More Gold on Suwarrow Atoll

[M. A. Nazario]

To iterate all of the legends of buried treasure associated with Suwarrow Atoll can fill a book. That's why James Cowan, in 1936, wrote and published his fascinating book Suwarrow Gold.

I recently had the opportunity to review the author's personal papers at the New Zealand National Archives, and discovered another story to add to the mix.

The prize, sixteen thousand dollars in gold, as near as could be, all stowed in an iron box…

Fifteen years previously – so the story went – a brig owned by a wealthy Spanish-American merchant of Valparaiso had come to grief on Suwarrow's coral reefs. Her owner, weary of the interminable revolutions and other troubles of his Chilian homeland, where neither life nor property was safe for very long, had decided to migrate with his family and his goods to a land where existence would be more secure, if less exciting. From his agent in Sydney he had heard rosy accounts of Australia, where the gold diggings were transforming a raw new country into a rich and populous one, and to Australia he resolved to go. His brig sailed for Sydney. She was an old Nova Scotian vessel, built of soft pine, and in a gale she sprang a leak, which increased in spite of pumping night and day. Being in the vicinity of Suwarrow, the captain determined to run into that lagoon, where he thought he might find a suitable beach on which to heave the ship down and get at the leak. But in entering the passage which led through the reef the brig struck one of the coral knobs which up-jutted there, and became a hopeless wreck, pounded to pieces by the heavy surf.

Mercifully, the crew were able to launch the two boats on the lee side and haul them along the narrow lane of water between the ship and the land, and the owner and his two sons among them managed to get one of their two heavy boxes of gold out of their cabin and up on deck, whence one was safely lowered into a boat; the other slipped overboard and was lost. All hands landed safely, and led a Robinson Crusoe life on Suwarrow for several weeks, watching anxiously for the sails of a passing ship.

At last the owner and the captain and his officers decided that the best course would be to put to sea in the two boats and make for Samoa, 500 miles away. As the boats were small, and barely held with safety the passengers and crew and their water and provisions, the merchant found it impossible to take with him his heavy box of gold. Accordingly he took it by boat one night, with the assistance of his sons and the captain and a trusted sailor, to a small sandy islet which lay on the circling line of island on which the shipwrecked party were camped. There the gold was buried securely in the sand at the foot of a little cluster of coconut palms.The bearings and appearance of the island were carefully noted. Next day the whole of the brig’s people pulled out through the reef-passage to the open sea, and hoisted sail for Samoa. In that group the merchant hoped to be able to charter a small vessel and recover all that was left to him of his solid cash.

But he never lived to reach Samoa. The boat in which he and his family and the captain and a number of the crew embarked failed to make land, and, no doubt, was lost in foul weather. The other boat, in the charge of the mate, reached Apia safely, and, after waiting vainly for the captain’s boat, the sailors dispersed on various trading vessels. All but one, a man who hung about Samoa, doing odd jobs, and ever and always trying to persuade one or other of the Apia businessmen to men to finance him for a treasure-hunt. He was the sailor who had helped to bury the gold on Suwarrow. At last, falling ill, he had given up the idea of trying to reach the isle of gold, and for a few dollars sold his secret to two sailors, [Thomas] Evans and [Oscar] Johansen, whom he had met in a grog shop on Apia beach, they for their part promising him a share of the gold if they ever succeeded in laying hands on it.

***
The Welshman and the Scandinavian had little trouble in finding the islet of the buried gold. The sailor had kept his eyes open that night, and marked particularly the aspect of the trees which tufted the low-lying cay; trees there were just three of them, standing in a cluster, and resembling somewhat the Prince Wales' Feathers – a tall, straight palm in the middle and one somewhat shorter leaning outwards on each side. And as the two gold-hunters pulled across the calm shining lagoon in the dinghy the trading schooner had left them, they cried together: “There it is!” There, sure enough, was the island of the three palm trees, just as it had been described.

Eagerly they landed, and in a fever-heat they sank pick and shovel into the coral rock and sand. Three feet down they found the box. Shaking with excitement, they levered and hoisted it out, and in a few moments they had smashed the lock and were plunging their hands into the golden pile.

