The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-11
EDGAR poE,s "aoLp BUG"
The Original Records OF the Famous

Bug"
The scene is on Sullivan's Island, as the
readers of the report of Prof. Shepherds
lecture on Edgar Allan Poe will remem
Der, that poet and story writer was at one
time soldier, stationed at Fort Moultre
Doubtless he came over frequently L
Charleston for ales, wines, liquors, anC
cigars. OF some of which the author oil
1.-THE Gold Bug" was inordinately fond.
II was also discovered yesterday that he
paid many a visit TO the old books in tn,
office of the Probate Judge--certainly h,
paid one visit, and saw an old record, on
OF which he wove the interesting story d
his scarabgus, 1.-THE Gold Bug"
The correspondent of the Times up
turned the very document Yesterday
which, allowing for the imagination OF the
poetic Poe, was the true basis OF the story
The document is dated September 3, l7i5,
and belongs to n number of unclassiliCd
records, which Probate Judge Gleason
was collecting yesterday 10 have bound in
separate volume. AS will be noted, the
paper, which is fairly well preserved, is
nearly l45 years Of age. OF the accuracy
and truth OF the facts rs set forth there
can be no doubt. One OF the ailidavits
among a number, all by crews of the same
pilot boat. is as follows:
ANDREW Parle, being duly swown on
the Holy Evangclsts OF Almighty God,
dcposes that about half past o'colck on
the morning Of the LIST OF September, 4. u.
l7I5, in about seven iathoms OF water oil
Sullivan's Island, lac saw schooner COM
ing down afore the wind aud made toward
him until he came within pistol shot. Tho
schooner flew a black flag, and coming
near babe him lower his mnnsail. Upon
that he tackt and stood away from him,
upon which they fired from tho schooner
both musQuet and round-shot with the
Spanish pendant also flying, upon which
this deponont made the best OF his way
up to town.
But there is another affidavit, which is
as follows:
"John Garvin, n full branch pilot, being
sworn on the Holy Eyangclists Of Al
mighty God, dcposcs that very late on tho
night of August 81, l7l5, when coming in
from sea and when of the shore of Long
Island, there being partial fog, he sud.
denly, when bearing west, ran into u great
number of small boats, one OF which ho
capsizcd. He Immediately tackt aud
fetched up about u quarter Of u milo 10
the westward and almost within speaking
distance Of n brigantinc. II was too late
10 haul off and his course brought him
close along side and one OF his crew read
the title cid Campeador' This dcponcnt
knows that the Cid Campcador' la Span
ISL brigantine, tho commander OF which
In Julian dc Vega.
This dcponent further ayers that about
fifty yards Ia the northwest Of the brignn-
tine lay a schooner. The wind ut this was
uniayorablc TO entry, and he (hc dcpon-
emit thought it bet, In Gods grace, a. put
back b. sea, IN the which respect he was
aided by a providcntial wind. The brig
antine opened fire, but the sho, was wide
OF tho range ON account Of the iugg. aud
the more because this deponcnt had
qucnchcd the lights, which he had hauled
down. lie further avers that hc kept ON
his way along the coast aud put
into Naccamaw hay, aud began
10 make his way back 10 Charles
Town ON September 10. On reaching
WAccamaw Point, where the Kings Road
ends. aud whore II Gr!mbeck's Tavern,
where the mail coach puts up, aud Is
carried across the river 20 make the Jour
ney good Ia Charleston. this dcponent was
informed that a Spanish bigantino WIS
ashore on South Island. This Opponent.
with his own men aud sundfy Of the good
people from the Tavern, sailed down to
the island aud found that brginlnc had
been east away aud was ON her beam ends
over against the red sand bluns. The
brwniino was boarded aud thero was
found thereon only four men, the
commander, Julian 10 Vega, Alfonso
Rcalta, the second mate. aud two sailors.
The commander surrendered tu "a, in the
name OF the King and he WIS taken on
board with ~ and all his men. This de.
puncnt, drpusing further, saith that this
Capt dc Vega un the voyage Ia Charles
tUun related most incrcdul0us story. lie
sNorc that the bugInIinc had been loaded
with silver and gold, the sum thrru-
OF ~ English sterling being Eh.SpO, UO1.
That hc aud the iir,l male, Miguel Arc
tino, had agrrcd 10 make good To them.
selves this money! aud that they
should buy Il On long Island That
they had boldly permitted the whole crow
into the conspiracy. aud ON the afternoon
OF the 3lst OF August the captain aud the
mates and the crew went ashore in the
small boats. That the mate selected q
large pine tree near the shUrc, which was
hlan'd with q circle with two inner Cruss
marks On the side oi the tree turned irum
the shorr. That tom this trco the mate
took n bearing with a land compass
northeast 2S' ~. The captain next
measured distance OF about twenty
chains, or nearly quarter OF milc.
the end thereof being in a marsh.
The commander aud the skipper had made
unto themselves an agreement that the
commander should keep tliU memorandum
Of the distance secret from the mate aud
crew, aud that the captain should Keep the
bearing. ~ that there should be- no foul
play or tunchcry. At about ! O'Clock on
the morning u September the tint mate
boarded the bfisIntinc's companion
schooner and conveyed eight small boats,
loaded with the coin. 10 thr shorr. aud Il
Nu buried Tie captain further said that
when the small boats and convoy were uu
the way 10 tie Hhuar they were run
through hy q schooner us BE- thought.
tho same being my vessel which NJ,
blown alongside aud on which he hrrd.
But thc most ylllniuuus plu oi the Cap
tain's tale IN that ID bad been agreed tina,
when the fleet OF small boats should rc
turn from the fhuIr the hrilntiuc unl
schooner wcro tn bear away from the fleet,
the same 81 b. Lost. The commander iur
ther said that on the return tli,
schooner must have been fright.
cncd away los the fear ui the vessel
on which be hal fired aud kept well away
This dcponupt further states that ON pass
ing In io Charles Town yesterday be- saw
the wreck Of q schooner ON the beach ul
sand Island lMouis island aud picked
up one Of the boats oi the Gid Clmpcado