Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-29
GOLD UNDEl. SEA AND SAND.
TAKING A MILLION DOLLARS
FROM THE BED OF THE Pa
CHIC.


The San Francisco, California, Chror-
icle gives an interesting description, in
the following article, in seeking the
Bullion that was lost in the ill-fated
steamship Golden Gate -
Many residents Of the Pacific coast
remember the thrill and horror through
the community occasioned by The bum
ing of the steamship Golden Gate, in
July, 1862 The steamer took hire off
the west coast Of Mexico, and her com
mander, Captain Hudson, ran her
ashore on the beach about eighteen
miles north OF the port of ManzanillO.
The Golden Gate was total loss, and
22S human beings persisted, either IN
the flames or by drowning. a few,
Captain Hudson among the number,
were saved.
Athonghthe Golden Gate was burned
to the waters ed ge, no vestlge remain
ed to mark her grave save such OF the
iron work as had resisted the flames,
the old hulk by virtue of concomitants,
was worth large fortune. For vita
the Golden Gate *l,500,O00 in gold
ccin and bnllion had gone down. This
treasure was encased III boxes OF various
sizes, the value of their contents rang
ing from $4,000 to $4,000.
Of course this treasure was not SUIT
f.red TO remain under the waves. Mea-
sures were at once instituted for the
recovery. In 1868 William Ireland Of
San Francisco organized al crpedl-
ton, which proceeded to the wreck, ia
order 10 recover the treasure on sal
wage of one third. The seyvices Of
Sidney Cook, the well-known Eastern
diver, we're procured, and neither pains
nor expease was spared to recover the
vast wealth bcueath the waves. But
the task proved difficult one. The
coast is dangerous, and even ir calm
weather tremendous surf RACES along
the beach. In rough weather no boat
can live among the breakers, the roar
irg 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 to
twelve feet For fifty days the expe-
dition remained at the spot, the diver
cropping in the sand every day for seven
hours. The result of his labor was the
recovery of S775,000, 0,one-third of which
was claimed and obtained as salvage by
Ireland. In 1864 Cook accompanied
another expedition under the manage
ment of L. j. l.. Smiley. The under
writers objected to this proceeding, and
instituted suit against Smiley. The
litigation was fiualy settled 10y com
promise, Smiley paying the underwriters
$4,000 aud receiving bill of sale for
the wreck in toto. Smiley made fine
haul, recovering $3OO,Oe0. The diver
returning to his henTe i'll the State Of
Maine after this expedition terminated
proceedings; and about 100000 in
gold coin and bullion still remained
buried in the sand at the bottom of the
sea. The following is Cooks sworn
narrative, written over decade ago.
THE DIVERS STORY.
When the steamer went to pieces tho
stern broke off badly and dritted to the
northward, the tide setting that way
about three miles an hour. The stern
of the steamer rolled over the surf until
it went to pieces. The few passengers
who reached the shore alive, including
Capt. Hudson were satisfied that the
treasure was in tho stern piece that
broke off, and that the boxes had been
scattered along in the surf for the dis
tance Of fiTe miles, and had sunk In the
sand beyond recovery The fact how
ever, as atterward proved, was that
when the stern broke off the break was
in and through the treasure room; CON
sequently the treasure dropped where
her bones lay, all in small space, ,ahout
one hundred and fifty feet from the
shore in ordinary weather and 800 feet
in rough weather. The heavy seas
rolling high on the beach, in their re-
turn would carry the sand off shore aud
deposit 1t over the money. In caliner
weather the waves would carry the
sand back to the beach again; aud thus
through alternate changes the treasure
ndu "o'Aeo itseii ueep into the SAND
in the years it had lain there. The sand
ia the water is extremely hard and sol.
id, consequently with the treasure lying
from four to twelve feet deep in the
sand, many obstacles were to be over.
come in order to secure the prize.
Then, again, the divers had to work
right in the Snrf, which was always
quite heavy from the southwest swell,
and at times would completely envelop
the engine frame aud paddle wheels,
which stood erect in the sand about
forty feet high. There are only three
months in the year. whec vessel can
.lis at anchor off the coast with any safe
ty-January, February and March.
TIE FIRST EXPEDITION
accompanied was under the command
OF William Ireland of San Francisco,
veteran in the wrecking business. We
left San Francisco in a schooner of $50
tons, with all the appliances that could
be thought ofin digging sand under
.tAy W. had wortiny rrsHs of