The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-27
copyrighted.

~ Ceen recognized as the MS tOIltSil
, treasure vault OF California, and
- beneath the placid waters Of her
blue bay, so blue that II Is un-
eQualed, save by beautiful Naples, there
lies the treasure Of all historical relics
but a few fathoms beneath the surface
1t Is nothing more nor less than the
rotting timbers OF the good ship Ma
tsIie. formerly the IncOnstant, the
Btanch little craft that played so I'M
portant q part in the making Of the
worlds history. This small, helpless
wreck. whose slender ribs are now over
grown with seaweed, was the ship
which conveyed the great Napoleon
from Elba TO France, whence he had
been exlled.
After having served France for a
number Of years the Inconstant was
sold TO the Mexican Government and
used on this coast in the early '40's as
q costa garda, or revenue cutter. When
she became the property Of the Span
isrds her name was changed to the
Natalie In 1s43 she was wrecked in
Monterey Bay. where her poor old
bones are still visible on the sandy bot
tom
The story IS most intensely interest
the old residents Of this quiet little
ultra Mexican town, which always re-
minds one Of q leaf torn from some
book Of early history If Alta California.
Captain Lambert, an old and highly
respectable resident Of Monterey, man
OF most striking and magnetic presence,
coupled with great intelligence, one
who has read, Travelled and observed
yg
bered r. all. gives most graphic de-
scription OF the wreck and history Of
this noted brigautire that had seen
service in all waters and played her
little part in changing the map Of the
world. According to Captain Lambert's
narrative the Natalie was doing service
as q customs cruiser for the Mexican
Government in 1873.
The circumstances Of the return Of
NAPOLEON Bonaparte from Elba to his
beloved France are we'll known TO all,
but It IS reraaIka BILE that the only tan
gtble remnant Of that hazardous under
taking, the brigautine Natalie, lies
buried but q few fathoms beneath the
surface Of Monterey Bay. There for
Hfty-fve years the sea fauna and the
teredO have been close companions Of
the brave little ship.
The Incoustant was selected for the
venture because she was the smartest
craft the suiIJest sailer and command
ed By the most loyal and daring master
Of ali the old French shippers.
The month OF February, 1915, wit
messed the CorsummaUOn of this incOn-
ceiyabLe undertaking, which threatened
the peace of Europe and upset the plans
Of the continental statesmen. From the
22d TO the 25th of that month the brig
autine cruised OF the island or Eloa,
watching ana waiting Tor a prear-
ranged signal from the loyal hearts
ashore. on the night Of the 25th the
signal flashed the glad intelligence that
all was in readiness and tWenty-four
hours later Napoleon BOnaparte was
safe OF the quarterback.
\ voyage Of three days landed him
at Cannes, where he was greeted with
the shouts and tears Of nearly a thou
sand veterans, the remnant Of the i'm
mortal Guard. BY judiciOusly worded
r,rocIamations, in which he promised
security Of property to the people, to
the soldiers martial fame and to the
citizen class a constitution IN accord
enoe with the demands Of the age, he
quickly won all hearts. Marshals
Eou1t Ney and Massena were won over
IN turn. the tricolor was brought from
It's concealhaent and publicly set up
everywhere again.
In vain did the Count d 'Artois hasten
70 LYONS to save his brothers throne
He was encountered by the universal
cry Of give PEmpereur!" On March
On and before a shot was fired, Louis
EyTII fed from the throne to which
he had Just been restored by the com
Tfned armies of the world and Napoleon
was once more Dictator, only to fall
again and forever. and leave MS bones
resting on foreign shore, Just as be-
fell the historic little Natalie in Mon
lone night" said Captain Lambert.
.q+ was IN March Of the same year. the
commander Of the Natalie, together
with all the officers Of the wardroom,
came ashore to enjoy themselves In the
customary amusement Of the times-a
fandango. The night was dark and
heavy fog hung to westward Of the bay.
A more careful skipper would probably
have taken greater precautions and
seeu to It that his ship was safely
noored against the chance Of the nasty
weather which threatened her safety
But then, you know what a Mexican is
IN ordinary ranch life. It is always
man ma and he is no better as
shipmaster Everything is put off till
the morrow. So he left his ship almost
unprotected, with nothing better than
q pleasure-loving Mexican crew to
guard her from the threatening dan
soon after the captain had landed
with his staff the weather shut down
thick The crew, realizing that they
were unobserved, concluded that 1t
would be real fun to take a hand in the
fandango themselves. They piled into
the long boat and pulled ashore, leav-
ing the little brigantine TO fight her
own battles with wind and waves. The
officers Of the Natalie repaired to what
was then known as the most notorious
dancehouse in California-the Bal Orc.
or Golden Ball. which was situated on
the corner Of Pearl and Alvarado
Btreets-there it is, just across the
Etraat - said Cantain Lambnrt. pOinting