The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-14

We're traders, wreckerS a al fishermen
mere are harbors on the east and west
SHORES, but by order OF Steboips we ran
| around to the south side and dropped
anchor about mile from the beach. 1t
was Just at shutdown when we came to
anchor, ana that evening the captain gave
them the use of the cabin for a coup of
hours TO look over their papers. The island,
WIN all lndentationS well as the shoals,
reels, and depth of water, was pictured on
our chart, and they compared their pen-and-
INK sketch with this and consulted another
paper VIII ch none of Us had before seen, until
they came to a decision. | was looking
down upon them through the open skyhght
| from the corner of my eye, and | saw Steb
oins strike the table with his fist, and heard
his whisper:
We've got it, sure as shooting"
'Hushm she admonished. 7'Of course
we've got it. We hain't nobody's fools,
Jonas Stebbins Do you suppose I'd have
consented to put all our money into this
venture if there was chance to lose itm
BY gum but we'll be rich!'
OF cou Sc we will"
Richest folks in the hull country"
Yes, but don't get excited"
They sat on deck for an hour or two,
Stebbins smoking and his wife knitting,
and as they were about to retire for the
night felt bound to observe:
well, Mr.. Stebbins, here we are in good
shape, and now, as was sent to manage
your business, you'd better explain matters
pretty clearly. | may want TO make some
preparations for tomorrow
How long will 1t take you to get diver
ready to go down3n he asked
Not over half an hour"
"Well, that's all the preparations need
ed. "
WHAT is the diver to go down after9n
'Sunthiu' that won't run away before
morning. answered Mrs Stebbins, and
with that both went below.
1t was only natural that all of us should
be curious about the expedition, but every
attempt to find out anything had thus far
been cleverly frustrated. The captain and
| talked it over again for the twentieth
time, and we came to the same conclusion
that Stebbi IS had come on a wild goose
chase after some old wreck. In our pique
at his refusal to furnish particulars we al
most hoped he wouldn't find it,
Stebbins was on deck at daylight next
morning, and his wife half an hour later,
and after breakfast, when the captain asked
for orders, the Yankee waited to fill his
pipe before replying:
Il guess we'll jog westward about FIVE
miles"
The schooner was got under way, and
NhSAl oIlC nel1 dCCplllp llSllSl lub ulSOduCc
named she was about a mile off shore, in
30 feet of water, AID midway between her
and the be lCh was a reef covered with not
more than 10 or IL feet of water at low
tide. As the anchor went down the
schooner's head pointed directly toward
the land, and Stebbl IS and his wife ap-
peared to make out some landmarks, the
sight of which brou gbt smiles to their faces
1t was a beau iful morning, with only a
Iix,l,N b.
went down StebblLs came to me and said:
I'VE shall have to go into the reef in a
small boat, l suppose. Can a diver work
from herg'
| assured him that it could be done, and
we got down the boat, and put in the pump
and dress, and were shortly ready to pull
off. Stebbins and his wife were both to
go, making a party of six of u.s. We
pulled almost straight for the reef, ported a
lit lie after crossing it, and then, as we
anchored in three fathoms of water looked
about and discovered that we were in what
might be called basin, although it was open
to the east.
Eyes, this is the spot" said Stebbins, as
he stood up and looked around.
I'D almost know it at midnight" added
his wife
"What am to look for!n asked the diver
as he donned his dress.
''Some boxes about the size of them that
axes come in, replied the Yankee. There
orter be ten of 'em down there. They are
iron bound and purity hefty, but you hook
on and we'll do the hauling"
The diver winked at me 10 express his in
credulity. and then his helpers screwei on
his helmet and got him over the side on the
rope ladder. The water was wonderfully
clear, and we could follow him to the very
bottom and see him move about. He head
ed north and crossed the basin; thence east
to its mouth: then around to the north, and
after being down twenty-five minutes ne
came up with a she'll and said, as soon as
clear of his headpiece:
Nothing but shells down there. sir. The
bottom is hard sand, and / conld have seen
dime down there"
Didn't see no boxesP' gasped Stebbins.
mo, sir"
NOW, Jonas, don't get excited eau
toned his wife. Them boxes is lying
ongside O. that wall (reeD to the west.
Tie waves coming in from the east would
shunt 'em over there"
That's 90" replied Stebbins, and when
the diver had rested he was directed to
search in that direction, and the anchor " as
lf ed that we might hover over him as ne ar
as possible He had not been down three
minutes when he signa!led us to haul away
on the line attached to the tongs, and u ,
came one or the boxes the Yankee AM his
wife were searching after. In five minutes
we had another, and inside of an hour we
had ten We were an excited lot-all but
Stebbins and his bet er half They seemed
to take the thing as matter of course, and
after the diver had sent up the tenth box
and came up to rest the Yankee said:
"There might have been an eleventh box.
My bill calls for ten, but here may be an
extra one. And, say, when you are down
there kinder look around for any loose com
or other stuff"
Nothing further was found, however, and
that afternoon we stood away for New
Orleans When aboard the schooner Steb-
bins informed us that there were S15, 900 in
Spanish coin in each box, and that every
box was in good order. | could not help
but express my amazement over tie find,
and he calmly replied:
"Weli, you see, men the woman are great
hands to dream, and we dreamed it all out.
There wasn't much chance for a slip after
we had both dreamed"
But the pen and ink chart was no doubt
taken from the wallet of the sailor who died
in the country tavern.