Then, in a very simple way, a quarrel arose. Johansen was proceeding to fill his pockets with gold dollars order to make sure of some of the precious hoard, suggesting as he did so that Evans should follow his example; but the Welshman objected and insisted that every coin should remain in the box until they had removed it to the main island, where they could settle the division at their leisure. The Swede resented the Britisher's peremptory manner, and told him so. Evans, very determined, slapped down the heavy lid, and, as the lock had been broken, he passed a length of cord round the box and knotted it. Then he began to drag the box towards the boat.

The Swede, now thoroughly angry and looking dangerous, put his hand on his sheath-knife. The Welshman, in a white temper, leaped at him and planted a blow on the point of the jaw, which sent the foreigner down in a dazed condition.

“That'll teach you to remember I've a second mate's ticket!" he said. "I'm boss here, you Squarehead!"

The sulky Swede had to admit as much, when he rose, and he helped Evans drag the box of dollars down the sand to the boat, which was lying half out of the water on the beach. Just by where she was drawn up the shelf of coral sank very suddenly in a deep hole, a depression not unlike a geyser well in a volcanic country. The water was very clear, and every pebble and every shell on the glistening sea-floor was plain to the eye.

The sailors launched the dinghy before lifting the box aboard, and, wading out, they carried the heavy treasure-case between them and rested it on the boat's bow a moment before stowing it, as they designed, amid-ships. Now[,] however, it happened – whether by intention on the Swede's part or not – the box slipped from the gunwale, and before it could be gripped and stayed, sank into the water on the further side from the two seamen. It slid down the steeply shelving bank into the hollow in the coral, and there it lay, clearly visible, but quite twenty feet beneath the surface of the lagoon.

There the sailors stood, incapable of speech, glaring at each other and at the gold so near and yet so completely out of reach. Then another thing happened.

A great dark razor-sharp fin cut the smooth water, and the men scrambled into the dinghy simultaneously and leaned over to see eyeing them maliciously and hungrily, a huge tiger-shark, monster of the man-eating kind with which Suwarrow's lagoon swarms.

The brute swam round and round the dinghy as the men pulled out reluctantly from the beach. They paused awhile to watch him. He sank into the great hole in the coral and lay there, as if guarding the box of gold beneath him, now and then giving just a wave of his powerful, ugly tail.

Day after day, and week after week whenever the two sailors, now hating each other with the deadliest malevolence, pulled across to the islet of the Three Palm-Trees, they found the great shark there. Once he attacked the boat and bit an oar in two. They fired revolvers at him and angled for him with salt pork on strong swivel-hooks. But he was proof against little revolver pellets, and he was too cunning to take bait. Evans tried grappling for the box of gold with a hook on the end of a long pole, and actually hooked the cord, but it broke immediately [when] he had lifted the box off the ground. He thought of diving; but it was out of the question while the shark – he was three times the length of a man – did sentry-go around the sunken treasure. And one night the dinghy, carelessly beached, was floated off from the main island by the tide, and the gold-hunters were left boatless. From that time on they lived in separate camps, breathing mutual threats of blood slaughter, and wearing their revolvers night and day.

There is not much more to tell. The whaling barque, after many weeks, landed her disgusted treasure-finders and losers at the Bay of Islands, where she called for wood and water and fresh provisions. They went ashore in the one boat, still scowling at one another, and there they disappeared from history.

As for the shark-watched box of dollars, it may be there in Suwarrow lagoon to this day. But it is quite possible that the shrewd “Down-East” skipper of the Gayhead did some very profitable fishing thereabouts when he resumed his cruise.

 

[M. A. Nazario]

The veracity is questionable. No sources are given in Cowan's notes. In the margins of his manuscript, he has crossed out the typewritten Gayhead and replaced it with Grand Sachem.

The two ships operated in different time periods.

The Gayhead (or Gay Head) was in fact an American whaling ship:

• Jan 25 1862: Gayhead, under Captain Lawrence, arrives at the Bay of Islands.
• April(?) 18 1863: Gayhead lands at Russell, under Captain Laurence (The logbook of the Gayhead from 1860-1865 is available here. No mention of the event is made).
• 1892: The Gayhead was in Russell “some four years ago” from 1896.
• 1894: Captain Gifford sails from the Bay of Islands to San Francisco (via the Kermadecs and Honolulu).

