- Benito Bonito
Benito "Bloody Sword" Bonito is the subject of a legend about a pirate who raided the west coast of the Americas. His career began around 1818 (supposedly because he could not sing) but from there on sources differ. According to one legend his ship was boarded by a British man-o'-war after Bonito exited Port Phillip Bay after hiding the so called "Lost Loot of Lima" sometime in 1821. He was given a
drumhead trial and hanged. [ [http://www.treasurenet.com/forum/treasurehunting/archives/19980606/messages/545.shtml Lost Loot of Lima at Treasureisland.com] ]Another version of Benito's legend ends with Benito committing suicide by putting his pistol to his head rather than allowing himself to be captured by British pirate hunters. Yet another states that Benito was betrayed by two British crewmen he had taken on previously. [ [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/island/legends2.html Benito Bonito at pbs.com] ]
These legends of Bonito Benito are sometimes confused with those of the "Great
Treasure of Lima " given over to captainWilliam Thompson to guard at sea fromJosé de San Martín , a treasure Thompson made off with and hid onCocos Island .According to legend the "captain's cut" of Benito's treasure, valued at over $300 million today, is still hidden somewhere on or around
Queenscliff, Victoria .Popular
Australia nurban legends relate that Benito hid his treasure in a cave nearQueenscliff, Victoria (Australia) which was sealed by explosives and a later earthquake. Many excavations have taken place in the region without the treasure being uncovered. ["Australian Sea Mysteries" - Jack Loney]References
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