Benito Bonito the blood thirsty rogue In 1798, so legend has it, the pirate Benito Bonito sailed the Pacific Ocean and plundered Spanish vessels laden with treasure. Gold coins, precious stones and four life size gold figures, encrusted with jewels from the cathedral of Lima, Peru were among some of the items he stole. He then sought a safe hiding place for his valuable treasure.

Months later he anchored in what is now known as Swan Bay and was hiding his treasure in a cave when a British warship came into sight.

Hurriedly sealing the cave with a charge of gunpowder he tried to outrun the British warship but was caught and eventually hanged. The only pirate to elude capture was a cabin boy, Kerosene Jack, who had a map of the treasure tattooed on his skin. He is supposed to have escaped to Tasmania. Bonito’s treasure still eludes treasure hunters.

Source from: Port of Pirate Treasure, by Kevin Hayden (A Marine History Publication)