The Grand Sachem was a whaling vessel also employed in the South Sea whale fishery that operated from 1803-1822.

• 1808: The ship left for the fishery from Sydney on 26 September 1807, with oil. The record of her visit shows her as an American vessel. In June 1808 the “Grand Sacham, [Captain Coffin] Whippey, master,” was in Bay of Islands, together with Commerce, Ceroni, master, and Inspector, Poole, master. Grand Sachem and Inspector were full of oil and preparing to return to England.

 

[M. A. Nazario]

Cowan also writes on the margins of his manuscript. But to me, his handwriting is nearly illegible.

I was only able to decipher the gist:
"Johansen at any all disappeared from our story. Now they say that [~] Evans quietly slipped aboard after [he] [~] [~] the whaler sailed again [and] [~] he and the skipper [~] [~] [~] [~] [~] [~] [~] [~]."

His other note:

 

[Crow]

Hello M A Nazario

I have not heard of Cowens 1936 version.

The Ship was actually wrecked there was the Gem. It was a whaler in 1850. Two chests was buried one on anchorage island and another on a islet. Evans got information what was buried there off sailor in Tahiti in 1855.He salvaged oil and recovered one of chests 15000 American dollars in Tahiti.

Coins from the wreck are still being found today.

Here is a mention in South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Tuesday 25 June 1850, page 4

I know the island very well.

There is possibility of money hidden their by Tom Charlton in 1860. But that's another story.

Crow

 

[M. A. Nazario]

There is possibility of money hidden their by Tom Charlton in 1860. But that's another story.

The Charlton story is an interesting one. I often have to remind myself that there's two treasures in that tale - Charlton's cache on Suwarrow and his cache on Manihiki.

According to Cowan, five years after the Julia Ann had sunk, in 1860 the two of them hastened to the reefs off the island of Manua’e. They set their Kanaka divers to work, and brought up from the coral reef an iron safe containing £6,000 in gold.

Giddy with their newfound riches, they ran their schooner, the Cheerful, ashore at Manihiki Island and divided the gold. Charlton buried most of his treasure on that island, keeping enough on his person to keep himself comfortable. Whether or not Ruxton followed this example is unknown; he later mysteriously vanished from the deck of a ship in which he was bound from Tahiti to Sydney.

In the 1870s an attempt to uncover the treasure buried on Manihiki was undertaken by old schooner-master Captain William Sinclair. He was of the hard and practical sort; he once had his tea-clipper attacked by Chinese pirates. Forgoing the solid shot which he had on him, he loaded up a cannon with iron bolts, aimed, and fired on the junk. He had no small satisfaction in watching his well-placed shot carry away the mast and lay to waste some of those dastardly sea-rovers.

But Sinclair’s search on Manihiki was unsuccessful. He found nothing more than some mysterious underground structures of burned-coral limestone cemented in blocks. The natives reportedly called the area in which Ruxton’s Cheerful came ashore, “Cheerful Bay." I've checked modern charts and cannot find any such name for any bay in Manihiki, though.

 

[Crow]

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 17 January 1859, page 4 gives and an account of the triple murder.

MURDER OF THREE WHITE MEN AT SUWARROW'S ISLAND

WE have received a very full statement of facts. relative to the murder of three white men at Suwarow Island, by a party of natives from Tongareva a Penryhn's Island ; from which statement we make the following abstract :

The victims were Joseph Bird, a native of Great Britain ; Thomas Charlton, a native of the United States, and Jules (family name unknown), assurers France. The scene of the murder is a figure island, lying to the southward of the Penryhn or Manus Group.

