The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-04-05
A DISC0V VERY.

THE Bopy Tor De SOTO FOUND WHERE IT
WAS BURIED CENTURIES 400.
from the .Stw orleans National Republican
Onr readers may remember that about
| eighteen m onths ago an article appeared
| in some of our most reliable papers max
INC known, some important facts. 1t stated
tbat Can, Blank an old and well-known
explorer of our great river and its numer-
Gus tributaries, togetherwith the many bay
Gus which traverse and intersect our state,
| had made some interesting discoveries in
regard toI the small islands dotted about
here and hhere in the river and shallow
| lakes of Southern Louisiana.
Among the most remarkable OF these
islands rjoted and explored by Capt. Blank,
are two not very remote from this city,
and wei l-known to all steamboatmen on
| the river. 1t seems that Capt. Blank, AL
though so very enterprising and energetic,
isnman quite advanced IN years, being
now ia his sixty-ninth year. Having
spcnt his life on the river since childhood
he remembered that about forty years
ago A fine vessel, hailing from Bordeaux,
and laden with the best French wines,
champagncs, cordials, etc, were sunk at
or near the spot where one Of these is
lands, which had then no existence now
stands. This vessel with her cargo was
owned by parties in France, but was con-
signed to the care of II well-known house
| in New Orleans, which exists still.
Can't Blank conceived the idea that this
valuable cargo might be rescued from its
watery, bed by means of diving bells, and
consequently he employed several expert
snced divers to examine the wreck and re-
port whether it was possible to reach the
| . Ean x,ascal
The divers made Il thorough examine
ton and reported the plan practicable but
very ex pensive. Capt. Blank applied to
the nous. to whom the vessel had origin
ally been consigned and showed the re-
mort of TIE divers. This enterprising
house. knowing that n vast fortune would
reward them If the undertaking was sue
ccssful. willingly assisted the captain with
men and meanS to work Out his apparently
wild speculatiSn; ana the result mas
proved that wontiers VIII never cease Tor
at last, after more thah one year from tue
time the enterprise was begun, Capt. Blank
has really succeeded in raising at least
onc-half of the vtiluapIe cargo, "nieh mas
been sweeteninp and mellowing beneath
the fatber of waters for nearly a half CEN
fury.
during his researches among tho several
bayous of southern Louisiana, he dis
1oyerod an island about five miles below
what is known as( the "Old Forts and in
the he'd of what isl termed by steamboat
men uOld Riyerr This old river was
once the natural bs,d of tho Mississippi ;
! but IL cut through a narrow neck of land,
and formed another outlet. In this
stream Captain Blank noticed an island
which he felt conyhnced was formed over
o. lduy xvbilo nd ri, ~
over it, he discovered beneath the marshy
grass something that looked like the bow
of a boat. He car, fully cut away the
long tough grass, aid we may judge his
surprise when he actually made out the
bow of boat, apparently in excellent
preservation. 1t WIS strongly built and
copper bound, and WAS Nm ancient-looking
craft. 1t seemed IT, rest upon its stern,
which was entirely covered by the soil,
which had accumulated over it, while the
roots of an immense tree beneath the bow
were lifting it from its bed.
Capt Blank determined, n few months
since, to excavate this AN cient craft, or at
least what was left of it. The work pro.
a. gressed rapidly with the aid of power
full dredging machine, and after three
months hard work the Captain had the
happiness of reaching the hatchway ofthe
hat-rctten vessel, but day by day passed
and nothing was brought to light Of any
real value. A few rusted swords, scab-
bards, pieces Of rusty armor were brought
up, which being examined by Capt Blank,
proved the vessel to have been of Spanish
build. The workmen were disguised
with their useless labor, and had deter
mined to give up their vain enterprise,
when 10! they came upon something
which they firmly believed to be box of
gold. Their cupldity and curiosity being
excited, shey worked hard to raise it from
its bed Of compact mud. Their disgust,
however was great when the object
brought up proved to be backsmiths
anvil with Spanish characters wrought
upon it,
Capt. Blank, who watched the proceed.
ings with an eager eye, besought the men
to continue few days longer, when ut
last they came to something which, this
time, they felt convinced, was II box of
Mexc gold-perhaps hidden there by
Capt Kidd himself But we may imagine
the awe and astonishment of the Captain
and the workmen when the object was
raised and cleared of its mud, and laid
before them. 1t was evidently human
body, completely and perfectly wrapped
in lead-air and water-tight. Around the
lead covering was firmly welded II broad
copper band with Spanish inscription,
rudely wrought upon it, which being
cleared of its rust and mud, revealed the
| following words:
Aqui va cen los restos de