Evening journal., 1899-12-23
SHEEP ISLAND GOLD
A STORY THAT GOES WITH A
"a. CHRISTMAS DINNER.

Treasure and Rloodshed.
About Christmas every year Capt. |
Lorenzo Emerson OF North Sullivan,
Me. calls his neighbors and friends to
his honSe, and. having feasted them
tells them the story OF n money-win'
ming adventH re that he had near Sheep
Island, in PeINobscot Bay, short time
before Christmas, 1864. The story is
old now, because Capt. Emerson has
told it annually Tor fully twenty years,
but as the turkey is always plump and
tender, the plum pudding is Of the
best, and the wine grows better with
every new bottle opened, the guests
are willing TO endure it for the sake
of the fare. Owing to Capt. Elmer
sons advanced age the banquet was
given earlier than usual this year. Be
fore telling his story, the Captain
treated his guests TO a surprise by
showing them written articles OF
agreement between himself and one
James Harrison. who signed himself,
,'Ppsidcnt of the Gold Finders Com
pany." This paper, which was dated
Dee 1. 1864. bound Capt Lorenzo
Emerson Of the coastiilg schooner ola
Souaw TO carry James Harrison and
his party from Milhridge, Nc, 20
sheep Island, there 10 wait for load
aud 10 take them from Sheep Island
20 Boston. In return for services ana
Tor a pledge of eternal secrecy, Capt.
Emerson aud his crew were TO receive
$4,000 in gold and one-third of the
treasures recovered by Harrison and
his men. Capt. Emerson also showed
Government boras and certificates OF
deposit In Maine and Massachusetts
banks said TO amount to nearly S2O-
coo.
ave kept this secret for more than
thirty years" he said, by way Of eN-
planation, because Elarrison's son
Tom. who was with us. was still alive
md knew that IL he ever heard Of
my leaking he would come on and kill
me. Two years ago, when l learned
that Tom Harrison had enlisted TO SC
to Cuba l was glad, and said ] hoped
he would Ike killed, and when / heard
that he had died OF fever at Tampa
| could hardly hold in untn the time
should come around for me TO tell the
whole TRUTH
The story told by Capt. Emerson Of
his adventures with Harrison differ,
widely from the usual version OF mis-
hans which fall to those who seek hid
den gold. Late in November, 1854, III
discharged a load OF cordwo0d iron
the Old SQuaw at one OF the ROcklanl
lime kllns and started back TO Mil
bridge for another cargo, hoping Il
make the round trip before the wealth
or became too cold. He was out tw
DAYS drifting in the frosty fog, ant
reached Mlbridge haIbor on the even
ine of Nov. 80 That night while h
was sleeping in his bunk on board o
the Old Squaw, his crew having gon
ashore to visit friends, Harrison an
his son came on board, entered tn
cabin and tied him hand and foo
When this was done Harrison drew
revolver and said:
"Sec here, skipper, do you want
get rich and retire for the rest Of you
llfeY'
"Of course do replied Cap
Emerson. "You needn't have tied m
M so darned tight to find that out
'Will you do as / tell you and 70
low where / leadT asked Harrison
very ferocious.
"Yes." said the skipper; 'that is, L
40 1t If you don't ask me to break Il
law or kill somebody"
ssHang the law" crcid HarrisO
"Will you do as l tell you or notg"
Capt Emerson yielded and sign'
q contract to take Harrison and 1
men on a cruise after buried sol
Harrison explained his conduct
saying that he needed a coasti
schooner that took out her CustC
House papers by the season. so II
no one would suspect his ezra
should The vessel be seen calling
the islands along the shore. He agrC
10 pay Capt Emerson $4,000 for I
use Of the Old Squaw for "A mon
and also to give the Captain and cr
onc-thrd of the treasure found. In
turn for this tho Captain was to h
q close mouth and obey orders. AS
crew of the Old Squsw was on she
and as Harrison's men were good
hands Capt. Emerson signed the {
tract soon after micnight and Def
daylight the schooaer was sail
away for Sheep Island, one of
Massel Ridge group, which lies Il
miles Of the shore from White II
light.
they anchored In Seal Harbor
the following evening, and while G
Emerson stayed on board TO keep
sh;p the gold huntGgs took the
boats and rowed awly for Sheep
and. After an absence Of three ,
Tom Harrison came sailing bacl
the yawl and gave Capt. Emerson
ders to 90 to Rockland and purcl
some gunpowdcr and food supp
For two weeks after this the Cap
heard frequent explosions in the d
ton OF Sheep Island. which he
,o,,.>, WV, vo, have $.