In August, 1857, Joseph Bed, with eighteen Tongarevans and some women, left Tongareva for the purpose of forming a pearl diving establishment Suwurow's Island, in the employment of Captain Sutenance Two days afterwards, the vessel by which they went touched at Maniiki, another island of the same group, for a supply of coconuts. From thence she went to Raakanga, also one of the Fen, trying, and on the 13th August, she arrived at Suwarrow's Island. Here they found Charlton, who, at a party of eight or ten Maniikins, had drifted from Maniiki in a canoe, in April, 1857, and had providentially made Suwarrow's Island, had remained there ever since. Charlton and 25s men were added to the party, and different places of residence plot work, were allotted to the two white men and their assistants. In the month of October following, the station was again visited, and a supply of 13,000 nuts left there, and it was found that the enterprise had not turned out so well as had been expected, the Maniikins proving unable, and the Tongarevans. willing to dive. It was determined, however, to By them for a few months more.

Charlton refused to return to Samoa by the vessel, preferring to remain it Suwarrow Island and collect beche-le-mer, for the purpose a large pot was left with him. All at the time appeared amicable, although little was done its way of diving, the produce not being more than one or two shells per day for each person. There were also sixteen Tongarevans and ten women at the settlement ; two of the Tongarevans having been removed at the former visit of the vessel, at Bird's request, on account of their inveterate laziness.

In the interval between this period and the lot! June, 1858, several vessels touched at the island, d from one of them (the Tickler) the Frenchman, Jute, was landed. On the day first named the island was visited again by Captain Sustenance, when he is informed that the three white men had left for Saws, in his boat, in the, month of February, 1858. The most careful inquiries were made, without anything being elicited to cause a doubt upon this story, as it was believed. A Paumotu woman, Here path gave a very explicit account, full of detail, as to the departure of the white men, the quantity and charge of the provisions which they had taken, ac. Captain Sustenance removed the whole of the islanders, and carried them to Tongareva, via Raakanga. They behaved well on the passage, and neither said or did anything to arouse a suspicion of what had occurred. In July, 1858, Captain Sustenance again touched 5: Raakanga, and saw the Paumotu woman before mentioned, who asked him if' anything had been heard of their fate, and discussed, with considerable shrewdness, the probabilities of their safety.

" In the month of November following Captain Sutenance called Raakanga once more, and then search for the first time, that the white men had been A murdered.. It was by a native teacher at fiancee that the truth was discovered. His suspicions are aroused by finding that one of the native women, who had cohabited with Charlton, was possessed of money Upon "making a searching inquiry as to how she became possessed of it she confessed that the Tonal rivers had murdered the three white men by easing them into the middle of the lane with stones fastened to their legs. The teacher at Maniiki with to his colleague at Raakanga, and the latter made far their investigations, which confirmed the woman! story. It was this teacher, whose name was Tain who first informed Captain Sustenance of the murder.

Captain Sustenance immediately instituted a rigid inquiry into the facts, examining a number of witnesses, and reducing to writing the principal portion of their evidence. The Paumotu woman before mentioned now detailed the particulars of the murder as readily as she had before described the supposed departure of the murdered men at Samoa. She declared that she and the white men's wives had determined to tell Captain Sustenance of the murder on his arrival, life were deterred by threats of the men.

When asks? why she had Maue.. see many minute and false statements about the men, she laughed, and said, in the native idiom, " What for ?" ' . 2 " The murder was clearly the result of conspiracy among the Tongorevons. The first overt act was regarding some of the stored food. What followed is it quite clear, but some attack appears to have been made upon Charlton, by a native called Tnngiroa, as Charlton fired his gun over Tangiroa's head, to frighten him, instead of firing at him, which would, perhaps have deterred the others from proceeding further. The islanders, who were all armed and prepared, secure all the white men and having bound them, pass them into the boat. The wives of Bird , Charlton interfered, but were forced off The Matiiikians' also attempted to save the white men, but were repulsed by the anger and swords of the Tongorevans. "

As the men were being carried off, Bird begged hard for mercy, ordering the islanders all he had if they would spare his new Charlton told him " not to be a child, as it was till I too late," adding, " It is your fault that this has had happened to us." Jules wept bitterly. Bird was through over first and sank at once, as also did Charlton, it was the next victim. Jules rose once to the surface I but one Powhatu cut him on the head with a sword and he then sank to rise no more. The boat was destroyed, as were some of the white men's effects, butt a remainder, with all their money, was divided, and With the islanders seemed to have shared to a more or less extent in the spoil. The murder was said to have been committed some time in February. 3

The names of the men chiefly implicated in supposed murder are Taua Mokara, Purakakca Mahuta, Mail thus, Tangiroa Takatauruu, and Powhatu. I,

It appears that from this 1859 account. That any money that the three white money had been looted by the natives. Some money could of Charlton could of been left of Manihiki, But nothing is clear with these stories

Crow

 

[Crow]

Here is drawing of atoll dated between 1849-1860 from the national library of New Zealand in Wellington.

