Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-08-18
A BRIG IN THE DESERT.
Surprising Discovery Of a Traveller In
Death Valley.

OCdtH tGl,Cy.
"One OF the queorest and most
surprising sights / ever saw in all
my wanderings over the wilds If this
country" said E. G. Traver, well
known prospector and civil engineer,
a few days ago, "was newly con-
structed brig hing ON the floor of
Death Valley. And it is th,re yet,
so that anybody can see II.
''WLen l first saw it, was slm,,s
paralyzed. / could MT believe my
EYES and thought must have passed
through some mental lapse and was
not in Death Valley at all. Bui,qftcr
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 every
thing about me was most realis,ical-
ly real.
at was by the mcrest chance that
I ran across the vessel" said Mr..
Traver, "because had l been a few
feet farther south l. would never
have seen it. You see, ! had been
working on the eastern side of the
Valley for several weeks without
success and concluded to go to Mt.
Darwin, where. / would at least be
sure of expenses. l was Gro. sing 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 / think that
where the vessel is it is about 200
feet below sea level.
"After the first surprise had worn
off | began to figure out how the
craft came there. That the vessel
was relic OF past age never enter.
ed my head for a moment, because It
was constructed on perfectly modern
lines and the wood had a yellow APP
pearance, indicating that It had not
been cut very long. am something
of sailor myself, and the first
glance told me that 1t was the work
of some modern shipbuilder, but
that only made the mystery greater.
"Going close, I made careful ex-
animation of my strange find. It
proved to be perfect brig OF about
400 tons, that had never been in
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 fat on the sand and the
starboard side placed up against q
small reef OF rocks. The port side
was supported in the usual manner.
"Climbing onto the deck by a
small rope ladder, l found every
thing ship shape. The decks were as
clean and white as man-oi.war's
and every rope was in place. Enter
ing the cabin, / found everything
neat and clean and several hunks
with bedding ready to sleep in.
Such a thing, however, would have
been impossible, as the heat was sim
ply unbearable, and | had to 60 to
the door, gasping for breath, before
/ had completed my investigation
The more / looked the more mysti-
fed 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. | went
into the rigging and looked over the
surrounding country, but could see
no sign Of human being. When
night came on, / concluded to camp
near by, but had no sooner got fixed
comfortably when avoice f,om some
where called Good EVENING" You
may be cure I Jumped, as my nerves
were feeling a little weak through
my strange afternoons experience.
"There was no need to be alarmed
though, for good nal ured looking
man, with gray hair and beard, was
smiling at me. or course 1 at once
concluded that he knew something
about the brig. | was right, and in
a few moments he explained the
whole thing 10 me aud also showed
10 what ends foolish idea will drive
a mao.
ssHe said that his name was Fred
erick Evans, that he was a ship
builder by trade aud one Of the Cal
ifornia pioneers Of 40. He had
DeTer made big strike, but bal al
ways kept prospecting. and wheo the
water rose in Sslton lake a few years
ago he was at work 10 The MOUNTAINS
around Death Valley. 1t was then
that he got it into his head that the
water would eventually reach that
locality, and he was determined to
have the first vessel 10 float 10 the
new eea.
"Evans was not poor mao, but
1 h,d rnnnoy onou0l, ~ hire a connie