The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-30
"a Colorado Yarn.
he I .eadvIlle Chronicle


account Of the most marvellous discoy-
cry yet made by mortal man, provided
that it is true, which is more than doubt.
full. Two miners, while sinking shaft
near Red Cliff, are represented to have
found deep subterranean chamber
without apparent communication with
the open air. What they claim to have
seen is thus described:
The cave at first seemed empty, but as
their eyes gradually became accustomed !
to the deep gloom, the men saw in the |
further extremity q huge black object,
which, not without some reputation, they
approached. As they neared ii, to their
unbounded amazement, they made out
the lines OF some sort Of sailing craft It
was, as nearly as they could judge, about
sixty feet long by some thirty feet wide,
and lay tilted forward at an angle Of
about fifteen degrees over q rough pile of
stone. The body Of the craft was built of
short legths Of some dark and very porous
wood, resembling our black walnut if it
could be imagined with the grain pulled
apart like q sponge OF g piece of bread,
and made perfectly square. Both ends
Ut was evidently intended for sailing
either way, were turned abruptly up
like the toe of peaked Moorish slipper.
The planking was apparently double
rivetted on with nails of extremely hard
copper, only slightly rust eaten, and with
the heads cut or fled in an octagonal
shape, while along the upper edge Of
the ship eleven large rings Of the same
metal, and evidently for the securing Of
rigging, we're counted. At the bottom
edges of the craft, and running it's entire
length, were two keels some four and q
half feet deep and six inches thick. hung
on metallic hinges, and at the ends were
fastened rough copper rods, extending
upward and bent over So as to attach to
two masts rising from the upper edges.
If the cross Of an inverted Y be conceiv-
ed to represent the deck lines, the two
stems are at about the angle and position
of the masts. These were upward of
twenty feet long; and, as evidence that
sail was at one time stretched across,
some ragged remnants of what appeared
to be cording we're found cllnging to
the inner edges. The ends of the masts
were secured in pivots, and it was evi-
dent that in lacking one could be
moved forward and the other back,
thus bringing the sail at an angle with
the body OF the ship-an idea which
it might not re bad for our modern navi-
gators to initiate. This, It is believed, al
so explains the copper rods which moved
the keels SO as to reciprocate the position
of the masts. While the whole ship was
intact, the wood crumblcd like dust be
meath the finger touch, and fearful of trap
falls the two prospectors did not venture
to explore the interior. Lying on the
ground near by, however, was discovered
gold instrument bearing rude resem-
Dlance to the sextant of the present day,
and possibly used to calculate their longi-
tude. No trace of any writing was found
| save at one end OF the ship, where about
| midway on the bow Of the ship, inclosed
| in metal ring, were twenty-six copper
characters rlveted to the wood and bear
| ing much resemblance to the Chinese
hieroglyphics OF the present day. No
human remains Of any sort were found,
although it is possible that search in
the hold will reveal something Of this
sort.
Without pushing their Investigations
further, the two miners, lost in wonder
ment, retraced their steps to the upper
air, leaving the gashtly ship once more
in gloom and silence.
By this time it had grown quite dark
above, and with that tacit understanding
existing among men who had seen that
which borders upon the supernatural
they spoke but little between themselves
of the discovery, but sought rest by theil
kindling camp fire. In the morning the
whole thing seemed SO much like 6
dream that Trey were seriously inclined
to regard it as some morbid phantasy
some disordered vision of the brain alone
having no substance in reality, anc
eagerly, yet with a strange dread, they
descended the rope again. AS
suring themselves by short survey
of the facts they had learned the nigh
before, the prospectors hurriedly as
cended the shaft and spent the rest o:
the day in conceaing,as we'll as possible
the traces of their excavation. Thi
done, they went to the cabin Of well-to
do miner living some thirty miles dowl
the gulch, and to him first told their ex
traordinary story. The gentleman i
perfectly reliable, and, together with
well known mining expert residing il
this city, has seen and examined tn
ship, and will take steps to preserve tn
wonderful discovery to the world in al
its possibly great historical value. Th'
minute particulars as to locality are a
present withheld for very obvious rea
son-they would attract horde ofvanda
, sight-seers who would 5000 destroy tn
moulderlng dust beyond hope of resto1
alton, and until the proper authorize
can be sent for they will not be published
The discovery Of the junk-like shi
with its unknown architecture, hermeti
cally sealed IN cavern fifty feet belo7
the surface Of the earth, gives scope t
: indefinite speculation. The only possibl
explanation seems: however, that ages, G
aons, perhaps, agone, vessel bearing
:, crew OF bold discoverers, tossed by th
:, waves, sought a harbor in cave within
, cliff. The waves then receding left
e stranded there, and the great continents
t divide, the awful upheaVals and convu
0 sions Of nature, which we know so lit.
u of and can only bl1ndiy speculate o,
:. pressed the face of the earth together an
sealed it in living grave.