A naive birds-eye view looking down on the almost circular atoll, with three sailing ships shown in the sea outside the reef, palm trees growing on the reef, a flag-pole in one group of trees. The scene appears to be subjected to a strong wind, although the waters of the lagoon are calm.

Inscriptions: Verso - top right: Big island 1 to 1 1/2 m long; Verso - top left: The reef is nearly half a mile wide; Verso - centre: Lagoon = 12 miles x 8 miles. Entrance facing N.E. half a mile wide in narrow part The measurements of the lagoon and island are at odds with the description by Mair (see MS-1465) - "an almost circular coral reef perhaps a mile in circumference"

Inscriptions: Verso - top right - Big island 1 to 1 1/2 m long; Verso - top left - The reef is nearly half a mile wide; Verso - top centre - Lagoon = 12 miles x 8 miles. Entrance facing N.E. half a mile wide in narrow part

Crow

 

[Crow]

Visiting the island.

Most of the yachts do annual sail from Panama across the pacific through Polynesia and various other islands To New Zealand and or Australia. The Atoll is very isolated.

At Suwarrow The rangers, Harry and John, are two of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet. They spend six months a year here at Suwarrow protecting this natural resource and assisting cruisers with checking into and out of the country. You can only visit Suwarrow between May 1 and November 1 each year. Between those dates the weather is unpredictable rough and has cyclones outside of that season. I visited three times twice officially once unofficially. 6 months there is no one there because of storm season.

Entering the pass into the atoll was rather straightforward and we had no issue. But having updated charts were dead on and the clarity of the water made it easy to see the coral. Be sure not to try to cut to the west too soon after going through the pass as the the southeastern point comes out a bit further than it appears. It can bite you if you are no careful. The lagoon has a few sunken yachts that pushed their luck to far.

Be extra careful when anchoring here as bommies are everywhere. The water is extremely clear so you can see them but if you anchor in deep water you may find yourself wrapped tightly when you go try to pull up. The day we left another boat that was anchored in 25 meters of water found themselves stuck on the bommies.. It turns out they weren’t just stuck, they were completely wrapped around large bommie.

Be sure to fly your Quarantine flag as you arrive in the anchorage. You can try to reach the Rangers on VHF 16 but we were unable to get them. Apparently their radio had been reduced to a handheld and a few hail Marys. Once you arrived in the anchorage and were anchored we were able to reach them. Stay on board until they came to clear you in. If you have not checked in at one of the major ports of entry in the Cook Islands you will be charged an additional fee to check in at Suwarrow. The fee used to be around $70 NZD per person from memory If you want a passport stamp from this incredible place. They don’t automatically do this but if you ask they will. they card exit fees also customs fees and check for bio hazards on your vessel.. So visiting there is not free. It will cost about 500 NZ dollars per person to visit there.

While it might seem steep. Yet it pays the wages for rangers wages and administer conversation projects on the atoll. Funded by the hand full of cruising yachts each year on the atoll. No cruise ships visit the atoll.

The remains of the fort with three cannons are long gone. on the left of picture. But the remains of the stone pier can be seen the foreground. The rangers station is in the trees.

Is there treasure still reburied by Henry Mair?

Ararat and Mount Pleasant Creek Advertiser and Chronicle for the District of the Wimmera (Vic. : 1861 - 1884), Friday 23 February 1877, page 4 mentioned the following.

Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW : 1863 - 1947), Tuesday 27 February 1877, page 4

Was it recovered by one of the two apposing parties in 1877? or is it still buried some in sand of encourage island. Mair it appears went back in 1877. Did he recover what he found previously? Its possible that they did no see fit to tell anyone if they had recovered it. As business of their own? There more documents out there on this 1877 search. Personally I do not believe it was Spanish treasure Either part of the Mormons property salvaged by Tom Charlton from wreck of Julia Ann. Or treasure belonging to the GEM that was wrecked around 1850. I am more inclined if its true then it was perhaps treasure buried by Charlton from the treasure he had salvages from the Julia Ann shipwreck on Sicily island in Polynesia.

