Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-03-01
FINDING SUNKEN GOLD
How the Wreck of the Brother Jonathan
was Located

WAC LUOcL6u.
John +. Ryan, the San Francisco
diver, tells all interesting story to the
Chronicle of his finding the wreck of the
steamer Brother Jonathan. The Broth
er Jonathan carried down with her
about 81 ,000,0 900 in gold when she sunk
In 1865 with $50 persons. She was
bound from San Francisco to Portland.
W., and struck a rock ten miles off
shore.
several years ago, while master of
steamer on Puget Sound" said RYAN,
an old man named q. w. Hill, hearing
that was a submarine diver, told me
he was assistant engineer of the Broth
er jonathan when she foundered. and
was one of the nineteen survivors of
the wreck. He said he could take me
to the scene of the wreck, and was sure
he could locate the exact spot where
she went down. His yarn interested
me, OF course, but | was thinking of
other matters in those days, and didn't
Every little while, however, this old
man would repeat his story, offering to
point out the restlng-place of the Broth
er jonathan provided / would pay him
a few hundred dollars for his trouble.
A few months ago he came to me again
in Seattle and said he would take me to
the place if | would give him 5000 in
case he located the ship. If we didn't
find her | would not have to give him
more than his travelling expenses.
'Well, after thinking it over and get
ting all the information [ could concern
ing the wreck, and satisfying myself
that there was great amount Of money
in her, [ told Hill would take him up.
We soon reached the vicinity Of the
place where the ship was seen to 90
down, and had her located in several
hundred feet of water in an amazingly
short time. / was down to the vessel,
walked across her deck and felt my way
all around the hull. She lies at such a
depth, however, that there was not
enough light for me to see at all, and
had to feel my way wherever [ went.
~ was cropping on the bottom in
hopes Of getting some trace of the wreck
when suddenly / was surprised to find
nv way barred by a solid surface. |
thought at first | had encountered a
big rock, butsoo discovered that it was
the hull of wrecked vessel. After con-
vincing myself that [ had located the
ship | had come SO far to find, L felt my
way along the hull and passed clear
around the ship. Then | raised my
self and got on deck. Taking one or
two steps | fell about half my length
into a hole of some kind. This made
ME nervous, for | was in great danger OF
getting some OF my air tuoes OUT OF
order. -
"Before | Strengthened myself up,
however. / took hold of an article OF
some kind | had kicked loose in my
fall. and which later proved to be
ships bucket. | then crawled along the
deck a few feet and found a piece OF
cloth and other articles, and soon AFTER
signaled to the boat above for ascending
and in few minutes was IN the tresn
air AGAIN. with the buckets, buttons ana
cloth I've shown you, and the con-
fidence that it would be but rev
months until the Brother Jonathan ana
particularly her treasure would DE III
some other place than at the oottom %
the Pacific Ocean. ,d +bo+
"From what | can learn the goio CiiaU
sunk with the wreck was Jockey up ~ -
different parts of the ship. WIN TIE
aid Of a light / think can locate the
treas1re. IF not will at once proceed
70 ra;se the hull to the surface OF the
~ ," The vessel being in good con
G;tion. and as stanch as the day sne
sanI I intend to make tour huge
enjiansable air bags do the work. IL
nav take more of them, but I'm quite
sur Fon md or unbound, it is certain that
tho o Rrother Jonathan carried great
sno Of treasure In charge 90 OF
8 We}ls Fargo & Co. there was @ao ,oop
and d. about $4,000 with the p1 Etata:
Mai. 3. ". Eddy Of the United a1 S6a oee
Arm Arm ~ was on board, with about s2 Wa1Ia
to pay soldiers At Hor thneoaeen' points
Besides these he;eb sV ~ s sasfy Srng The
t tnfai un to 81 100000. During the past
thirty years no less a eh"h heen made by
lied attempts nave ave TO- to locate the
RrefherS Jonathan mat but all have been
foii11raS