The Bessemer indicator., 1893-04-01
SOME PIRATE PLUMBER.
STRANGE DISCOVERY MADE
BY A SEA CAPTAIN.
A Chest Full of Sliverware-The Free
hooters Rendezvous In an Is
land lInrbor 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 Cali
fornia, according to tho statements
made by Captain S. ID. Metcalf.
"One hundred years ago very little
was known about the gulf OF Cali
fornia, SO you can see that there was
an extreme probability that the
cautious pirates would grasp the OPP
portunity of making it place to go
and make repairs and store their
plumber
While poking about the gulf 1
mnde researches. and about five years
ago hit on u startling discovery.
while sailing about in my schoon-
er for hides and other things acci
dentally came across Il closed harbor
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. found the passage about 400
feet wide and about mile in length.
1t then took sudden turn and broad
ened out into a fair-sizcd hnrbor, with
about two fathoms OF water at the
lowest tide.
AT the northern end OF this har-
Dor, where the water maintained its
depth to the very edge OF the bank,
were the evidences of small settle
ment.
alt consisted of score or more
OF log and adobe houses, with
which time had dealt very kindly.
'.In some of the houses were arti-
cles of furniture. such as tables,
chairs and cooking utensils.
Il returned to my schooner. and
plotting her up to the settlement l
remained there several days. making
extended researches.
81 found several ol1-fashioncd pis-
tolls, a cutlass and some other trinkets
which have retained.
"While rummaging about in one of
the adobe houses ! ran across Il chart
that was folded away in lot of
papers. which at first did not con-
slider Of much value.
AFTER smiled out OF the place the
idea kind of struck me that the chart
might possibly tell where the pirates
hid their treasures.
1.-The map was on parchment and
though the lines had been marked in
indeliblc ink it had faded consider
ably.
..In some places the lines were so
indistinct as to be almost untrace-
able
"a month afterward returned to
the spot where 1 had made the dis
coyeries and l determined upon find
ing what the map led to.
"l spent several weeks trying to
make that map fit the surroundings
OF the harbor, but could not do it.
But somehow or other could not
90 away The idea of uncsrthing
private treasure held me to the
place.
"I resolved to remain little
longer and II could not make head
nor tail Of the map ! would give ii
| up.
Several days afterward. though.
had solved the mystery OF the maps
tracing
There was IL high hill somewhat
back of the abandoned settlement,
and from it the pirates had evidently
taken their bearings.
"From this spot II line ran on the
map due south. The tracings on the
map followed this imaginary line.
began to see daylight ahead.
| .'In few days moro ! solved the
mystery, and was able to reach tho
spot where the map indicated some
thing was located.
"1he bay had shouled during the
century or so that had elapsed since
the map was made, and the water