The coins about 20 years ago found on reef was I suspect from the Gem.

Interesting treasure yarn all the same.

Crow

 

[AstralDruid]

Great stories.... and possibly huge treasures to be found...!!

 

[Crow]

Here is an interesting article dating back to 1889.

Crow

 

[M. A. Nazario]

Visiting the island.

Most of the yachts do annual sail from Panama across the pacific through Polynesia and various other islands To New Zealand and or Australia. The Atoll is very isolated.

At Suwarrow The rangers, Harry and John, are two of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet. They spend six months a year here at Suwarrow protecting this natural resource and assisting cruisers with checking into and out of the country. You can only visit Suwarrow between May 1 and November 1 each year. Between those dates the weather is unpredictable rough and has cyclones outside of that season. I visited three times twice officially once unofficially. 6 months there is no one there because of storm season.

Entering the pass into the atoll was rather straightforward and we had no issue. But having updated charts were dead on and the clarity of the water made it easy to see the coral. Be sure not to try to cut to the west too soon after going through the pass as the the southeastern point comes out a bit further than it appears. It can bite you if you are no careful. The lagoon has a few sunken yachts that pushed their luck to far.

Sounds like Crow has once perched on this lovely place?

Was it recovered by one of the two apposing parties in 1877? or is it still buried some in sand of encourage island. Mair it appears went back in 1877. Did he recover what he found previously? Its possible that they did no see fit to tell anyone if they had recovered it. As business of their own? There more documents out there on this 1877 search. Personally I do not believe it was Spanish treasure Either part of the Mormons property salvaged by Tom Charlton from wreck of Julia Ann. Or treasure belonging to the GEM that was wrecked around 1850. I am more inclined if its true then it was perhaps treasure buried by Charlton from the treasure he had salvages from the Julia Ann shipwreck on Sicily island in Polynesia.

I believe Mair's treasure is still there. In 1879, he wrote his brother Gilbert:
"People have been talking to me about my plant on Suwarrow, but they all want the lion's share. I am not afraid of anyone finding it, and it will keep without spoiling. I have written a letter to you, which has been in my box for two years, to be forwarded to you in case I come to grief, giving an accurate description of the place, with the camp as bearings and distances from various points, so that anyone with ordinary care and attention could not fail to find it."

Mair was subsequently killed and cannibalized in Fiji. Did his letter ever get to Gilbert? Or did Mair's blackbirding comrades know about his treasure-find, and searched his personal effects after he died? It seems possible, especially because Mair was known to wear the gold rings that he had found on the island. The blackbirders may have found the letter and followed its instructions to uncover the hoard.

To find more information, I found a letter in Cowan's files written to him by Gilbert. I am still deciphering the handwriting but it seems promising. He says:
"I am sorry that at the moment I am unable to [first] my hand where are [-] of the Suwarrow treasure written for me by [L-] and also the “Star” print of [-] with of share with [so-] added, [ha--] if found then will forward also."

So perhaps Gilbert did receive some notes as to the location.

He also mentions a man finding $2,400 on Suwarrow, which echoes the story written by Cowan in Suwarrow Gold, pgs 69-76.

 

[Crow]

Mair was subsequently killed and cannibalized in Fiji?

Another version claims his His death in 1881 was tragic; clubbed to death by islanders on Santo Island in the New Hebrides (Vanuatu)

The following newspaper report dated Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Tuesday 13 December 1881, page 2 tell of the death of Henry Mair as he had his head hacked off. Supports Santo island New Hebrides (Vanuatu).

But chance I had visited the site of his murder 13 years ago. There is church or chapel near the beach where he was murdered.



Crow

 

[Crow]

It seems his personal effect was recovered and sent to his brother.

Here is his family tree.

