The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-09-08

was swallowed up, and the last gold bug
buzzed out of existence with Edgar
| Poe"
| " 1t Is not romance. When 1 was q
child, when asking my father for things
he could not afford to.purchase, he would
say: when your ship is found A
sunken ship has been one of the family
legends. Claes van Graab has the
most authentic proofs that such treas
ure exists. In 1880 the Sol, from Car
thagena to Lisbon, laden with ingots of
gold and silver and pieces of eight was
captured, and taken in tow by ship an
ancestor or mine commanded. OFF the
island of Curacao the prize sank, with
all her treasure. That such was the fact
Is evident, because ut the close of the
seventeenth century William Phipps
planned n scheme for the finding of the
Sol. In 1746, one hundred and more
years after the loss of the Sol, an attempt
was made to rescue the treasure. Claes
van Graab's grandfather was ruined in
the endeavor. The family now in
Curacoa have kept every record. Claes
van Craab told me that twenty years ago,
when there was some mighty convulsion
OF the land and sea-some submarine
earthquake-the spot where that shin.
for an hour or more, and then sank again.
As if to tempt us there has been an up
heaval just over the very spot. Some
times i'll the surf of the Caribbean sen
small fragments of coin-gold pieces,
worn thin and abraided-are washed
on shore. Here is one," and Adrien
drew tarnished bit of metal from his
pocket. More that that. Claes van
Grnab, at last assured that am of his
stock -
One moment" I interrupted, "and
the daughter-will she acknowledge the
klnshlp-does she urge the recovery of
this fantastic treasure 2"
Yes-even more than. her father. I
have received a letter from Curacao urg-
ing my coming to the island"
Will Claes van Graab furnish the
means 2" I inquired. eff there is a
million dollars there, even if not at any
great depth under water, it will cost a
million to get it out"
"The ship sank in rocky bottom-not
on coral reef-there may be a wash of
sand over it,
"Is, then, this Curacao planter, to
drop from the imaginative to the prac-
tlcai, willing to risk his money in the
g What he will do do not know. He
bids me come to him. 1 should suppose
he was man of large means. regret
to say, however, that no draft accom-
panied his commands. Go to him 1
must and will. There is vessel up for
Curaeoa-she leaves in a week. L would
like to sail in her."
And give up your occupation here
1t is the height of folly. Have you money
enough for your expenses 2"
Hardly. By selling my trinkets,
my watch, will still want $50. viii
you lend it to me ?"
You may perhaps be useful to your
relative, if such thing as relationship
is possible. You can have the money
Return it ut your leisure"
Adrien left for Curacao within the ten
days. Some three months ..afterward 1
received kind letter from the young
man inclosing me the borrowed money,
and with it came the gift of a case of
native birds. Adrien's letter was four
fiiths full about the Sol treasure, and the
other fifth was about Aurela van Graab.
Until the next sugar crop was made,
Clnes van Graab would do nothing. 1t
was fully eight months before any more
tldmgs came from Curacao, This time
tn" crop had been sold. The planter
WIS putting i'll new machinery, and the
m oney was wanted for Rillieux appara-
tus. Adrien was superintendent and
general manager, with a salary of 81, 500.
Little or nothing was said about the Sol.
A small package came to me, too, con
tanning bit of old gold. L was in
structed by Adrien to have ring made
with the gold, and was to have a pearl
set in it. The size of the ring indicated
feminine finger. When the ring was
finished it was to be returned to Cura-
Goa. Adrien hoped when next he wrote
me to be Aurelia's husband. Adrien
sent me, too, one hundred weight of
chocolate and bag of very wonderful
coffee. Claes van Grabs health was
feeble $50 said the letter., and Adrien
had entire charge of his business.
L lost sight of Adrien for fully five
Office. Everybody, even the old mana
ger, was glad to see him, and congratu-
lated him on his good looks and his for
tunes. Our president deigned to patron
ize him. When we were alone, he said
to me: 81 am here for machinery"
More sugar works ?" inquired.
emo it is for tho Sol business. Au-
relia was an heiress. My poor old father
ln-law must have all his life put aside
large sums of money for the purpose of
finding this Sol treasure. His will, if
not positive in regard to this wretched
business, ut least indicates that an effort
must be made"
The Sol business wretched one 2
Why, Adrien, you have changed your
tone. L congratulate you on being less
visionary than you used to be-"
"Aurelia is ambitious, and has renew
ed the question of the wreck. She urges
the research. would to God there had
never been any gold or silver sunk in
that treacherous sea. NV wife dreams