The morning call., 1893-01-12
PIRATE PLUMBER.
Captain MetCalf's Strange
Discovery.
A CHEST OF SILVERWARE.
The FreebooterS' Rendezvous i'm an
Island Harbor in the Gulf of
California.

There are millions OF dollars worth Of
pirate treasure sunk away near one of the
islands in the Gulf of California. according
to the statements made by Captain S. ID.
Melcalf.
Now the captain is not visionary indi-
vidual with lively appreciation Of the
imaginary On the contrary, he is level.
hard headed old seadog, who has been
trading about in Mexican seaports for the
past twenty years.
He runs a small schooner on the gulf, but
is now in this city for the purpose of secur-
ing appliances to bring the pirates treas
ures from their watery depository into the
light of day and their proper sphere of ap-
probation.
Now it may appear mere story, but il
isn't" remarked Captain Metcalf yester-
day. "How / came to make my remarkable
discovery was due to my inquisitiveness,
which my tiiends Of years ago used TO pre-
diet would get ne into trouble.
"When fist began trading in the gulf
heard stories about the pirates that used to
frequent those waters over century ago.
NOW TO a mariners notion 1t appeared
would naturally seek some unknown place
as a harbOr of refuge.
Zone hundred years ago very little was
known about the Gull of California, so you
can see that there was an extreme pr0ba-
bility that the cautious pirates would grasp
the opportunity of making 1t place TO
escape cruisers and 10 20 and make repairs
and store their treasures.
"While poking around In the gulf made
researches, and about I'VE years ago | hit on
a startling discovery.
"Wbile sailing about in my schooner for
hides and other things / accidentally came
across n closed harbOr at one Of the islands
where / touched. Although my schooner
was small one feared to take her in, and
so went in a small boat
"The precipitous coast line hid from view
an entrance into the island. Through this
entrance ! went in my boat. i found the
nassase about 400 feet wide and about a
mile in length. 1t then took sudden turn
and broadeued out into fair-siZed harbOr
with about two falhoms OF water at the
lowest tide.
"At the Northern end of this harbor,
where the water maintained its depth 10
the very edge If the bank. were the evil
denees of small settlement
1T consisted OF score or more OF log
and adobe houses, with which time had
dealt very kindly.
"ln some Of the houses were articles of
furniture, such as tables. chairs and cook
ing utensils.
Il returned tn my schooner, and plotting
her M TO the settlement / remained there
several days, making extended researches
al found several old-faShloned PTS, OILS,
cutlass and some other trinkets, which
have retained.
awhile rummagIng about in one Of the
adobe houses | ran across chart that was
folded away in a lot of papers, which at
first did not consider to be of much value.
After / sailed out of the place the idea
kind of struck me that the chart might
possibly tell where the pirates hid their
treasures.
THE map was on parchment and though
the lines had been marked IN indelible ink
il had faded con siderably.
"In some places the lines were so indis-
tinct as to be almost untraceable.
"A month afterward | returned to the
spot where had made the discoveries and
l determined upon finding what the map
led 20.
Il spent several weeks trying to make
that map fit the surroundings Of the harbor,
but could not do it.
"At last | decided TO let the matter go
and return once more to the trading bust
ness.
But somehow or other | could not 20
away. The Idea OF unearthing private
treasure held me TO the place.
II resolved to remain little longer and
If / could not make head nor tale Of the
map would give it up.
Several days afterward, though. had
solved the mystery Of the maps tTacngs
There was O high hill somewhat back of
the aband 0ned settlement and from it the
pirates had evidently taken their bearings.
From this spot line ran on the map
due south The tractngs on the map fol-
lowed this Imaginary line. l began 10 see
daylight ahead.
I'm few days more solved the mystery
and was able TO reach the spot where the
map Indicated something was located.
1.-The bay had shOaled during lie century
or so that had elapsed since the map was
made and the water over the spot | had
selected where the pirates had concealed
their plumber was only a few feet deep at
high tide and was n bare mud fiat at low
water | went away and for several months
continued to trade until | could collect some
machinery to deive into the mud fiat.
'Aft / had gotten together some crude
appliances l returned tn the scene OF tile
mystery.
"Well, TO cut long story short | worked
off and on over that mud bank for nearly
three years.
Il never LET MY crew into the secret, and
they supposed | had gone crazy on the sub
ject of coal oil.
well. a few months ago made a strike.
/ ished up q chest containing about $500
worth of silver plate. This started me
going. have an old friend in this city who
is capitalist and l came here to enlist him
in the enterprise OF recovering this hidden
treasure.
II have been successful, and lie has pro-
vided me with the necessary means to get
the machinery and to allow me to devote
my whole time and attention to the enter
prise.
"Wickliffe Matthews has Just drawn up
the papers Of copartnership between my
rich friend and myself. My friend has the
plate | recovered.
Il will leave in the latter part OF this
month for the south.
II believe that | have discovered the rem
devious CT the pirates who once terrorized
the Pacific and either laid tribute on every
vessel that they captured or run down or
plundered them outright. If | have you
may just wager that | have struck the
richest and most startling find of the CEN
tury."
Attorney Matthews states that the friend
referred 10 by Captain Meicalf as aiding
him with capital is a member of one of the
leading firms OF this city, and is sound,
practical business man.
The attorney states that, in his opinion,
Metcalf knows what he Is about.