Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-08-17
Strange, If True.

laborer in the vineyards to-day
may be the millionaire of to-mor-
row. The wonderful exists in the
midst Of our every day life. Exam
Piles of the inscrutable workings of
divine power are frequently por-
trayed in unexpected moments,
under the unmistakable guise of
practical demonstration.
The latest remarkable occurrence,
bordering on the supernatural, Is
one of very recent date, and very
startling in its character. A party
of Angelefios recently went on a
prospecting trip from this city,
their objective point being the
northern side of Old Baldy. On
their way thither, the plausible
stories of "forty-niner" directed
their course to the mountains upon
the lower Mojsve desert. Here, in
the region of a temperature fitted
only for the place of which we all
stand in mortal fear, the verdant
hunters after hidden wealth repair
ed, and the burdens of physical and
mental oppression were borne only
by heroic fortitude bred of des-
peration. Long days of depriva-
tion passed without the expectant
golden recompense, and further la
Dor beneath the tropical heat of a
desert sun was considered worse
than useless. A settled despond-
ency overcome the party like a
sudden pail, and with funereal eX.
preston they turned backward
toward civilization and home COM
forts. But "man proposes and God
disposes.u Their first days home.
ward journey was marked by
events which will startle the world
with wonder and envy. AS night
came on, clouds from beyond
the sandy wastes began to thicken,
and the intense heat became
still more oppressive. Long
after the hours when all
the world should be wrapped in
slumber, dreaming of the blessings
of friendship, home and civiliza.
tion, the adventurous party were
awakened by loud, startling and
confusing sounds, such as could
only proceed from natures forces
working in their great laboratory.
The earth quaked and produced
startling sounds, Kissing noises and
violent contortions. Before their
very eyes mountains disappeared
and large sheets of water took their
places. Their animals took fright
and disappeared in the darkness of
night, and left to their own re.
sources they were compelled to
make the best of the extraordinary
Appalled, by the
violence of the surrounding ele.
ments, and being, withal, some-
what superstitious, the party were
powerless to help themselves
Prone upon the ground they lay,
bereft of reason or intelligence, like
as many bowlders from the ada
cent mountain side. The dawning
of the following morning brought
order out of chaos, and the trembling
party awoke to a scene beyond all
human conception. Where noun
tains had formerly reared their
majestic heads, there now appeared
but a series of lakes, quiet and calm
as though no ripple had ever ruffled
their smooth surface. At the mar
gin of one of these sudden aqueous
formations, however, there appear
ed an unusual and very astonishing
spectre. An old and disabled ship,
partly dismantled, and undoubted-
ly stranded wreck, was partly
visible. After the surprise incident
to the circumstances, it was re-
solved by the brave prospectors to
endeavor to board the spec
tre visitant and ascertain
its port of departure and
destination. After repeated efforts
the deck was reached, and the an
tiquity of the craft was observed by
all. The woodwork, nearly de.
cayed, bore evidences of curious
workmanship, and the peculiar
carved emblems were undoubtedly
of Spanish origin. The brave party
descended the battened hatchway,
and with much labor removed the
debris that for ages had accumu-
mulated. They were buoyed by
strong hopes, not of prospective
wealth, but of additions to the
archaeological records of California.
Down into the accumulations of
ages they toiled, through human
skeletons and amid ancient embel-
lishments, unremittent in their en-
deavors to bring before the world
the history of the wonderful ship.
Many valuable records were re-
covered, in q partially preserved
condition, the deeiphering of
which led to further search for a
large amount doublOons stated to
be on board For five days our la
borious fellow citizens prosecuted
their search, and at last their la.
bors were rewarded by the sight of
the golden treasure of the lost ship.
Fully $1,500,000 were raised from
the stranded vessel, and after much
trouble, conveyed to this city. The
lucky, but deserving prospectors
are not grudged their extraordina.
ry fortune, and it is the wish of
their many friends In this city that
their new found treasures will be
accepted by them as a divine gift.
AJAX.
Aurust IL 1870