Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-10-09
ABRIG IyTHE DESERT
SURPRISING DISCOVERY or A TRAv.
glER IN DEATH VALLEY.

a Ma. Constructed a.d Yitssd Up . vesssi
ss . ss.dy wssss Bssssss ne ws.ts -
n Resay wh~s the wsses R,sss, - ne
FIRMLY issiIe,ss 70 VIII.
zone of the qucrest and most surprts-
ing sights ever saw In all my wander
ings over the wilds Of this country"
said Il. q. Traver. q well known pros
pcctor and civil engineer. few days
ago twas . newly constructed brig ~
Ing on tho noor of Death valley. And 10
II there yet. 90 that anybody can SO IT,
"whcn I first saw IL. was almost
paralysci I could not believe my cycs
and thought must have passed through
some mental lapse and was not In Death
valley at all hut, after gazing at the
strange object few mtiuts~ and then
looking around mo and seeing the wastes
Of burning sands and feeling the hot
brcath Of the desert wind. ! knew that
everything about mo was most realistic
ally rial
''lt was by tho msrc-t chance that ]
ran acro~s the vessel. said Mr.. Traver.
because had bcen few feet farther
south would never have seen IL You
sce. I had becn working ON the eastern
aide Of tho valley for several weeks with
out succoss and concluded to w to
Mount Darwin. where would at least
h. surc of expenses ! was cro~sina tho
valley nc the northern end. which IL
quite narrow. but about the lowest spot
on tho carth's surfaoo ! am not exactly
certain. but I think that where tho yes.
eel Ia IL IL about 900 feet below sca level
Aficr the first surprise hal worn OF
began to figure out how the craft came
thcru That the vessel was relic of .
past agc never entered my head for .
moment. bocause IL was constructed on
perfectly mo.icrn lines aud the wUDi
hal q yellow appearance. indicating
that 10 had not bccn cut very long am
something ~ D sailor myself. and the
first GLANCE told mc that itwa~ the work
of soh.e mo.lcrn shipbuilder. but that
only made the mystery greater
Going clos, ! made q careful en-.
animation % my strange iind IL prov~l
a. bs perfect brig ~ about 400 tons.
that had never ,-s,n In water. Every.
thing about IL was ~ tho bet style of
workmanship and showed plainly that
tho builder had put forth his bsst Il.
forts The keel was laid fat on the sand
and the starbuard side PLACED up against
q small ref u rocks The port side was
supported IN the usual manner.
"Climbing onto the d.ck by small
rupo ladder. I found everything ship
shaI., The decks wop ~ clean and
white ~ man.of.war'-. and every rUpc
was In place Entering the cabin. ]
found everything neat and clean and
several hunks with b-iding ready Ia
sleep in such u thing. however. would
have b-cn impossible, ~ the heat wa
simply unbearablc. aud had Ia ~ 30
the door. gaspins for hrcath. taforo ]
had completed my investigation. The
murp lookol the more mystiicd Ia
came II was plain tho brig had bscn
built where she was. but ly whom and
ior whatl
II spent the whole afternoon climbing
over the vessel. went into the rigging
and looked over the surrounding cOun.
try. but could $50 no sign " human
b.ing When night came ON. conclnd'
I'll 10 camp near by. but hal no sooner
got fixed comfortably when ayoicu from
somewhere callsl 'GOod EVENING" You
may bo surc I jump"d. ~ my nerves
were feeling little weak through my
strange afternoons experience
There was no nccd 10 b. alarmed.
though. for gooi na,urd looking man.
with gray hair and bard. was smiling
at me- OF cOur-c at once concluded
that he knew something about the brig
was right. and In few moments he
explained the whole thing to me and
also showed to what ends foolish idea
will drive man
"IIc said that his name was frslcr-
lex Evans. that he was q ship builder
by trade and on. ~ the California pion'
cors of 10. liz had never made big
strike. but had always kept PROSPECTING.
and when the water ro~s In Salton lake
few year, ago he was h work In the
mountain. around Dcath valley. IL was
then that he got IL into his head that
the water would eventually reach that
locality. and he was determined 20 have
the first vessel to float In tho new sea
Evans was not poor man. but hal
money enough 10 hire n couple OF men
~ help him lay the keel Of the vessel.
put in the mast. and do the other heavy
work. AZ first the work was pushed
rapidly, but when the water commenced
e. rcccde Evans took things easily and
did all the work himself. because he
thought tho water would not come again
for year. IIe has bcen disappointed
every year since. but still thinks that
Death valley will become sea. and he
Is ready for IL
II was well treated by Evans, said
Mr.. Traver In concluding. ''lie took me
to his abode. which was deep cave q
fcw feet from the brig. with delight
ful temperature. staid with him two
days and found him well educated
man and very interesting. but when ]
left him his last words were. When the
water ri-S I will be ready Tor It. -
San Francisco Call