Chappell had already, with a partner, mounted his own search for treasure on Oak Island, as had his father and uncle before him. By the time Chappell’s own search faltered, he no doubt reasoned that his family had sunk enough money into Oak Island. Now he was ready to let others shoulder the cost of recovery operations while he collected a share of whatever they found.
When my father got involved with Oak Island, Chappell was in his seventies, in poor health, and desperate to see the treasure raised within his lifetime. Chappell truly believed Oak Island held a vast treasure and he wanted it found — not only for its fabulous monetary value but also to vindicate his father, uncle, and himself for the huge financial sacrifices they had made during their own searches.
Chappell was besieged by would-be treasure hunters. My father was just one of many. I found Chappell’s first letter to my father among the family papers.
November 7th, 1955
Dear Sir:
Your letter under date of October 31st received and the content is quite interesting to me. I would gather that you have known of Oak Island and the Treasure Seeking there for some time.
You mentioned visiting the Island in October. I am wondering whether it was before Mr. Greene had ceased his operations for the season. He finished up his work for the Fall about ten days ago, the last three days being very dirty, miserable weather with snow, sleet, rain, hail, and high winds, and the following week, right up to the present has been very dirty, raw, cold weather.
The most intriguing part to me of your communication is that you feel that “now” is the time to start work. Practically every other person who has ever been interested in Oak Island has thought of starting early in the season and not working thru the late fall and winter months. You must have a different idea in mind than the rest of them have had.
In answer to your direct question, wherein you ask if I am free to enter into an agreement, at this time would say that I made an agreement with Mr. Greene last summer. He has at least carried out his end of it so far, to a certain degree. I will not be in a position to definitely answer your question until I hear further from him and we come to a definite understanding regarding further work. All he did this Fall was to put down four small drill holes.
It is evident to my mind that you have some kind of approach which is different to those who have been working there in the past, or any others with whom I have discussed the matter.
I am also wondering just how familiar you are with the actual true history of the Oak Island workings.
With a little further information as to your intention, I could then determine whether to deal with you further or whether to continue negotiations with some other parties who are very keenly interested.
I would appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Thanking you
Yours very truly,
M.R. Chappell
Dad must have been pleased with that letter. But that was 1955. Letters went back and forth between Chappell and Dad at no great speed. Chappell’s letter to Dad in October 1956 was brief and cordial, just keeping in touch, and mentioned he would visit the Island “if my health holds.”
In a letter dated January 1, 1957, Chappell stated that he had not visited the island the previous fall due to a slow recovery from peritonitis. He went on to say, “I am anticipating developments there early in the Spring, and I am looking forward to developments that will be of interest to all who have, in the past, had anything to do with Oak Island.” It sounds as if Chappell was hopeful that Greene, still working on the island, was on the brink of bringing up the treasure.
But at the end of the same month, Dad received a long letter from Chappell. This part is interesting:
During the last several weeks I have had a great deal of correspondence regarding Oak Island.
Since my experience with Mr. Greene has finalized and my agreement with him terminated, I am now free to deal with any other party, but before coming to any agreement, I must be definitely satisfied that the work will be carried on. I have lost approximately five years in connection with Oak Island recovery work, due to tying up with parties without investigating, or having a definite undertaking from them regarding the carrying out of the undertaking.
From my angle I have the title to the property, the treasure trove rights, and a considerable amount of work already accomplished, not least of which would be the pumping sump pit which extends down to a depth of at least 150–155 feet. I am putting up these items, along with any other information I may have. The party with whom I make an agreement would carry out the actual work of recovery, which recovery would be divided on a fifty-fifty basis, or if that did not prove satisfactory to the party undertaking the recovery work, I will be willing to negotiate further in this connection. But the main point, and what must be decided first, is a definite knowledge that whoever undertakes the work will carry it through.
Dad must have been over the moon when he received that letter. Here is his reply:
March 1st, 1957
Dear Mr. Chappell:
Thank-you for your most interesting letter of Jan. 28th, which so clearly sets out your position.
At that time my backers were scattered and have only just returned to Ontario. It is good news that you are now ready to enter into an agreement to recover the treasure buried on Oak Island. I completely understand that (because of past experience) you must be sure that there will be no delay in getting on with the job.
My position is this, while having no assurance of ever concluding an agreement with you, I arranged as best I could to interest several people in this venture. These people are sound and would stand any financial investigation, just as my knowledge and experience will stand any investigation.
I can now contract to do all the recovery work, including all material, labour, tools, equipment, and know-how. This at my expense. I will further undertake to work in an intelligent workman-like manner and proceed with all the speed consistent with safety, endeavouring to recover all the treasure to the best of my ability. That I agree not to damage the site in any manner with explosives.
You to provide the license and the site including all material on the site and all work done to the present. You also to provide all information in your possession. All of which I must return after a reasonable time for study.
In the event that I fail to seal the sea off from the shafts in six months you will have the right to terminate the agreement at that time.
He then listed terms that matched Greene’s contract. Dad concluded with, “If I am to have the chance at recovery, an early start is to my advantage, to be there set up, and catch some early good weather before the water temperature rises much.” It seemed as if it was time to get out the pens for signatures. But then Dad received the following letter from Chappell:
April 8th, 1957
Dear Mr. Restall:
I have been delayed in replying to your letter of March 1st, due partly to my being away from Sydney considerable of that time, and otherwise due to being extremely busy.
While I was in New York during March, I contacted an old friend of mine who has been interested in Oak Island for many years. He is an Engineer of high standing and has a number of friends who have decided to throw in their lot with him, and do work at Oak Island with a view to solving the mystery and recovering the treasure. He proposes to commence work as soon as the weather permits in the Spring.
We have had a very backward season and just how soon he will be able to get to work I do not know but anticipate it will be early in June. The party to whom I refer has spent some time on Oak Island and has investigated matters from the beginning and is thoroughly familiar with the situation there and what has been done in past years, the conditions he is up against, etc.
I am looking forward