The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-30

c,u,van. Me-, Captain Lorenzo Emer-
CON NJ that village, told his guests the
story of money winning adventure
,hnt he had near Sleeps Island, In
Psnobscot Bay, in the winter of 1864
D.,ore telling his story the captain
,roated his guests to a surprise By
showing them written articles Of agree
nent between himself and one James
harrison. who signed himself "Presi-
DENT OF the New York Gold Finders
Germany" This paper, which was
dated December !, 1854. bound Captain
1.orenzo Emerson, OF the coasting
schooner Old squaw. to carry James
Harrison and his party from Mllbridge'
Me. to Sheep Island, there to walt Tor
n load and TO take them from Sheep
Island TO Boston. In return for SER
vices and for a pledge Of eternal Sc
crecv. Captain Emerson and his crew
were TO receive $4,000 in gold and one
third of the treasures recovered by
Harrison and his men. Captain Finer
son also showed government bonds and
certificates of deposit in Maine and
Massachusetts banks said to amount to
nearly $4,000.
"rve kept this secret for more than
thirty years" he said, by way OF ex'
PLANTATION, because Harrison's son
rom. who was with US at the time. was
sim alive, and knew that II he ever
heard of my leaking he would come on
and kill me. Last June, when learn
ed that Tom Harrison had enlisted to
60 to Cuba, was glad, and said
hoped he would be killed, and when
hoard that he had died of fever at
Tampa could hardly hold in until the
tine should come around for me to tell
the whole TRUTH
The story told by Captain Emerson OF
his adventures with Harrison differs
widely from the usual version OF mis-
haps which fall to those who seek hid
den gold. Late in November, 1864, he
discharged load OF cordwood from the
Old sauaw at one Of the ROckland lime
kilns, and started back to MIlbridge for
another cargo. hoping to make the
round trip before the weather became
too cold. He was out two days drift
ing in the frosty fog, and reached Mil
bridge harbor on the evening Of No
vember 20. That night. while he was
sleeping in his bunk on board the Old
squaw, his crew having gone ashore to
visit friends. Harrison and his son
came on board. entered the cabin and
tied him hand and foot. When this was
done Harrison drew revolver and
said:
"see here, skipper. do you want to get
rich and retire for the rest of your
Iife?"
"of course do" replied Captain
Emerson. You needn't have tied me
up so darned tight to find that out"
win you do as tell you and follow
where iead?" asked Harrison, very
ferocIously.
Yes" said the skipper; that 49, III
do It If you don't ask me to break the
law or kill somebody"
Hang the law!" cried Harrison
'rwiu you do as tell you or not?"
Captain Emerson yielded and signed
contract to take Harrison and his men
on cruise after buried gold. Harrison
explained his conduct by saying that he
needed a coastIng schooner that took
out her custom house papers by the
season, so that no one would suspect
his errund should the vessel be seen
calling at the islands along shore. He
agreed to pay Captain Emerson $4,000
for the use OF the Old squaw for n
month, and also to give the captain and
crew one-third of the treasure found.
In return for this the captain was to
keep close mouth and obey orders.
AS the crew of the Old squaw was on
shore. and as Harrlson's men were
good sea hands, Captain Emerson sign
ed the contract soon after midnight
and before daylight the schooner was
sailing away for Sheep Island. one of
the Mussel Ridge group. which lies
three miles on shore from White Head
light
They anchored in Seal harbor on the
following evening, and while Captain
Emerson stayed on board to keep ship
the gold hunters took the two boats
and rowed away FOR Sheep Island. AZ
ter an absence Of three days Tom Har-
rison came sailing back in the yawl
and gave Captain Emerson orders to
go to Rockland and purchase some
gunpowder and food supplies. For two
weeks after this the captain heard fire.
quent explosions in the direction OF
Sheep Island. which he believed were
blasts let on by Harrison.
For nearly three weeks he kept ship
alone, seeing none of the men and
hearing nothing from them except an
occasional defamation. He had hung
out his lights. and was making ready to
turn in on the night Of December 10,
when Tom Harrison and one of the
men came alongside with the yawl
loaded down TO the rail with rough,
irou-bound boxes These were lifted
on board and slowed away in the cab
In.
"ii's all money, gold and silver" said
Tom. Turn your lights down and get
ready to sail before daylight. I'm go.
Ing back to get father and the rest Of
the money"
About midnight the two Harrlsonr
and one Of their men came back In tho
boat with n few more boxes.
UEet ,,r g,t 81 ...st-a. 80.