Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-04-17


lSJ Golden Gate. in July. 1862.
The steamer took fire of the west
coast OF Mexico, and her commander,
Capt. Hudson, ran her ashore on the
beach about eighteen miles north OF
the port II Manzanillo.
The Goldea Gate was total loss
and 22S human beings persisted, either
by the flames or 10y drowning. \ few,
Capt. Hudson among the number, We're
saved.
Although the Golden Gate was
burned u the waters edge, no vcstige
remaining to mark her grave saving
such oi the iron work rs had resisted
the flames. the old hulk, by virtue Of
cDucpt-.s..t-. Was worth large for
tuu- For with th" Golden Gate 81
Jly.o.11 in y..l coin and bullion went
down. I-.- treasure vas cacased in
buNe, ut various sizes. the value of
ti..r ,J.to..s ranging from 5000 -
-.n'.
Ofecur-a 'iiS Treasure was not srf-
iercI 90 r.i--.. u.i-gtdt waves. Me1-
su..- .-.-. s. u..r Instituted Tor the
recovery
&. 3 William Ireland II san Fran
e.. ..o organized 1n expedition, which
i-"-erir. 60 the wreck, IN order 70
rerlycc the treasure Oh salvage oi
ouy-,h!l-i
Tuc services of Sidney Cook, the
Wrll-kuoWu Eastern diver, We're pro-
eur,~i. and neither pains nor expense
was 81 Rr,j 10 recover the vast wealth
beueah the waves. But the task
proved q difficult one. The coast is
dangerous. and even in calm weather
a tremendous surf RACES along the
beach. In rough weather no boat
can live among the breakers, the roar
ing OF which may be heard for miles.
/ This continual fierce action OF the
waves speedily driftcd ridges OF sand
over the treasure 70 a depth Of from
eight 10 twelve feet.
For fifty days the expedition re-
manned at the spot. the diver cropping
in the sand every day for seven hours.
| The result OF his labor WAS the re-
eoyery of S775, go, one-third Of which
was claimed and obtained as salvage
by Ireland.
In 1SG4 Cook accompanied another
expedition under the management oi
T. J. l.. Smiley. The underwriters OBJ
jeoted 70 this proceeding, and institut
cd suit against Smiley. The litiga
tion was finally settled by q compro
mise, Smiley paying the underwriters
81, 600, and receiving u bill OF sale fol
the wreck in toto. Smiley made tine
haul, recovering $500, 900.
The diver returning 10 his home II
the State Of Maine after this expedi
ton terminated proceedings, anc
about $4,000 in gold coin and bul
lion still remained buried in the sane
~ the bottom of the sea.
But let Mr.. Cook tell his story.
When the steamer went TO piece,
the stern broke off bodily and drifteC
10 the northward, the tide setting tha
way about three miles an hour. Tn,
stern Of the steamer rolled over in thu
surf until il went TO pieces.
The few passengers who reached tn,
shore alive, including Capt. Hudson
We're satisfied that the treasure was il
the stern piece that broke of, and tha
the boxes had been scattered along il
the surf for distance Of five miles
and all had sunk in the sand beyont
recovery. The fact, however, as after
ward proved, was that when the sterl
broke of the break was in and through
the treasure room; consequently tn
treasure dropped where her bones lay
all in u small space, about one hun
dred and lf,y feet from the shore il
| ordinary weather, and three hundre,
feet in rough weather. The heav
seas rolling high on the beach, il
their return would carry the sand OF
shore and deposit it over the money
II caiuer weather the waves woul
carry the sand back 10 the beach again
anu thus through alternate change
tEu treasure had worked itself dee
into lie sand III the years it had lai
there.
The sand in the water is extremel
hart and solid, consequently with tn
treasure lying from four 10 twelve fee
deep IN ;he sand, many obstacles wer
t. be overcome in order TO secure th
prize. Then, again, the divers had {
work right in the surf, which was a
WAYS quite heavy from the southwes
swell. and at times would completed
envelop the engine frame and paddl
wheels, which stood erect in the san
about forty feet high. There are onl
| tbr,a months i'm the wears when q We: