The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-19
4 MBERSCHAUM Mine.
The Discovery Of Juan GaTGiS in Lower
California
Dangerous Shoals Found in Mexican Waters
by the Schooner Nora Harkins-Out-
rageous Charges.

The schooner Nora Harkins, Captain
Hsrkins, arrived from Mexican ports few
days since and is now lying at section OF
the seawall. The vessel is discharging salt
for the Carmen Island Salt Company, but
since she left here seven months ago she
has been trading in all sorts Of merchan-
disc, and Captain Harkins has some curious
experiences to relate of the sights be has
seen and the places he has visited.
Among the passengers Of the steamer was
Juan GaTeis, a wealthy mlne-oTner IN
Mexico, and a gentleman with varied eX-
perience extending back many years IN that
country He has been ia Mexico and Lower
California for over II years, and has many
interesting stories to tell Of his adventures
in the land Of cur southern neighbOrs. His
principal work has been that Of prospect
ing. and he has met with more than the or
binary success in delving for the precious
metals Shortly before he left for San
Francisco he located one Of the richest
mines in Lower California. He made his
find near Rosario Bay. aud If the samples
he brought with bin are criterion OF the
stuff beneath the surface the wealth OF the
mine must be fabulous. He showed re-
porter yesterday on board the schooner
some Of the samples. The quartz bears
gold, copper and silver; some Of 1t Tree gold
and some native silver
WONDERFUL FIND.
Senior Gareis speaks Of this mine as a
bagateIle compared with another discovery
he recently made. This last find was no
less than a meersehaum mine which he acct
dentally stumbled across in company with
q French priest.
"This," lie said, holding ND a sample Of
the product in the shape Of a brick, sis more
valuable than all tie gold and silver mines
put together This is the genuine meer-
schaum and we have a mine Of IT, We re-
quiie no blasting or tunneling or putting uD
0f stamps and mills 10 get 1t out. We can
chop all we want Of # ont With an ak and
there isn no troub e in shipping it away"
sUNKEN ROCKS.
Captain Harkins during bis seven months
cruise on tile Mexican coast has picked up
some very valuable information regarding
Tic navigation Of the waters there, and Is
preparing what will be an Interesting re-
port to the photographic Office. The CAP
tain, who is an experienced navigator, says
there IS no correct chart OF those waters,
either American or English, In existence.
On more than one occasion only the greatest
care saved his vessel from being wrecked
on an unknown spit or an unmarked rock.
The bay at Guaymas, be found by COMPARE
son with his charts. had shOaled seven feet
In some places, and there are dangerous
shoals Of ike difference off Point Topoo-
enough, Cautain Harkins says but the Eng
lish charts, according 10 which he attempted
10 sail, are infinitely worse.
THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS.
The skipper had some peculiar expert
ences with the Mexican officials. II is gen.
orally conceded that these officers in the
seaport towns removed far from the seat Of
the Government are daylight robbers, but
the Berkeley train highwaymen were gen
tlemen compared to the custodians of the
pcrts who helped TO thin out the plethorc
purse Of Captain Harkins. Since the
schooner left here she has touched at San
Bias, Manzanllo, MuTuata, Colola, Quay
mas and nearly all the smaller Mex
lean ports which are usually over
looked by larger vessels. He went
into Manzanill0 on one occasion just as
Pacific Mail steamer was about to sail Tor
San Francisco. Having letter to send to
this city be put it on board the steamer.
The matter was reported to the comman--
dante of the port and Harkins was tined
SEQ Tor this breach Of etiquette. Through
the intercession of his eonsignee the fac
Was reduced to SEQ. They had no pilots III