The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-21
GOLD UNDER SEA AND SAND.
Taking a Million Dollars From the
Bed OF the Pacific.
Seeking tue Bullion that was Lost In
the Inflated steamship Golden
Gate-Sidney Cooks Thrill
ling StOry-The Peril
Gus Undertaking
the BOldest of
Divers.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Many residents of the Pacific coast re.
member the thrill Of horror through the
community occasioned by the burning of
the steamship Golden Gate, in July,
1862. The steamer took fire oil the west
coast of Mexico, and her commander,
Captain Hudson, ran her ashore on the
beach about eighteen miles north of the
port of Manzanillo. The Golden Gate
was total loss, and 228 human beings
persisted, either in the flames or by
drowning. A few, Captain Hudson
among fine number, were saved.
Although the Golden Gate was burned
to the waters edge, no vestige remain
ing to mark her grave save such of the
iron work as had resisted the flames, the
old hulk by virtue oil concomitants, was
worth a large fortune. For with the
Golden Gate 81, 100000 in gold coin and
bullion had gone down. This treasure
was encased in boxes of various sizes,
the value of their contents ranging from
$4,000 to $4,000,
Of course this treasure was not suffer
ed to remain under the waves. Measures
were at once instituted for the recovery
In 1863 William Ireland of San Fran
cisco organized an expedition, which
proceeded to the wreck, IN order to re-
cover the treasure on salvage OF one
third. The services of Sidney Cook, the
well-known Eastern diver, were procured,
and neither pains nor expense was spared
to recover the vast wealth beneath the
waves. But the task proved difficult
one. The coast is dangerous, and
even in calm weather Tremendous surf
RACES along the beach. In rough weather
no boat can live among the breakers, the
roaring OF which may be heard for miles
This continual fierce action Of the waves
speedily drifted ridges of sand over the
treasure to depth of from eight t.
twelve feet. For fifty days the expedi,
ton remained at the spot, the diver
cropping in the sand every day for seven
hours. The result of his labor was the re-
covery of $4,000, one-third of which was
claimed and obtained as salvage by Ire.
land. In 1864 Cook accompanied another
expedition under the management of /. j
l.. Smiley. The underwriters objected tC
this proceeding, and instituted suit
against Smiley. The litigation was final
" settled by a compromise, Smiley pay
ing the underwriters $4,000 and recev-
ing a bill Of sale for the wreck IN toto
Smiley made a fine haul, recovering
S3OO,OO0 The diver returning to hi:
home in the State of Maine after this ex
petition terminated proceedings, and
about 100000 in gold coin ard bullion
still remained buried IN the sand ut the
bottom of the sea The following is
Cooks sworn narrative, written over 8
decade ago.
THE DIVERS STORY.
When the steamer went to pieces. the
stern broke Oft badly and dritted to the
nortbward, the tide setting that way about
three miles an hour. The stern of the
steamer rolled over the surt unit. 1t
went to pieces. The few passengers who
reached the shore alive, including Capt
Hudson were satisfied that the treasure
was in the stern piece that broke oil
and that the boxes had been scattered
along in the surf for the distance of five
miles, and all had sunk in the sand be-
yond recovery. The fact however, As
afterward proved, was that when
the stern broke of the break was in and
through the treasure room; consequently
the treasure dropped where her bones lay
all in small space, about one hundred
and fifty feet from the shore in ordinary
weather and 800 foet it rough weather.
The heavy seas rolling high on the beach
in their return would carry the sand of
shore and dcposite it over the money. In
calmer weather the waves would carry
the sand back TO the beach again; and
thus through alternate changes the treas
ure had worked itself deep into the sand
in the wears it had lain there. The sand
in the water is extremely hard and solid
consequently with the treasure lying
from Jour to twelve feet deep in th(
sand, many obstacles were 10 be over
come in order to secure the prize. Then
again, the divers had TO work right IN
the surf, which was always quite heavI
from the southwest swell, and at time;
would completely envelop the engine
frame and paddle wheels, which stooe
erect IN the sand about forty feet high
There are only three months IN the veal
when vessel can lie at anchor oil The
coss, with any safety--January, Febru
AIRY and March.
THE FIRST EXPEDITION
| accompanied was under the command
of William Ireland Of San Francisco, |
veteran in the wrecSing business. W.
left San Francisco in n schooner OF LOT
tons. with all the appliances that coul'
be thought of 10 digging sand under Wa
ter, We had working crew OF twelv'
men and two divers-one, Duacan John
son. a muscular man weighing 2U
pounds, and myself $50 pounds. W.
reached the harbor of Manzsniilo in du
time, procured permit from the com
mandant OF the port to wreck on the coas'
and next day sailed for the eof run
or fortune, as many had their all invest
ed in the expedition. Arriving OF To
wreck we dropped anchor in twent,
fs,homs of water, a mile OF shore, an
commenced to build lighter, which Wa
finished and launched from the vessel Il
few days.
Abou. this time sloop came down tn
coast from Mazstlsn with seventee
native pearl divers, all stslwart fellows
who atterward gave. US much trouble
johnson made the first dive. He wen
down outside of the surf, and crawle
into shore on his hands and knees, carry