Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-07-26
ABRIGNTHEDESERT
SURPRISING DISCOVERY OF A TRAv-
ELER IN DEATH VALLEY.

A Man Constructed and Fitted Up Vessel
on Sandy Waste because He Wants to
he Ready When the Water Rises. as He
Firmly Believes Il WIN
zone Of the queerest and most surpris-
ing sights / ever saw in all my wander
ings over the wilds OF this country"
said E. @. Traver. we'll known pros
pector and civil engineer, a few days
ago, twas q newly constructed brig "
ing ON the floor of Death valley. And IL
is there yet. so that anybody can see it
''When | FIRST saw it. was almost
paralyzed could not believe my eyes
and thought must have passed through
some raental 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 realistic
ally real
It was by the merest chance that
ran across the vessel, " said Mr. Traver,
because had been few feet farther
south would never have seen it. You
see, had been working on the eastern
side Of the valley for several weeks with
out success and concluded to go to
Mount Darwin, where I would at least
be sure Of expenses. 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 think that where the yes
sci 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 q
past age never entered my head for a
moment, because it was constructed on
perfectly modern lines and the wood
had yellow appearance, indicating
that 1t had not been cut very long ! am
something Of sailor myself. and the
first glance told me that it was the work
Of sonic modern shipbuilder, but that
only made the mystery greater
"Going close, made careful ex-
animation Of my strange find It proved
TO be perfect brig Of about 400 tons,
that had never been in water. Every
thing about it was Of the best style Of
workmanship and showed plainly that
the builder had put forth his best ef-
forts. The keel was laid fat on the sand
and the starboard side placed up against
small reef of rocks. The port side was
supported in the usual manner.
climbing onto the deck by small
rope ladder, found everything ship
shape. The decks were as clean and
white as aman-of-war's, and every rope
was in place Entering the cabin,
found everything neat and clean and
several hunks with bedding ready to
sleep in. Such thing, however, would
have been impossible. as the heat was
simply unbearable, and / had to go to
the door, gasping for breath, before
had completed my Investigation. The
more looked the more mystified be-
came 1t was plain the brig had been
built where she was, but by whom and
for whatr
II spent the whole afternoon climbing
over the vessel went into the rigging
and looked over the surrounding coun-
try, but could see no sign Of q human
being. When night came on, I conclud-
ed to camp near by, but had no sooner
got fixed comfortably when voice from
somewhere called Good eveningl You
may be sure jumped, as my nerves
were feeling little weak through my
strange afternoons experience.
s'There was no need to be alarmed,
though, for good natured looking man,
with gray hair and beard, was smiling
at me. OF 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 q foolish idea
will drive man.
He said that his name was Freder-
ick Evans, that he was ship builder
by trade and one of the California pion-
eers of 40. He had never made a big
strike, but had always kept prospecting,
and when the water rose in Salton lake
few years ago he was at work in 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 to float in the new sea.
Evans was not a poor man, but had
money enough 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
rapidly, but when the water commenced
to recede Evans took things easily and
did all the work himself, because he
thought the water would not come again
for year. He has been disappointed
every year since, but still thinks that
Death valley will become 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 q
few feet from the brig, with delight.
full temperature staid with him two
days and found him we'll educated
man and very interesting, but when /
left him his last words were, When the
water rises, will be ready for it. -
San Francisco Call.