The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-10-23
WHENCE DID 1T COME?
The Dismssted RuIk which Lies Upon IL
Plain Far from the Sea.

physical characteristics of that barren
portion of Southeastern California
known as the Colorado desert. 1t tem-
braces almost the entire surface of
San Bernardino County and part of
the counties OF Los Angeles, Inyo and
Kern. In other words, it has an area
| OF between 80, 900 and 10000 square
miles, or more than the combined
| areas of New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Connecticut and New
Jersey.
Some years ago q prospector deter
mined to extend his search over that
part of the desert that is several hun
dred feet below the area level, and that
| is seldom, if ever, visited by either
| white man or Indian. With supply
of provisions and canteens of water
| to last for several days, and mounted
upon a horse accustomed to priva-
tions, he struck out from the little
oasis of Indian Wells in a southerly
direction, and for some time climbed
| hill and traversed valleys where no
signs OF human presence were met
with.
The daring prospector gradually
| worked his way south for many miles,
until finally, stretched out at the foot
of the ridge as far as the eye could see
lay perfectly level valley. It's surface
seemingly as smooth as a floor for
miles on miles, while its appearance
was of a most peculiar nature, being
of an ashy whiteness and without a
rock or protuberance of any kind to
break the monotony of the dead level.
A singular object a mile or more
| from the foot OF the hill attracted his
| attention. He shaded his eyes with
| his hat brim and looked again and
| again at it. II that were the ocean in
| stead of q desert at his feet he would
| surely say that a vessel lay at anchor
| there. Surely no rock ever existed
| that so much resembled the handi-
work of man, What could it be?
| Slowly he rode down the hillside, de-
termined upon getting a closer view of
the strange object. At last the level
was reached, and there, apparently
less than mile away, lay what was
unquestionably the worn and battered
| hulk of an ancient vessel. The
stumps OF the masts still remained,
while the high stern and peculiar shape
of the entire ship betokened its ancient
origin. The buiwarks seemed to have
been partially carried away, probably
by the falling of the masts, whose
stumps projected ten or fifteen feet
above the deck. But otherwise all the
contour of the old hulk was perfect,
though OF a design vastly different
from any that had ever been seen by
the astonished discoverer.
The prospector, with all his facilities
bent upon a close examination Of this
strange apparition in the desert, urged
his horse forward, but the ground
broke beneath his weight, and then it
was seen that the entire surface was
but crust, an inch or more in thick
ness, but not OF sufficient strength to
bear the weight OF horse and rider.
| Underneath this crust WAS dark col
ored mixture of mud and water
Horse and rider approached nearer
and nearer, but finally the poor ami
NAL sank so deeply in the Ooz that it
became apparent that it was impossi-
BILE to advance another step in the di.
rectiOn OF the vessel, which now seemed
within pistol shot.
Reluctantly the horses head was
turned toward the shore, which was
|
The prospector dismounted and cast
| about for some means of reaching the
wreck, which his Imagination had by
this time freighted with all manner OF
wealth. He attempted to make his
way on foot, but he found that it gave
way almost as readily as under the
horses hoofs, and so was obliged to
abandon the attempt. Unable to
devise any means for satisfying his
curiosity by setting foot on the long
deserted deck that lay so temptingly
near, he at last reluctantly decided to
make haste for the nearest settlement
and there organize well-equipped ex-
petition with every appliance neces-
sary for reaching and making a thor
ough search OF the stranded hulk.
But on turning to his horse, Il most
pitiable sight was seen. The poor an
imal's legs were raw and bleeding for
the entire distance they had come in
contact with the muddy deposit be-
meath the surface crust, and an exam
ination showed him that this deposit
was so highly impregnated with alkali
that it had eaten the horses limbs al
most to the bone, and consequently
he was in no condition for further
travel. The only thing to be done
was to mercifuily put the poor crea-
ture out OF his sufferings, and pistol
ball soon ended the life of the faithful
beast. The prospector was now left
on foot to contend with the multitu-
dinous and almost insurmounta-
BILE difficulties that confronted him.
Imagine his conditions: his horse
| 1noI hTy,oCaff lnct a,,l
plies Of water and food. However, be
knew the general direction in which
the old road across the desert lay,
and he knew, too, that if his strength
only held out and he Travelled far
enough to the north he was certain to
reach assistance in time. He reached
a station three days later and his lie
was saved.
When ne recovered so as to be able
to travel, he was carried by stage to
San Barnardino Valley, where he soon
regained his strength, and then i'm
parted to q few friends the strange
discovery than he had made upon his
trip.
Among others, the writer was told
OF the wonderful stranded ship, and
curiosity was aroused to the utmost.
Many theories were advanced to ac-
count for its presence there. The
plausible explanation, and one easily
within the bounds OF belief, was that a
long time ago some hardy mariner
sailed northward along the Mexican
coast on a voyage of discovery. Fear.
ing to venture on unknown seas, he
ug ged the shore, never losing sight OF
land. When the Gulf OF California was
reached, instead of following the ocean
line, he entered the gulf, the southern
extremity OF the peninsula now known
as Lower California, not being in sight
from the coast OF the mainland op,
posire. Sailing on and up the gulf,
which Enthusiastically at one time ex.
tended much farther northward than
it now does, and had arms reaching
up into what is now known as the