Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-10-18
WHENCE CAME THE SHIP?
a Mystery of the Famous So-CalIed Colo
RADIO Desert.

Few persons have a correct concep-
ton of the immense area and peculiar
physical characteristics of thai barren
portion of Southeastern California
known as the Colorado Desert 1t en-
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 5000 and 10000 square miles,
or.more than the combined areas of
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu-
sets, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
Some years ago prospector deter
mined 10 extend his search over that
part Of the deserttha is several hundred
feet below the sea level, and that is sell
DOM 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 horse accus-
toned 10 privations, he struck out from
the little oasis of Indian Wells in a
southerly direction, and for some time
climbed hills and traversed valleys where
no signs of human presence were met
with.
The daring prospector gradually
worked his way southwark for many
miles, until finally stretched ont at the
foot of the ridge as far as the eye could
see lay perfectly level valley. Its sur
face was seemingly as smooth as floor
for miles on miles, while its appearance
was OF the most peculiar nature, being
of an ashy whiteness and without 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 atten-
ton. He shaded his eyes with his hat
brim and looked again and again at it.
Ii that were the ocean instead of 4 des-
ert at his feet he would surely say that
vessel lay Mt anchor there. Surely no
rock ever existed that Somuch resembled
the handiwork of man. What could it
be?
Slowly he rode down the hillside, de-
termined upon getting closer view of
the strange object, At last the level
was reached, and there, apparently less
than a mile away, lay what was I'M
questionably 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
bulwarks 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 design vastly
different from any that had ever been
seen by the astoni> I'd discoyerer.
The prospector, !, tn all his faculties
bent upon Il close examination of this
strange apparition i'll 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 thickness, but
not of sufficient strength to bear the
weight of horse and rider. Underneath
this crust was a dark-colored mixture of
mud and water,
Horse and rider approached nearer
and nearer, but finally the poor animal
sank so deeply in the ooze that it be-
came apparent that it was impossible to
advance another step in the direction of
the vessel, which now seemed almost
within pistol shot.
Reluctantly the horses head VAS turn
ed toward the shore, which was finally
reached after hard struggle The
prospector dismountod 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 over the
crust 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 de-
wise any means of 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 expedition
with every appliance necessary for
reaching and making a thorough search