The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-23
CAST UP BY THE SEA.
Strange Recovery Of Ship That
Was Sunk Fifty Years Ago.
The Wreck Literally Incrasted with See
Shells P-sseaSs 3 Picturesque APP
pearauce-.i Mystery of
the Deep.

The Norwegian bark Elsa andersen
came into Galveston day 90 tSo ago
with a strengthening vessel IN tow
This was very small brig II English
build. cismasted aad in need OF repairs,
which had been sunk more than fifty
years ago, judging from Its ancient sp-
pcaranee and awkward rigging, SC
sailors who have looked .: il told a
Philadelphia Times correspondent. on
the afternoon Of Tie 18th Of Fetraarv.
OF the coast If the Farce Islands.
where the lisa Andersen had been
blown by recent gale. there was n VI
oleat upheaval Of the sea, about tt-o
miles distant from the spot where shc
was riding, that sent several waves
sweeping over hcrwhich did much dam
age and threatened 10 suhnerge her en-
tirely When the alarm which this
sudden sea had subsidized there was seen
about mile off a wreck which had not
been there before the uphcaval of the
bottom of the sea, n phenomenon cor
responding to an earthquake on land.
The wreck excited much interest among
the officers and passengers Of the Nor
wegian vessel. and an order was issued
TO approach the strange craft, when il
was seen that the remains of her rig
ging, stumps of maSts. and the hull it.
self were covered by thousands al sea
shells. causing the wreck to present the
appearance OF the miniature ships of
shellworll To be purchased ut any sea-
side town. The leaks which had sunk
the vessel were now stopped by an ac-
emulation of barnacles, and the ders-
lict rode the waves like duck.
A boatload of sailors was dispatched
10 board the wreck, ana they fsand the
hold and the under decks water tight.
save for few feet of water. which.
covering the cargo, had sunk her. Bat
this cargo and the other contents a the
ship were entirely destroyed, most ~
the former having been devoured by the
denizeus of the deep. In what had evil
IDENTITY been the captains berth wecc
found several iron bound chests. which
had resisted to some extent the ravagcs
of the time and the sea, but, on being
opened, tho contents were found 10 DO
reduced 10 a sort OF pulp. with the cx-
ception of n leather bag. This had be-
CoAIit uliSiA it Nhe ItttN~Sf@
to break it open with an AK when from
it poured n quantity of rusty disi.s.
which, being cleaned. proved 10 he
golden guineas of the year 1900 and
to the sum of FIVE thousand
and twenty-five dollars. There were
also several watches Of gold and
stomacher of pearls; these, however,
arc valueless, having been biackened by
the action of the water.
The wreck WAS attached 10 the Elsa
Andersen by n cable and towcd 90 Gal-
weston. where IL attracted crowds Of
visitors. On the fourth day after its de-
tachment from the bottom OF the sea by
the quake, the water was all pumped
out of the derelict, when il was found
10 contain three skeletons. two of them
Of men and the other q wonan's. this
last being OF u person Of gigantic build.
and in life of nearly seven feet in
height. About the neck Of one Of the
male skeletons was chain of gold. 20
which was attached q silver cruelty
and evidently "a rosary.