Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-05-16
IN QUEST OF THE PHANTOM SHIP.

IN VOtSl Ut lHt PHRNlUM SHIP.
Pat Riley was probably the most pic
turesque prospector who dawdled away
life on the Colorado desert. You could
not help liking Riley. He was so naive,
so apparently abominably lazy and above
all so sanguine as to his ability to dig
out a fortune from these hot sands and
hotter mountains that his easy going and
hopeful nature almost tempted toward
envy Of one thing Riley was certain.
He was going to find the phantom ship.
To his mind it was not phantom ship
but a real wooden galleon which lay
wrecked upon the Colorado desert laden
with doubloons, gold bars, pearls, emer-
aids, diamonds and other treasures. Hi
ley, like many another proSpectOr who
has lost his life in the vain search, felt
that he was on the right track, and that
it was only a few months before he
would be in possession of much wealth:
Now this phantom ship" supposedly
Spanish, is said to have once sailed be-
tween the gulf of California and Spain.
There IS no doubt that at one time the
Colorado desert was vast insland sea,
and the current opinion Of desert prospec-
tors is that the ship was sailing toward
the gulf when she was blown out of her
course by nerce east NlHu anu leII
stranded on the uplandS.
Riley believed in the fable. 1T was use
less to argue with him. He was gong TO
find the ship, and would | go with him!
Now, Riley, lying on the broad of his
back on the sand in the shade thrown by
the depot at Salton, with stone under
his Lead for i pillow, was not especially
an inviting looking object to go tramp
ing over the burning desert in quest Of i
gold-laden ship-wrecked when, Riley
did not know. Wrecked where. Riley
was equally ignorant.
He was slight man, Riley, sag about
five feet six, with tough, wlry frame,
an unshaven face, unkempt hair and the
keeneSt eyes [ have ever seen III a man 5
head. They sparkled like jewels, and
there was cold, clear glitter in them
which would make one hesitate to annoy
Riley in any way. He had on shirt, a
pair of ragged overallS, heavy boots and
a torn hat. He had two guns strapped
to him and a cartridge belt. With the
exception of a DurrO that made a scanty
meal in the sage brush, this was all Riley
possessed
Riley" | said, finally, "why don't you
give up this business of prospecting and
do hard days work and get money and
live like a man instead of like this?
Riley turned over on his side exactly
like some huge lizard and eyed ME with
baleful glare.
What cried he, in a high pitched
voice. BE a slave: have to go to work
at set time, quit at set time and do
what you are told?' and he pointed Il
finger of scorn at the men going down
to work at the salt mill.
There" he continued, ''look at them
slaves. What are they working for:
Working just for their food and clothes
Nothing else. Who would be like them
They are not men. They are machines
They are slaves Why, look at me-"
[ did look at Riley. He looked queer
enough to make a man gaze on faSci-
mated for many long minute. This
ragged, ill-kempt man, who, according
to his own confession, had been hungry
for weeks together, despised the man
who worked and who made living.
We'll, [ guess you'd rather be me,
said Riley, after [ had prudently re-
Trained from staring too fong.
No, | would not" | said; Il think I'd
prefer to be comfortable
Comfort, man! chat is what [ am in
search off, as he adjusted the stone pill
low more to his liking. Comfort! you
come with me, and [ will find that ship,
and then we shall be happy ever after
ward. [ see you don't believe in that
ship. Well, | didn't. But look here,
and he dropped his voice, I've got the
Mccormick? Yes, yes; he died raving
mad. You needn't bring that up against
him. 'Twasnt his fault that he got
took that way. Well, you may be your
self"
But" [ interposed.
ooh yes; you'll be after calling UP
one or two others who went crazy look
ing after the ship. Well, they went
crazy. That's no reason we should 90
crazy. Besides, they were green in the
business. Why, man, [ have been twenty
years in the Colorado desert, and here
am. Now, / tell you, I've got the lay to
the ship. I've seen man as seen it.
Well, you starer
Yes, but why didn't he get the money
away?'
Get the money away? Why, man
it's a whole shipload of gold, gold
enough to build house. He had gold
but, bless you, it will require wagon af-
ter wagon to take the gold down to the
river"
''Now. Riley. don't be foolish You
can't surely believe that there is ship
on the desert chock full of gold?
It's as certain as [ am here
And you can find this fabulous ship:''
Bless you, man, it amt fabulous.
Amt you been long enough III the desert
TO know that in this dry climate wood
will last forever? There is the ship ly-
ing on the desert, snug as possible She
IS great big ship. with high poop and
q regular d0ubledecker. She has four
lnasts, and even the ropes are there. l
lell YOU, | seen the man who saw the
ship-and he described it to me-"
But ne was insane
''Oh, just 4 little bit But he knew
what be was talking about" And So