The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-09
j L IN II ! i DESERT d 81
SURPRISING DISCOVERY OF A TRAY
ELER IN DEATH VALLEY.

A Man Constructed and Fitted Up q Vessel
on q Sandy Waste Because Ho Wants to
BE Ready Whom tho Water Rises Ms He
Firmly Believes 1t VIII.
"One Of the queerest and most surpris.
Ing sights ever saw In oil my wander.
tngs over the wilds Of this country"
said E. G. Traver, q we'll known pros.
pector and civil engineer, q few days
ago, twas II newly constructed brig ".
ing on the floor of Death valley. And it
is there yet, so that anybody can see it.
"When first saw il, l was almost
paralyzed. could not believe my eyes
and thought must have passed through
some mental lapse and was not in Death
valley at all. But, after gazing ut tho
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.
1t was by tho merest chance that I
ran across the vessel, said Mr.. Traver,
because had been few feet farther
south would never have seen 1t. You
see, had been working on the eastern
side of the valley for several weeks with
out success and concluded to 10 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 tho lowest SPOT
on the oarth's surface. I am not exactly
certain, but think that where the YES
sci is it is about 200 feet below sea level
After tho first surprise had worn off
l began to figure out how the craft camo
there. That the vessel was relic of
past age never entered my head for
moment, because it was constructed OH
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
first glance told mo that it was the work
of sone modern shipbuilder, but that
only made the mystery greater.
Going close, l made a careful OK
animation of my strange find. 1t 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 fiat on the sand
and the starboard side placed up against
small reef of rocks. The port side was
supported i'll tho usual manner.
Climbing onto the deck by small
rope ladder, l found everything ship
shape. Tho decks were rs clean and
white as n man wars, 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 unbearable, and 1 had to go to
the door, gasping for breath, before 1
had completed my investigations Tho
more l looked the moro mystified be-
came. 1t was plain the brig had been
built where she was, but by whom and
for what?
81 spent the whole afternoon climbing
over the vessel l went into the rigging
and looked over the surrounding coun-
try, but could SEE no sign of human
being When night came on, I conclud-
ed to camp near by, but had no sooner
got fixed comfortably when 7oioe from
somewhere called Good eveningr You
may be sure 1 jumped, as my nerves
were feeling little weak through my
strange afternoon experience.
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.
l was right, and IL n few moments he
explained the whole thing to me and
also showed to whaC ends Il foolish idea
will drive a man.
He said that his namo was Fredcr-
ick Evans, that he was ship builder
by trade and one of the California pion-
GERS Of 40. He had never made q big
strike, but had always kept prospecting,
and when the water rose in Salton lake
few years ago he was at work i'll tho
mountains around Death valley 1t was
then that he got it into his head that
the water would eventually reach that
locality, and no was determined to have
the first vessel to float in the new sea-
Evans was not q poor man, but had
money enough to hire couple Of men
to help him lay the keel of the vessel,
put i'll 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 tho work himself because he
thought the water would not como 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.
II was well treated by Evans" said
MIR. Travor in concluding. "He took me
to his abode, which was a deep cave
few feet from tho brio with q dnlinht.