The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-09-04

| IL
'One OF tho Quoerest and most surpris.
Ing sights l ever saw in oil my wander.
| lngs over the wilds Of this country. "
said e. c. Traver, we'll known pros
pector and civil engineer, a few DAYS
ago, was newly constructed brig "
ing OH tho floor of Death valley And it
Is there yet, so that anybody can see it.
When l first saw it, 1 was almost
paralyZed. could not believe my eyes
and thought 1 must have passed through
some mental lapse and was not in Death
valley at all But, after gazing at the
strange object Il fow minutes and then
looking around mo and sceing tho wastes
OF burning sands and feeling the hot
breath of the desert wind, 1 knew that
everything about me was most realistic
ally real
p" 1t was by the merest chance that 1
ran across the vessel" said Mr.. Traycr.
because had been q few feet farther
south would never have seen it. You
see, had been working on tho eastern
Side OF tho valley for several weeks with
out success and concluded to 20 to
Mount Darwin, whore 1 would at least
be sure of expenses. / was crossing the
valley at the northern end, which is
quito narrow, but about the lowest spot
on tho carth's surface. 1 am not exactly
certain, but think that where the YES
sol Is 1t Is about 200 feet below sea level.
After the first surprise had worn off
l began to figure out how tho craft came
there. That the vessel was relic of a
past age never entered my head for a
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 o sailor myself, and tho
first glance told mo that it was the work
of solhe modern shipbuilder, but that
only made tho mystery greater
Going close, made careful ex-
animation of my strange find 1t proved
to BIO perfect brig of about 400 tons,
that had never been i'll water Every
thing about it was of the best style of
workmanship and showed plainly that
The builder had put forth his best eff
forts. The keel was laid flat on tho sand
and the starboard side placed up against
small reef of rocks The port side was
supported i'll the usual manner.
rope ladder, l found everything ship
shape. The decks were as clean and
white rs man. wars, and every rope
was in place. Entering the cabin, 1
found everything neat and clean and
several hunks with bedding ready to
sleep in. Such thing, however, would
have been impossible, az the heat was
simply unbcarablc, and l had to go to
the door, gasping for BREATH before I
had completed my investigation. The
moro looked the more mystified l be.
came. 1t was plain the brig had been
built where She was, but by whom and
for what?
II spent the whole afternoon climbing
over the vessel I went into the rigging
and looked over tho surrounding coun-
try, hut could SEQ no sign of hulnan
being. When night came on, conclud-
ed to camp near by, but had no soone-
got fixed comfortably Uhen voice froA
somewhere called Good evening! You
may be suro l jumped, as my nerves
were feeling little weak through my
strange afternoon s experience.
"Thcre was no nocd to be alarmed,
though, for a good natured looking man,
with gray hair and beard, was smiling
at me. OF course l at once concluded
that he knew something about the brig.
l was right, and IL few moments he
explained tho whole thing to me and
also showed to what ends foolish idea
will drive man.
He said that his name was Freder-
lex Evans, that he was a ship builder
by trade and one of the California pion-
GERS of 40. He had never made big
strike but had always kept prospecting,
and when the water rose in Salton lake
few years ago he was at work in tho
mountains around Death valley. 1t was
then that he got it into his head that
tho water would eventually reach that
locality, and he was determined to havo
tho first vessel to float in the new sea.
Evans was not q POOR man, but had
money enough to hire a couple of men
to help him lay tho keel of the vessel,
put III the masts and do the other heavy
work. At first the work was pushed
rapidly, but when the water commenced
to rcccde Evans took things easily and
did all the 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.
i was we'll treated by Evans" said
MIR. Traver i'll concluding. HE took me
to his abode, which was deep cave
few feet from tho brig. with delight
full temperature. staid with him two
days and found him we'll educated
man and very interesting, but when l
left him his last Y0rlls 1ynrn .NVhon thn