Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-24
IN DEATH VALLEY
The Strange Story of a Ship That Never
Knew Water.
Man who Believed the Waters of
Salt Lake Would Rise and
Reach His Locality.

From the San francisco Call.
"One of the queerest and most surprising
sights I ever saw in all my wanderings
over the wilds Of this country" said E. C.
Traver. a well-known prospector and civil
engineer. few days ago. was a newly
constructed brig lying on the floor of Death
Valley. And 1t is there yet, so that any
body can see 1t. When first saw it / was
almost paralyzed. 1 could not believe my
eyes, and thought I must have passed
through some mental lapse and was not in
Death Valley at all. But after gazing at
the strange object few minutes and then
looking around me and seeing the wastes
of burning sands and feeling the hot breath
of the desert wind. knew that everything
about me was most realistically real
1T was by the merest chance that ran
across the vessel" said Mr.. Traver. be
cause had 1 been a few feet further south
I would never have seen it. You see, had
been working the eastern side of the
valley for several weeks without success
and concluded to go to Mount Darwin,
where / would at least be sure of expenses.
1 was crossing the valley at the northern
end, which is quite narrow, but about the
lowest spot on the earth'S surface. / am
not exactly certain, but l think that where
the vessel is located Ii is about 300 feet be-
low sea level. After the first surprise had
worn off began to figure out how the craft
came there. That the vessel was relic of
a past age never entered my head for
moment, because it was constructed on per-
fectly modern lines, and the wood had
yellow appearance, indicating that II had
not been cut very long. i am something of
a sailor myself. and the first glance told me
that 1t was the work Of some modern ship
builder, but that only made the mystery
greater.
Complete Ship.
Going close / made a careful examina-
ton of my strange find. 1t proved TO be
perfect brig of about 400 tons that had
never been in the water. Everything about
it was of the best style Of workmanship
and showed plainly that the builder had
put forth his best efforts. The keel was
laid fiat on the sand and the sta board side
placed up against a small reef of rocks.
The port side was supported in the usual
manner. Climbing on the deck by a small
rope ladder 1 found everything in ship
shape. The decks were clean and white
as a man-of-war's. and every rope In it's
place. Entering the cabin L found every
thing neat and clean and several hunks
with bedding ready to sleep in. Such a
thing, however, would have been impossi
BILE. as the heat was simply unbearable and
i had to go to the door gasping for breath
before 1 had completed my investigation.
The more 1 looked the more interested and
mystified i became. 1t was plain the brig
had been built where she was. but by whom
and for what?
Il spent the whole afternoon climbing
over the vessel. 1 went into the rigging
and looked over the surrounding county.
but could see no sign of a human being
When night came on concluded to camp
near by. but had no sooner got fixed COM
fortably when a voice from somewhere
called: Good evening" You may be sure l
jumped, as my nerves were feeling a little
weak through my strange afternoons ex-
perience There was no need to be alarmed.
though. for a good-natured looking man
with gray hair and beard was smiling at
me. or course, / 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 a man.
The Mystery Explained.
HE said that his name was Frederick
Evans: that he was shipbuilder by trade,
and one Of the California pioneers Of 40
He had never made big strike. but had
always kept prospecting. and when the
water rose in Salton Lake a few years ago
he was at work in the mountains around
Death Valley. 1t was then that he got it
into his head that tn, water would event
ually reach that locality, and he was DC
termfned to have the first vessel afloa: IN
the new sea. Evans was not poor man.
but had enough money to hire couple of
men to help him lay the keel of the vessel.
put in the masts and do the other heavy
work. At first the work was pushed rap
IDLY, but when the water commenced to re-
cede Evans took things easy and DID all
the work himself, because he thought the
water would not come again for a year.
He has been disappointed every year since,
but still thinks that Death Valley will be-
come sea and he is ready for it.
Il was well treated by Evans" said Mr..
Traver, in concluding. He took me TO his
abode, which was deep cave n few feet
from the brig, with delightful tcmpera-
ture L stayed with him two DAYS and
found him a well-educated man and very
but when / left him his last
be ready for it." wan