Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-11-07
M@isfellzneons. g
Heroic Toll and Daring.
THE GOLDEN GATE" TREASURE.
From the y. Y. Times

THE GOLDEN GATE TREASURE.
From the n. Y. Timesl
Who that has read The 7oilers Of the Sea
has failed to admire the wonderful power
with which Victor Hugo has depicted
mans struggle with and victory over the
inimical forces OF naturel Mastering the
passive resistance OF inertia; coping with
and conquering the active fury OF the de-
stroying winds and waves; doing success
ful battle with the cruel monsters Of the
deep; meeting everywhere the most terri
lying obstacles. yet overcoming all BY the
indomtable will that sustained him, the
tireless energies and the inexhsustiOle re-
sources OF his own being. the hero OF that
!nimitable romance must forever live Ia
mems minds. rather as n glorious ideal than
a real being. Yet. will it he believed. our
country affords one whose achievements
rival those OF Victor Hugo's hero, and In
much the same field OF endeavor; one who.
AS n mere matter OF business. not inspired
by the all-powerful impulse OF great love,
has dared and done almost as nightly as
he. That man is Sidney Cook, the diver,
who has been for some days past, stopping
at the ST. Cloud Hotel in this City-and the
great romance Of his life has been his work
in the recovery Of the sunken treasure of
the wrecked steamer Golden Gate, ON the
Pacific coast.
Mr.. Cook Is q man OF apparently about
80 years Of age, slender OF figure. aud OF
medium height. His eyes, hair, and beard
are black. He is quiet In manner, reticeDt
and rather slow OF speech. but chooses HE
words well, and speaks directly TO the
point, Whatever he has to say. He Is .
Maine man.
The first diving operation he WAS engag-
ed 10 WAS the recovery in Louisburg Har-
Dor, Cape Breton. Nova Scotia, of the An
chor-chains and guns Of French frigate
blown up there IN the French and English
war In 1857. That work was 10 1883. when
he was little more than lad, and by its
exciting character. and the success attend
ing IL, Influenced his choice OF a profession
for Life. From that tune he was diver.
Two or three things connected with that
work are, by the way. worth mention. as
illustrative Of the effect Of ses-wster upon
different objects exposed to It's action dur
ing the long term Of l0l years. The cast
iron guns OF the frigate were found TO be,
to the depth Of half an inch, as soft as
plumbago. and an axe could readily be
stuck 10 them when they were brought up.
The barbeue guns were loaded when the
vessel went down. When their charges
were drawn, it was found that while the
wooden plug behind the ball, In each, was
decayed, the spun-yarn around 1t and the
bag enclosing the powder were quite sound.
The powder was simply black mud. but
upon being dried in the sun would burn
like punk.
In 1859 Mr.. Cook worked on the recov-
cry Of objects of value on board schooner
wrecked OF the Florida coast, and In 1850
went to California. There, as no oppor-
tunity offered Immediately for emplOymen
in his profession, he went to work 10 the
redwood timber country, and while there
learned Of the efforts making for the recov-
cry Of the treasure Of the Golden Gate.
The Pacific steamship Of that name.
when of the west coast of Mexico, on July
%. 1862, took fire and her commander,
Capt. Hudson, ran her ashore on the beach
about l8 miles north Of ManzanillO. The
vessel was burned to the waters edge, 22S
human beings lost their lives 10 her de-
structiOn, either by the flames or the
waves. and the rich treasure she had on
board. Of d 500 900 In gold coin and bui-
lioG, sank TO the bottom. That treasure
WAS inclOsed in Sc boxes, the contents Of
which varied in value from $4,000 70 t37,-
600 each.
1t Is q frightful coast upon which to be
thrown. and one which seems to Offer, at
nrst view. almost insurmountable obstacles
| W Tue ItCOVCIy VI MY susuk INV SoCsS. Al
| only three months Of the year. December,
January, and February, is work practica-
| ble upon II. At all other times the surf Is
SO terrible that no boat can live 10 it. Its
roar can be heard for miles. aud all along
the coast, TAR Is the eye can reach. the
margin Of the ocean IL white with angry
crests Of fOsming billows. Even In the
best season, the iron frames OF the engine
| aud paddle-wheels, that remained standing
| 32 feet above the level Of the sea, were fire.
Quently buried BY the enormous waves that
rolled 10 several feet above them. Where
| the remnants Of the hulk Of the Golden Gate
laid. Was about l50 feet from the beach in
the best weather, or 800 feet in rough
weather, and the force Of the waves was
| such, In their constant tempestu0us beat
Ing upon the shore. that they carried In and
| out, piling, tearing away and repiling. vast
| masses OF sand that buried the lower pOr.
| tons of the wreck at varying depths Of
from to - much - 10 feet. Gradually,
year by year, the treasure was thus sunken
| to greater and still greater depth. while
| the superintendent sand became more and
more impacted until 1t was hard and 6rD
| rs 4 rolled and beaten road. II was 1t 0rst
| supposed that the force Of the waves must
| have scattered the boxes Of treasure along
| the coast away from the wreck. but this
| was subsequently proved sn error. The
| treasure room OF the steamer Was con-
| stfucied of heavy planks, lined with boiler
plate iron screwed fast to the plsuking.
| When the steamer went to pieces on the
beach, the stern broke O6 6"dily. drifted
northward. and was rolled over and over In
the surf until It vas shattered to fragments.
II that portion 0f the vessel the treasure
| roum was believed 70 be, but In fact the
/ II -