This is the site where Henry Mair was hacked to death with a tomahawk. The schooner Isabel was off shore. Why he was murdered as Mair recruited laborers for the Sugar cane plantations in Queensland were signed on two year indentured work. The recruiters was more interested in getting paid per person. Afterwards many laborers returning from Queensland was dumped on wrong islands. This created bitterness as well as the slave like conditions in cane fields. It came to ahead when the native had enough.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Sounds like Crow has once perched on this lovely place?


I believe Mair's treasure is still there. In 1879, he wrote his brother Gilbert:
"People have been talking to me about my plant on Suwarrow, but they all want the lion's share. I am not afraid of anyone finding it, and it will keep without spoiling. I have written a letter to you, which has been in my box for two years, to be forwarded to you in case I come to grief, giving an accurate description of the place, with the camp as bearings and distances from various points, so that anyone with ordinary care and attention could not fail to find it."

Mair was subsequently killed and cannibalized in Fiji. Did his letter ever get to Gilbert? Or did Mair's blackbirding comrades know about his treasure-find, and searched his personal effects after he died? It seems possible, especially because Mair was known to wear the gold rings that he had found on the island. The blackbirders may have found the letter and followed its instructions to uncover the hoard.

To find more information, I found a letter in Cowan's files written to him by Gilbert. I am still deciphering the handwriting but it seems promising. He says:
"I am sorry that at the moment I am unable to [first] my hand where are [-] of the Suwarrow treasure written for me by [L-] and also the “Star” print of [-] with of share with [so-] added, [ha--] if found then will forward also."

So perhaps Gilbert did receive some notes as to the location.

He also mentions a man finding $2,400 on Suwarrow, which echoes the story written by Cowan in Suwarrow Gold, pgs 69-76.

Three times I passed through there.

Yes you are correct if the rival expedition in 1877 did not recover it. Then Mair's letter dated 1879 confirms Mair had falling out with his backers over divisions of his spoils. Did Gilbert actually get the letter with details? It seems some family members believed so. Cowan in Suwarrow Gold in 1936 brought attention to the world the forgotten treasure story. While like all books of treasure it can be of help. But one must understand the limiting factors of the 1930's of such books some times having errors. However some parts of his book will help get to the truth as much as possible.

The book was certainly was the driver and inspiration of the 1938 expedition to Swarrow atoll. Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1965), Wednesday 4 January 1939, page bellow.

crow

​

 

[M. A. Nazario]

Mair was subsequently killed and cannibalized in Fiji?

I misremembered; it was certainly Vanuatu, thanks for the correction!

Certainly, if you have thrice called at that isolated atoll, you have done much more research than I. I still worry though that Henry's crewmates on the Isabella may have had the practical sense to rifle through his personal items. I hope that the Mair family did indeed receive the letter for which they were intended.

He also mentions a man finding $2,400 on Suwarrow, which echoes the story written by Cowan in Suwarrow Gold, pgs 69-76.

This is a story repeated always without evidence or backing, but it was interesting to note that Gilbert Mair knew about it previously.

As far as what H B Sterndale and Cowan wrote, there was a second deposit buried on one of the islets next to Motu-to. Could this be more of the Julia Ann money? Sterndale writes that it was several years after the 1855 Gem find that an Apia trader discovered the $2,400 iron box on an eastern islet of the atoll.

https://books.google.com/books?id=-SwlAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[Crow]

I misremembered; it was certainly Vanuatu, thanks for the correction!

Certainly, if you have thrice called at that isolated atoll, you have done much more research than I. I still worry though that Henry's crewmates on the Isabella may have had the practical sense to rifle through his personal items. I hope that the Mair family did indeed receive the letter for which they were intended.


This is a story repeated always without evidence or backing, but it was interesting to note that Gilbert Mair knew about it previously.

As far as what H B Sterndale and Cowan wrote, there was a second deposit buried on one of the islets next to Motu-to. Could this be more of the Julia Ann money? Sterndale writes that it was several years after the 1855 Gem find that an Apia trader discovered the $2,400 iron box on an eastern islet of the atoll.

View attachment 2225956

View attachment 2225957
https://books.google.com/books?id=-SwlAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=#v=onepage&q&f=false

Could be? one version of the gem story I cannot remember which said there was two deposits connected to the salvage of the Gem.

