Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-05-07
SINGULAR AND SUSPICIOUS DlSCey-
EpN

SINGULAR AND SUSPICIOUS DlSC0V-
ERY.
A letter has been received at Lloyds. from
the Foreign Office. enclosing a copy OF a drs-
patch from the British Consul General IN Cen
ual America, dated
GUATEMALA, Dec. 3. 1913.
My Lord-The master oil the Black Cat,
OF London, who has justarrived at lstapa, has
given to the the following note respecting the
remains he found OF the furniture OF a vessel
IN Chatham Island. situated near the Equator
IN longitude about 81.
Captain James Davies account is a. FOL
lows
"NovrNBrR 10. 1915.
"Msde the Galapagos Islands; being calm |
went OH shore on Chatham Island in search oi
water, but found none. At 5 a. Nj returned
on board and proceeded along shore at the rate
OF 81 knots per hour Tor the space of two hours
and hall, when the wind died away A sudden
calm abreast oil a deep bay; lowered my boat,
and went OF shore myself with four hands UNI
der arms. On arriving at the bottom OF the
bay, in pulling along the shore. my attention
was called to a number of water casks, : inall,
20 yards above high water mark. then land
ed at the spot, took out the bungs, and finding
the greater number .f them full, rolled tour OF
them down to the beach, left them, as il still
continued calm aud proceedcda short way into
the woods with the boats crew. when i discov-
cred three poles sticking in the ground; na,ne
ly, two topgallant and lower studding sails
booms, belonging To some unknown vessel OF
about $50 or 200 tons, on which the American
flag was flying all in iatters. Beneath them a
heap OF cinders; where there had been appa-
rently a great fire, and the most valuable in
struments TO mariners had been destroyed and
melted, namely, brass seStants, oompasses and
log glasses, knives and forks, without mum
Der, totally burnt and destroyed, with the e1-
ception OF one knife and fork with buckhorn
handles. having the name OF Rodgers" sail
ors's knives, scissors, sewing needles, packing
ditto, fishhooks, ramrods, gun aud musket
locks, a heap of buttons melted together;
brought away five, supposed TO be Spanish
gold, date l7S7, OF the weight OF two ounces.
Leaving the spot, on running my sword into
the sand 1t held fast. i picked up a hoe near
the same spot, and digging where ] ran my
sword, i discovered a cask OF beet, without
pickle, in a putrid state; tripe, Indian corn,
meal. large white round peas, and a case of cas-
tor oil "a chest containing carpenters and coop
ers tools; some OF them were bran new having
the name of 'Mycrs, cast steel" blocks and
tins, cooking utensils. kettles, sauce pans, two
boilers .one OF metal, the other OF copper, mus
kets wi,hou, locks;s barrel OF common gunpow
uct, Do iDs., ilinc CAMPS VI guns toulpions,
also five puinkius, which were in perfect OF
der. with the exception of one. Proceeded to
the boat, and rolled -four casks into the water
one OF which being very large, and the tide
hayin, fallen about Ii feet, struck on a rock
and bilgcd; three | succeeded in getting on
board. Made sail and proceeded on my voy-
age. Al 10. 30. A. NJ, the following day.
Down Island, which is marked doubtful ia
chart, bore distant five miles. Longitude OBJ
served at noon, 80. ID n. lon. SO. 80 w.
by having the same inserted in the papers,
II may be OF service To solne nation or people,
as | attribute the whole TO some piracy and
mutiny. from the signs. Your lordship may,
perhaps, think il desirable TO make this singu-
lar Case first known at Lloyd's for general
information. At first was inclined 10 think
that this might be Tx Joven Cecilia, Peruvian
schooner, which disappeared from the coast Of
Peru IN November, 1874. with q cargo oil goods
Of the value oil 500. 900 belonging TO Mr.. vii
Jam Turner, British subject, aud which was
raced To Realego md Punta lie Arcussin, in
his republic. where the captain, Santo Bus.
os. sold some of the cargo. y
On the 18th of February last, she called in
i hcalintha, and was supposed TO have pro-
'ecded thence 10 the coast OF Mexico, by the
rsluablc nature OF the objects Captain Davis
tescnbcs as having becn M deliberately de- |
and the fact that a quantity OF gold
found melted with the rest Of the things.
'orbid that superstition. and leave the cause
tins strange occurrence beyond reasonable
conjecture.
have, &c. +. CHATFIELD.