Middletown transcript., 1875-04-17

|
In an apartment more elegant tha
the others, was young woman, an
although a marble mummy, her beaut,
was enough to. melt the heart of So
crates The rough sailors uncovere'
their heads and stood in silent adora
tion before her. The vessels paper
were found, but could not be opened
Enough, however, was disclosed t.
show that the ship belonged to one o
the early Spanish fleets. Her nam
was .'The Elderado.' The crew hat
come to the new world in search o
gold They evidently had entered th'
bay in fair weather, for the sails wer'
set, and the pilot was at the wheel
An atmosphere of drowsiness had set
tied on them, and by some phenomenon
in nature, they had become petri6ed
while in their sleep Of death.
Capt. King and his men re-entered
their boat and landed on the shore by
the woods. Here were fresh marvels
The trees and shrubs were also petri-
fed. Rare and delicate flowers covered
the ground. But ne perfume exhaled
from their blossoms. They were like
glass and porcelain Of every color. and
as beautiful as the gems of Aladdin's
palace.
As the explorers were about enter
ing the stone forest, peculiar feeling
suddenly came over them, and for the
first time they observed that delicate
mist filled the air.
With cry of terror they rushed to
the boats and rowed back to the ship.
Two life-boa were manned, and some
instruments and provisions hastily
thrown in. Ali hands then started for
the entrance, determined to force their
way out.
The storm had subsided two days be-
fore, but the sea was still raging near
the rocks The spray dashed over them
many times, and once they despaired
of their lives. but after long struggle
with the waves they reached the open
sea, nearly exhausted.
1t was many hours before the awful
roar of the surf faded from their ears.
The effects of the petrifying mist which
had filled their lungs in the bay proved
nearly fatal. Each day they grew
brewster, and at last their limbs would
scarcely move. Fortunately they were
able to reach the track of the whaling
vessels, where they were soon picked
up.
During the voyage, and long after
reaching New Bedford, the unfortunate
sailors could not walk, and until last
month they complained Of stiffness in.
their joints.
1t is probable that their narrative
would never have been believed, had
not Capt. King wisely brought away
one of the lady's arms and the ships
papers.
If any doubt existed on beholding
the former, the recent experiments Of
Prof. Haddox, of New Haven, have
convinced the most skeptical of the
truth of the Captains story. =
Two months ago the Professor began
a series of experiments, and after many
discouraging failures, be finally dis
covered process by which petrifactions
could be reduced to liquid. Then he
the ships papers in chemi-
cal solution, and, marvellous to relate.
the stony coating was dissolved in a !
single night The next day the docu-
ments were copied and translated by
Spanish expert.
Space alone prevents transcript of
The log from appearing in these col
umns but the curious will be pleased
to learn that the name of the unfortu-
nate commander was Don Ferdinand
Gonzales, and that the lady, who was
bis betrothed, bore the name of Isabella
Maria de Garcia. They were bound
'or the coast of Peru, when they enter
ID the fatal bay for fresh water.
As soon as Capt. King heard of
Prof. Haddox's success with his ex-
,eriments, it occurred to him that the
liquid might benefit his men. So he
ent for some, and since taking it, they
lave found new life, while the Captain
ays that he has recovered all the buoy.
lncy of his youth. A company of
cientifc gentlemen propose to visit the
Jay under guidance of Capt. King, and
With this solution they hope to restore
he rare and curious articles on the
hip. The bodies will be brought away,
'ut as Nature has embalmed them,
hey will not be profaned by the ex-
'eriments of man.
The papers and the laoy's arm are
n exhibition in the New Haven
luseum. The first and third fingers
f her hand are ornamented with costly
ings, covered with Spanish gems. One
f them bears exquisite tracings, repre-
enting incidents in the Moorish wars
f Granada If this story be fact, it