600 barrels of loot found on Crusoe island

The Guardian ^ | Monday September 26, 2005 | Jonathan Franklin

[Candor7]

The archipelago is named after Robinson Crusoe, but perhaps it should have been called Treasure Island. A long quest for booty from the Spanish colonial era appears to be culminating in Chile with the announcement by a group of adventurers that they have found an estimated 600 barrels of gold coins and Incan jewels on the remote Pacific island.

"The biggest treasure in history has been located," said Fernando Uribe-Etxeverria, a lawyer for Wagner, the Chilean company leading the search. Mr Uribe-Etxeverria estimated the value of the buried treasure at US$10bn (£5.6bn).

The announcement set off ownership claims. The treasure hunters claimed half the loot was theirs and said they would donate it to non-profit-making organisations. The government said that they had no share to donate. It also prompted speculation about the contents of what is considered to be one of the great lost treasures from the Spanish looting of South America. Chilean newspapers were filled with reports that the stash includes 10 papal rings and original gold statues from the Incan empire.

The hoard is supposedly buried 15 metres (50ft) deep on Robinson Crusoe island, also known as the Juan Fernández island, home to Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, the adventurer immortalised by Daniel Defoe as Robinson Crusoe. Selkirk was dumped on the island and lived alone for four years before being rescued. His exploits brought worldwide attention to the islands.

For centuries treasure hunters have scoured the island in search of booty which was reportedly buried there in 1715 by Spanish sailor Juan Esteban Ubilla y Echeverria. Using everything from old Spanish ship manifests to teams of islanders with shovels and picks, foreigners have made so many claims of discovering the lost treasure that islanders are usually sceptical of the proclamations.

This most recent announcement, however, deserves greater credence because of the equipment used by the treasure hunters: a mini robot that can scan 50 metres deep into the earth. The robot, dubbed "Arturito", was invented by Chileans and over the past year has grabbed headlines by breaking some of the country's biggest criminal mysteries.

First, the robot detected the buried arsenal of a rightwing sect known as Colonia Dignidad. The guns and rocket launchers were buried at some 10 metres and while the authorities had searched for years, the robot found the buried weapons almost instantly. Then, in the case of missing businessman Jose Yuraszeck, Arturito was able to analyse the soil and identify the molecular composition of human bones, allowing investigators to dig straight to the body of the murder victim.

[ElkGroveDan]

It probably was hidden by Ben Gunn...especially if there was no cheese.

[Candor7]

What you say is true but then knowing how to deal with the government helps. Its the old," here is a sample of the treasure, which I will let alone forever, unless we can reach some agreement on housing it for posterity in a museum you will build for me and lease to me for 100 years, and I get all of the book rights, film rights, and income from admission at the door." sort of thing. I can't believe that the corporate attorney in this case thought through it well before hand, or as many say, the story may be false. Time will tell. Meanwhile we dream about 600 barrels of things like these:

[montomike]

Aaaaargh, Matey!

Shiver mee Timbers!

[starfish923]

The Guardian

I don't think much of this rag.
But it's a fun story for Sunday night.....beats the garbage on the boobustoobus.

[WIladyconservative]

Is that a yard arm in your pocket or are you just glad to see me? (International "Talk like a Pirate Day" was September 19th.)

[Peace will be here soon]

"The hoard is supposedly buried 15 metres (50ft) deep on Robinson Crusoe island"

"Supposedly"....means they have not dug it up yet. So until they do, it is speculation.

[Walkingfeather]

WOW .... JUST WOW!

[Squantos]

Wow I wonder if this is the same great great great great great grandfather Juan Esteban Ubilla y Echeverria my old Pappy bragged about ?........:o)

[Candor7]

You are so right in thinking what such a robot could do in Iraq, finding WMD's. Maybe we can let President Bush know he needs to hire the company for a snoop and poop mission in Iraq? Wow, the thing can see 160 feet underground! Must use a real powerful electrical source ? The operators must work in lead lined containers, or maybe thats why it is a robot. It must use ground radar or microwave energy that would be harmful to living organisms. I bet the earthworms wriggle right up out of the soil when that robot is turned on? Here is a picture of "Arturito", not very big is it?

[cryptical]

Wow I wonder if this is the same great great great great great grandfather Juan Esteban Ubilla y Echeverria my old Pappy bragged about ?........:o)

I'm no relation, but I'm pretty sure sometime in the past I was disenfranchised by someone related to this treasure. Therefore Jesse Jackson and I demand reparations!

[alancarp]

That's probably more like it. Maybe "Buy a country. Make it become disinterested!"

[Candor7]

Yours: "The Guardian I don't think much of this rag. But it's a fun story for Sunday night.....beats the garbage on the boobustoobus" Well lets see if the whole thing has any truth to it. Meanwhile there is thankfully enough real Incan Booty above ground, which is really perhaps the greatest treasure of Chile, this from the Miss Chile Reef Competition 2005:

[Buffalo Head]

MY brother and I have a similar procedure if we ever capture or kill a "Big Foot". Can't reveal it publicly though.

[Squantos]

LOL...

[David1]

Wow if true.

[Surtur]

quote Oak Island? Are you nuts? Get it over to Iraq! Uncover some WMD's and the whole National Media empire of the Democratic Party, and the democratic party itself will go nuclear! /quote

Sorry, Iraq is the wrong location. You need to send it to Syria for that job.

[CivilWarguy]

600 barrels of gold and jewels? To bury this much 50 feet underground would have required a regiment of diggers--none of whom, evidently, ever returned to dig up the treasure. Hate to be a nay-sayer, but this story sounds like a phony.

[CivilWarguy]

600 barrels of gold and jewels? To bury this much 50 feet underground would have required a regiment of diggers--none of whom, evidently, ever returned to dig up the treasure. Hate to be a nay-sayer, but this story sounds like a phony.

[Travis McGee]

I think they are "seeking investors" to go the final mile and get the gold.

[tincture82]

Chilean newspapers were filled with reports that the stash includes 10 papal rings and original gold statues from the Incan empire.

The statues might be possible. But aren't Papal rings worn by their owners for life then smashed by the Vatican chamberlain when that particular Pope dies?