There is also stories of pillar dollars which does not seem to fit into 1855 Gem treasure story or Charlton.s treasure recovered from the Julia Ann Shipwreck? Could there be third unconnected treasure? dating well the alleged coins at least to 1742. This might not necessarily the date of burial be connected with that date. But it could indicate or create speculation of a much earlier treasure buried on the Atoll?

It should be noted if this money was actually found the newest coin date will give closest time frame of burial. It could have coins mixed together with 100 years difference especially if it was originally it was part of a families accumulated wealth.

Perhaps these ancient coins was part of Julia Ann Treasure recovered by Charlton? The fact remains, the Mormons from coming from Australia to the United States 1855, Australia faced a severe coin shortage in the 1850s, particularly after the gold rush caused a population boom and exodus of cash. To cope with the liquidity squeeze, gold coins were sometimes unofficially struck, such as the Adelaide Pound in South Australia, and traders' tokens were issued by businesses for small change. The primary issue was the need to send gold to London for refining and minting into official currency, which then had to be shipped back to Australia. So a lot of old coinage that was used was from all over the world.

The Mormons saved it lost it with Julia Ann shipwreck and recovered by Chalton buried on Suwarrow. That could be one solution.


As for crew mates of Isabella? Anything is possible providing if the crew was literate. The alleged map from Mair family can be found in the archives. Mair (see MS-1465) - "an almost circular coral reef perhaps a mile in circumference" This has been claimed below as Mair's treasure Map showing the rough location of the treasure.

It has be claimed the following Mairs story would be near unbelievable if he hadn’t left behind with his niece for safekeeping a detailed handwritten account of how he came about his find, his hand drawn treasure map of Suwarrow lagoon (with the location of the treasure marked by a blacked-in square), along with most of the rings and coins he had swum back to the Ryno with.

But this is where I am suspicious of the claims as clearly the atoll depicted was not drawn by some one who actually had been there. In the Mair family papers below there is no mention of this alleged map.

Outward correspondence

Date
3 Feb 1880-29 Sep 1881
Reference
MS-Papers-0093-06
Description

Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Finding Aids: Piece-level inventory available.
Access restrictions
No access restrictions
Part of
Mair family : Papers / 2 Outward correspondence of William Gilbert Mair
Format
1 folder(s), Manuscripts

There is no mention of any treasure documents regarding Henry Mair. Yet in Cowans family papers below.

I suspect the map was newspaper prop not connected to Mair at all. But this is how 20th century authors invent things to enhance their books.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2127, 2 December 1876, Page 2 reported the following below in 1876.

That confirms at least the story of a man taking over 2400 dollars was being talked about as far back as 1876. So it could not be a later invention. I wonder if it was reference Henry Abbot Mair what treasure he recovered?

Putting it in context, In 1876 Australia, wages varied significantly by trade, but a skilled worker could earn roughly £2 10s. to £3 10s. per week, while other occupations might have different piece rates or daily pay, with painters receiving 9s. to 10s. per day. For context, a skilled tradesman's weekly pay of £2 10s. would have been equivalent to approximately £25 per week in today's dollars, considering factors like the relative value of money at the time.

In that context is roughly two years ages maybe a little bit more. This man who had been in employ of Sterndale could of been veiled reference of Mair in what he took in value rings coins etc.

Crow

 

[M. A. Nazario]

That confirms at least the story of a man taking over 2400 dollars was being talked about as far back as 1876

Pulling fact from fiction is always difficult, but it is more so when most of the information is from one source. In this case, it's Sterndale. Much of his work has been scrutinized, even cast as fiction, but obviously his stories are rooted in his personal experiences.

 

[Crow]

Pulling fact from fiction is always difficult, but it is more so when most of the information is from one source. In this case, it's Sterndale. Much of his work has been scrutinized, even cast as fiction, but obviously his stories are rooted in his personal experiences.

I cannot agree more.

Crow

 

[Ryano]

It just tickles my imagination that very serious men hid their loot on these tiniest specks of land out in the middle of nowhere, thousands of miles from civilization, but with every other intention of recovering it later. No wonder the Cook Islands are so popular with explorers like yourselves. How fascinating!