Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-05-13
SOME PIRATE PLUMBER.
STRANGE DISCOVERY MADE
BY A SEA CAPTAIN.
A Chest Fun of slverware-rh Free
hooters Rendezvous la an Is
land uarbOr Ian the Gulf
OF California.

one of the islands in the gulf OF Cali
fornia, according to the statements
made by Captain $. ID. Metealf.
Zone hundred years ago very little
was known about the gulf OF Cali
fornia, so you can sec that there was
an extreme probability that the
cautious pirates would grasp the OPP
portunity Of making it place TO so
and make repairs and store their
plunder.
.'While poking about the gulf ]
made researches, and about five years
ago ! hit on startling discovery.
While sailing about in my schoon-
or for hides and other things acci-
dentally came across "A 'ctosed' hatbOr
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 PERCEPTIONS coast limo hid from
view an entrance into the island.
Through this entrance | went in my
boat. found the passage about 100
feet wide and about mile in length.
1t then took sudden turn and broad
ened out into fair-siz6d harbOr, 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 a small settle
ment.
1T consisted Of score or more
Of log and adobe houses, with
which time had dealt very kindly
'.ln some Of the houses were artl-
cles 9f furniture, such as tables,
chairs and cooking utensils,
Il returned to my schooner. and
plotting her up to the settlement
remained there several days. making
extended researches.
Il found several old-iashiOncd pis-
tolls, u cutlass and some other trinkrts
which / have retained.
while 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 com
slider OF much value.
After saileu out Of the place the
idea kind Of struck mo that She chart
might possibly tell whore the pirates
hid their treasures.
The map was on parchment and
though the lines had been marked IN
indelibls ink 1t had faded consider
ably.
I'm some places the lines we're so
indistinct AS to be almost uutraco-
a5le,
"A month aftcrward returned to
the spot whore ! had made the dis
coveries and | determined upon find
ing what the map led TO.
~ spent several weeks trying 10
make that map ~ the surroundings
Of the harbor. but could not do t..
But somehow or other could not
90 away. The idea 81 unearthing
/ private treasure held me to the
place.
II resolved TO remain little
/ longer and If could not make head
nor tail Of the map | would give L
I up.
Several days afterward. though.
had solved the mystery Of the maps
/ tracing.
There was high hill somewhat
back Of the abandoned settlement.
and from II 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
began TO see daylight ahead.
I'm a few days more | solved the
mystery. and was able 10 reach the
spot where the map indicated some
thing was located.
The bay had shOaled during tho
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 plum
der was only few feet at high tide
and bare mud fiat at low water. /
went away and for several months
continued to trade until could col.
lect some machinery to dclve into
the mud fiat,
after ] had gotten together some
crude appliances | returned to tho
scene OF the mystery.
Nv Glly W cut luHH hbbfy SNORT,
worked off and on over that mud bank
for nearly three years.
III never lot my crew into the
secret. and they supposed had gone
crazy on the subject OF coal oil.
''Well, few months ago made q
strike. | fshed up chest contain
ing about 81 800 worth Of silver plato.
This started me going. ! have an
old friend in this city who is capit-
alist and came here TO enlist him in
the enterprise Of recovering this hid
den treasure.
III 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
aud attention to the enterprise.
"WickliHe Matthews has just drawn
up the papers Of co-partnership be-
tween my rich friend and myself My
friend has the plate recovered.
.tT .vfII 1oa.,o IL, fba inffop uapt ul