that the treasure was from pirates, historians believe it could be some of the missing treasure of Lima. An army under the command of Jose de San Martin was heading for Lima in 1820. Viceroy Jose de la Serna entrusted the treasure to the British trader Captain William Thompson in order to keep it safe while the Spaniards secured the country. The original plan didn’t go as well as anticipated; Thompson’s crew ended up killing Viceroy’s men and sailed to the island where the treasure was buried.

Because of this legend many attempts were made to recover the hidden treasure and, for the most part, all failed. One of the men who tried to recover the treasure was a Prussian named August Gissler. He actually lived on the island from 1889 to 1908, trying to find the treasure. He only managed to uncover several gold coins. (World News Daily Report)

Considering the treasure was found in a national park, all of the treasure is the property of the Costa Rican government. It will eventually go on display at one of the national museums in San Jose. Luckily for the rangers, they will get a reward for recovering it. According to the legend, with the army of José de San Martín approaching Lima in 1820, Viceroy José de la Serna is supposed to have entrusted the treasure of the city to the British trader, Captain William Thompson, for safekeeping until the Spaniards could secure the country. Instead of waiting in the harbor as they were instructed,Thompson and his crew killed the Viceroy’s men and sailed to Cocos island, where they buried the treasure.

Hundreds of attempts to find treasure on the island have failed. Prussian adventurer August Gissler lived on the island for most of the period from 1889 until 1908, hunting the treasures with the small success of finding six gold coins.

Since it was discovered in a National park, the totality of the treasure is now the property of the Costa Rican government, and it should be exposed at the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, in San José. The rangers who discovered the treasure have been promised a reward for their role in the finding, but the amount of the reward remains undisclosed".

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016...e-hoard-found-in-national-park-in-costa-rica/


Ahh, displayed "At the national museum".
Not some small time museum on an island.


I'm trying to find pictures of what is on display in the Cocoa Island museum.

Here's the link to the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. This treasure isn't there, it's a hoax.

I looked for the picture, itself too good to be true, and found that it was listed on a site in 2010, but has apparently also been found on Oak Island. Maybe it's a rotating visit, on loan. My humble museum is already on the list of places to get it next.

Actually, I found this picture of the emerald cross, supposedly from the Atocha. It looks very similar, except the detail is much better, suggesting that the one in the picture may be a repro.

Here it is in a 2009 post by Chagy: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/shipwrecks/147039-gold-cross-emeralds.html

There are few search results for the news. If actually found, it would garner many more links than it did.

The idea that would be kept on a small museum on the island is laughable. It would disappear very fast. Heck, it would disappear from many museums, being just too irresistible.

 

[BillA]

BL - fwiw eh
used to be involved with some gold artifact mfgrs in CR who sold their product in the US
they told me that every​ gold artifact in the National Museum had been replaced with a copy
this was in the '80s, have no reason to doubt them at all

 

[jeff of pa]

BL - fwiw eh
used to be involved with some gold artifact mfgrs in CR who sold their product in the US
they told me that every​ gold artifact in the National Museum had been replaced with a copy
this was in the '80s, have no reason to doubt them at all

though it wouldn't surprise me, I'm 50/50 on believing it's going on today.

I Can Believe Roosevelt Stole it all During his Term.
But I think if it was going on Now, It would have leaked to the News.
Yes 99% of the people would laugh it off a fake News, But I still think
Some of the Sources like Weekly World News & National Enquirer would have don Big write-ups.

of course they may be claiming they are doing it for Theft Prevention,
to throw reporters off