The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-22
ABRIG I [: Nj i: DESERT
SURPRISING DISCOVERY OF A TRAY
ELER IN DEATH VALLEY.


Firmly Believes 1t VIII.
Zone of tho Queerest and most surpris-
ing sights l ever saw in all my wander.
ings over the wilds of this country
said Il. 9. Travcr, u we'll known pros
pector and civil engineer, few days
ago, 'was newly constructed brig "
ing OH the floor of Death valley. And it
is thoro yet, SO that anybody can see it.
'Whcn | first saw it, l was almost
paralyzcd. could not believe my eyes
and thought l must have passed through
somo mental lapse and was not in Death
valley at all. But, after gazing at tho
strange object few minutes and then
looking around me and seeing the wastes
of burning sands and feeling the hot
breath Of tho desert wind 1 knew that
everything about me was most realistic
ally real
1T was by tho morest chance that
ran across tho vessel, said Mr.. Traver,
because had been few feet farther
south would mover have seen It, You
see, l had been working on tho 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 ut the northern end which is
quite narrow, but about tho lowest spot
on tho earth surface. / am not exactly
certain, but think that where tho YES
sci is it is about 200 feet below sea level.
After tho first surprise had worn off
began to figure out how the craft came
there. That the vessel was a relic of Il
past age never entered my head for Il
moment, because it was constructed on
perfectly modern lines and the wood
had yellow appearance, indicating
that it had not been cut very long. am
something of sailor myself, and the
of some modern shipbuilder, but that
only made tho mystery greater.
Going close, l mado careful ex-
animation Of my strange find. 1t proved
to DO II perfect brig of about 400 tons,
that had never been in water Every
thing about it was of tho best style of
workmanship and showed plainly that
tho builder had put forth his best Of
forts Tho keel was laid fiat on the sand
and the starboard side placed up against
n small reef of rocks. The port side was
supported in the usual manner.
Climbing onto the deck by small
rope ladder. l found everything ship
shape. The decks wero as clean and
white rs Il man of-war's, and every rope
was in place. Entering the cabin, l
found everything neat and clean and
several hunks with bedding ready to
sleep i'll. Such thing, however. would
have been impossible, as the heat was
simply unbcarablc, and 1 had to go to
the door, gasping for breath, before 1
had completed my investigation The
more looked the more mystified be-
came 1t was plain tho brig had been
built where she was but by whom and
for what?
II spent the whole afternoon climbing
over the vessel. went into the rigging
and looked over the surrounding ooun-
try, but could see no sign of a human
being. When night came Oh, conclud-
cd to camp near by, but had no sooner
got fixed comfortably when voice from
somewhere called Good cvcningr You
may be sure l jumped, as my nerves
were feeling a little weak through my
strange afternoons experience
There was 10 need to be alarmed,
though, fora good naturcd looking man,
with gray hair and beard, was smiling
at me. OF course ] at once concluded
that he knew something about tho brig.
| was right, and III fcW moments he
explained the whole thing To me and
also showed to what ends n foolish idea
! will drive Il man.
''Hc said that his name was Frc4lcr-
icll Evans, that nc was ship builder
by trade and one OF the California pion-
GERS of 10. He had never made q big
strike, but had always kept prospecting
and when tho Watcr r0sc 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 ws!ter would eventually reach that
locality, and he WAS determined to have
the first vessel 10 float in the now sea
Evans was not a poor man. but had
money enough to hire couple of men
TO help him lay tho keel of the vessel,
put in tho nlasts and do the other heavy
work. At first the work was pushed
rapidly, but when tho water commenced
to rcccdc 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 n sen, and he
| is ready for it.
Il was well treated by Evans, T" said
MIR. Travcr i'll concluding "Hc took me
to his abode which was deep cave
few feet from the brig, with Il delight,
full temperature 1 staid with him two
days and found him we'll educated
man and very interesting, but when
| left him his last words wcrc, Whom the