St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-27
Strange Discovery Made by
a Sea Captain on an
Island.
Chest Full Of Spverware-,
Many Valuables and An
tique Relies.
The Freebooter's Rendezyous
in the Gulf OF Cali
fopnia.
Found by Means Of a Mys.
terious Chart Secured by
Accident.

Capt. ). ID. Metcalf, made to the San
Francisco Call.
Now the captain is not a visionary
individual with lively appreciation of
the imaginary. On the contrary. he is
a level, hard-hearted old seadog. who
has been trading about in Mexican sea.
ports for the past twenty years.
He runs a small schooner on the gulf,
but is now in this city for the purpose
of securing appliances to bring the
pirates treasures from theT watery de.
poSitOTy into the light of day and their
proper sphere of appreciation.
Now, it may appear a mere story,
but 1t isn't" remarked Capt. Metcali
Yesterday. How | came to make my
re narkabie discovery was due 10 my i'm.
qulsltiyeneSS.W which my friends OF years
ago used to predict would get me into
trouble.
When l first began trading in the
gull L heard stores about the pirates
that used to frequent those waters over
century ago.
Nov. to mariners notion, ii ap-
peared very likely that a pirate craft on
the Pacific would naturally seek some
unknown place as barbOr Of refuge.
''One hundred years ago very little
was known about the gulf OF California,
so you can see that there was an ex-
IRENE probability that the cautious
pirates would grasp the opportunity OF
making TIA place 10 escape cruisers, and
to go and make repairs and stole their
treasures.
While poGing around IN the gulf l
made researches, and about FIVE years
ago hit on startling discovery.
while sailing about in my schooner
for hides and other things | accidentally
came across a closed har Dor at one of
the islands where touched. Although
my schooner was small one | feared
TO take her in, and so went in 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 broadened
out into fair-szed harbor, with about
two fathomS Of water at The lowest tide.
AT the northern end of this harbor,
where the water maintained its depth
to the very edge of the bank, were the
evidences of small settlement.
1T consisted of score or more of log
and adobe houses, with which time he
dealt very kindly.
''In some of the houses were articles
of furniture, such as tables. chairs and
cooking utensils.
81 returned to my schooner. and pilot
ing her up to the settlement / renamed
there several days, making extended re-
searches.
Il found several old-fdshioned pistols.
a cutlasS and some other trinketS, which
l have retained.
"While rummaging about in one Of
the adobe houses | ran across a chart
that was folded away in a lot of papers,
which at first did not consider TO be of
much value.
AFTER l sailed 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
indelible ink, il had faded considerably
in some places the lines were so in
distinct 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 to.
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
60 and return once more TO the trading
business.
But somehow or other | could not 90
away. The idea Of unearthing private
treasure held me to the place.
81 resolved to remain little longer
and if | could not make head nor tale of
the map l would give it up.
sfSavarai dayS oFtarNyarI fbNnob I
had solved the mystery of the maps
tracing.
There was a high hill somewhat
back Of the abandoned settlement and
from it the pirates had evidently taken
their bearings.
From this spot line ran on the map
due south. The tracings on the map
followed this imaginary line. l began
to see daylight ahead.
''ln few days more l solved the
mystery, and was able to reach the spot
where the map indicated something
was located.
The bay had shoaled during the
century or 50 that 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 bare
mud flat at low water. | went away and
for several months continued to trade
delve into the mud flat.
After i had gotten together some
crude appliances | returned 10 the scene
of the 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 bad gone. crazy on
the subject of coal oil.
We'll, Il few months ago | made q
strike. | fished up chest containing
about $1,000 worth of silver plate. This
started me going. | have an old friend
in this city who is capitalist. ana |
came here TO enlist him in the enter
prise OF recovering this hidden treas
ure.
Il have been successful, and he has
provided me with the necessary means
to get the machinery and to allow me to
devote my whole time and attention to
he enterprise.
''Wickliffe Matthews has Just drawn
up the papers OF copdrtnership between
my rich friend and myself. My friend
has the plate | recovered.
II will leave in the latter part Of this
month for the South.
Il believe that have discovered the
of the pirates who once ter
rorized the Pacific and either laid
tribute on every vessel they captured
or run down, or plundered them out
right. If have you may Just wager
hat | have struck the richest and most
startling find of the century,"
Attorney Matthews states that the
friend referred to by Capt. Metcalf as
hiding him with capital is member of
one of the leading firms of this city, and
s a sound, practical business man.
The attorney states that, in his opiD
on, Metcalf knows what he is about.
Sharp Eyes.
p