They all shook their heads and Silas said, “The rum was probably dirt-cheap, which meant bigger profits.”
“That was reason enough,” Bingo said, “dollar signs and profits.”
“How did they manage to get a boat into the cave?” Harry asked.
“Pulley system, established before great-grandfather became involved. They used a small rowboat, pulling themselves back and forth with a rope.”
“Did he mention anything about them taking money from someone when they escaped?”
Ben nodded. “Half the payment was put into an empty bottle and tied to the rope which was pulled out to the boat before the men came ashore to pull in the crates. The other half was in another bottle and tied to a rope, with a lead sinker, that was attached to a stake driven into the beach. The bottle was then sunk just off from the beach.
“After getting the first bottle, several men pulled themselves ashore in the rowboat, keeping close to the upper side of the cave to avoid the rocks, and pulled the rowboat up on the beach. They tugged the rope three times as a signal and the others started sending the crates through. Once the crates were all in the cave, these men were supposed to get into the rowboat and pull themselves out to the larger boat again, taking the other half of the money with them.”
“Why didn’t anyone come to look for them when they didn’t return with the rest of the money?” Silas asked.
“They piled rocks into the rowboat and pulled it out close to the entrance. Then they gave a sharp pull to the side, dislodging the rocks, and upsetting the rowboat. They hoped it would look like they’d capsized the rowboat on the rocks. They retrieved the money from the other bottle, sank the bottle again, and ran to the end of the tunnel.”
“Good old days,” Joe said, with a low laugh.
“Where did they go after leaving the tunnel?” Harry asked
“Two had families and they set out to find a seaport, hoping to work for their passage home on a freight or fishing boat. They left the following night, after splitting the contents of the bottle three ways.”
“What about the third man?” Harry asked.
“My great-grandfather,” Ben said. “He never said how he survived the first few days, but within a week, he found work on a farm, basically doing the same work he’d always done. He had a room with a bed, three meals a day, and he was content. He wrote home to assure his elderly parents that all was well.”
“He stayed,” Silas said.
Ben smiled. “Long story short, the farmer was a widower with a daughter. My great-grandfather married her and they eventually took over the farm. He also brought his parents over to live with them.”
“You’ve solved another piece of history, Mr. Hogan,” Bingo said, as they prepared to leave.
“The only thing left is finding the tunnel entrance in the cave,” Harry said. “Silas, Joe, I’ll pick you up in the morning… around nine-thirty.”
“Coffee and donuts,” Joe said as they walked to the truck.
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