Old Bookaroo
Silver Member
- Dec 4, 2008
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There are obviously good odds that the collection was lost, but depending on where the library was located and who had access to it, maybe not 100%. The fire burned for days, and if the collection was considered important enough to save, possibly someone did.
By the way, have you checked this:
https://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&ref=bf_s2_a1_t1_1&qi=GMV.P9bpOB5zbyXnDRTgYaT7.Io_1692988962_1:1:1&bq=author=john%20chetwood%20%281904&title=our%20search%20for%20the%20missing%20millions%20of%20cocos%20island
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Sarge - Your point is well taken. The fire took out the City's commercial district (and South of the Slot went up in flames due to the "Ham and Eggs Fire"), where the library was very likely to have been located. Thank you for the lead on the reprint. Many moons ago I was in a little bookstore near City Hall and saw a book with "Our Search for the Missing Millions" on the spine. I pulled it out, thinking it was about WW II. Turned out to be the Cocos Island treasure gem! I paid $2.75 for it (signed by the author, inscribed to a relatively famous California writer). So, some things did survive the fire! I've seen one copy for sale in the fifty years since. Perhaps you're familiar with the excellent Voyage of the Herman about this same expedition. It's a shame the author of that fine book wasn't aware of "Wood's" narrative.
Good luck to all,
The Old Bookaroo