Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-01
kBY cJULES VERNE. {

ground were completely decayeu
Up 10 this moment the party had come
upon no additional evidence, but at a
few feet from this clump OF trees on the
slope Of slight hollow there were UNI
doubted traces Of planting in the up
turned soil now thinly overgrown with
underbrush. The vines Of sweet pota-
toes and yams run wild were recognized
IIy merest chance ono Of the seamen
came upon n pick hidden under briars
The tool had been deeply corroded by
rust, but from the manner In which tho
handle was fitted to IL there was no
doubt Of Its being American make.
what do you think Of IL, captain2"
asked French.
~ don't think we'ro called upon 10
pass judgment now" answered VILLA
"Then let's push on aheadi' said
French, as no motioned 10 the seamcn
20 follow HIM. Having made their way
down tho sloping sides Of tho main
ledge, they reached level spot from
/ which the rocky headland jutted boldly
out 10 the northward At this point
/ they came upon n narrow cleft In the
rock through which they were enabled
without any difficulty TO reach stretch
| Of sandy beach below them. II was
about an acre In area, and was shut In
| by rocks over whose handsome red
] dish surfaces the breakers swept inccs-
/ sanity
Scattered over this stretch OF sand
there were many objects going 10 prove
that human beings had made u pro-
longed stay in this part Of the island
bits Of glass and china, fragments OF
sarthern ware, scraps OF iron, provis-
ion cans Of undoubted American origin,
and, In addition 10 these, were noted
utensils common 10 shipboard, pieces Of
chain, broken rings, parts Of rigging in
galvanized iron, n graphing iron, hoist
ing tackle, pump handle, fragments
OF spars and floats and pieces OF sheet
iron torn off n water casls, as TO the orr
gin Of which no Californian sailor could
possibly go astray.
at was no English ship that ran on
this island" said Capt Willis, at was
an American vessel"
"Yes," cried out Zach French, "and
take my word for II, she was built In ono
Of tho Pacific ports" an opinion that
was shared by the other seamen.
but still as yet there was nothing to
show that this ship had been tho ILL
fatcd DrcadDaught. At all events, tho
question was: Did not this vessel-from
whatever port she hailed-go down in
the open sea, since there were no signs
OF any part OF her hull? Had not her
crew taken refuge on this island by
means of the ships boats? MOI for
Capt. Willis soon came upon proof that
this vessel had been wrecked upon
these reefs. Al about n cables length.
wedged In among the rocks and reefs,
lay the miserable remnant Of u shin
which had been driven ashore by tho
fury Of the gale and upon which the
waves had beaten with tcmpcstuuus
violence until oak and iron had parted
and everything had been wrcnchcd
asundcr pounded into fragments, scat.
tered and strewn and tossed up over tho
mighty rush Of tho sea. sadly and 81.
lently Willis and his men stood gazing
upon the prey to which these rocks still
chung NO tenaciously OF this ships
hull there was nothing remaining,
nothing Of the upper works, no trace of
tho masting, either from having been
cut away at sea, or from having been
put to some use on shore after the
laundering of the vessel.
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