Evening journal., 1899-02-15

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crude for such work.
It was a rough night in the Winter
Of 1862 when the ship Merrmac ran
her bow deep into the north bar Of
Towusend's inleg. She. too. was
treasure ship. bug instead OF gold and
silver she carried pig lead, silks
and general merchandise The lead In
this Merrlmac's hold was valued at
$50, 600 None OF II was ever recov-
cred. In speaking OF the wreck re-
Gently Captain Sutton who ls more at
home on the deck Of fore-an' after
than he Is on shore said
when the Merrimac went TO pieces
on the north bar OF Townsend's there
were rolls Of silk all along the beach
on Tathem's and Lldlams islands.
Those were great times for the women
folks. The men gathered the silk up
and toted II home and | reckon every
woman in Cape May county had silk
dresses to wear Why, my women folk
laid away their best calico dresses and
Stood at their washtubs with silks on.
II would have done your heart good
TO see the sight. Yes, stree, we men
folks walked around wearin' overalls
and Kentucky jeans, while the women
sported silks"
Many Cape May county women still
have vivid reoblgections OF the days
when 10 was cheaper to wear silk
dresses than It was to don the com
monest caliooes. Remnants OF this
silk are still to be found in some OF the
homes on the midland, the worse for
wear, but still showing traces of the
exquisite colorings of the French
dyer's art Opposite the United States
life-saving station AT Sea Isle City
deeply imbedded IN Inc sand. lies al
that remains Of the big ship Mortimer
Livingstone She also was wrecked In
1862 while bound from Havre, France
to Philadelphia. Her cargo, which lies
covered with her, consisted Of wines
and Sevres china. Az odd times. gen
orally after n storm, images OF Parian
marble. Of fms workmanship. have
been found on the beach Two Win
ters ago q casl of wine was found by
patrolman OF the life-saving station
The Livingstone's cargo was valued at
100000. Some day the ocean currents
may uncover the wrecks and chance
may lead men to them.
There was one ship that came ashore
on Ludlam's Island more than cen
tury ago whose rich cargo was not en-
quilted by the sea. The STORY of her
coming-it is scarcely more than a le-
gend now--is still told in Cape May
county homes. The Minerva ran on
the beach at a paint now known as Mi
nerva avenue, Sea Is.e City She was
fuI-rigged East India merchantmen.
Her coming was weird and uncanny.
On dreary day in March. 1897, the
beachbombers living three miles away
on the mainland got a glimpse through
tine mist of the stranded snip. Ever
ready to profit by the misfortunes Of
the shipwreclced the beachcombers
manned their boats and put off across
the bay. When they reached the island
beach they found the Minerva high up
on the bar, with all sails set. The
wreckers boarded her.
From the main hatchway came the
cry Of a cat. Then all was still. SUI
4 perstitious TO a marked degree were
| the beachcombers, and il was some
time before they gathered sufficient
courage TO verLure below decks In a
large cabin, handsomely, even luxuri-
ous,y furnished seemingly the cap
tain's, the searchers found the body OF
a young man, evidently a Spaniard.
Disturbed by their intrusion, a large
gray cat, the oniy living thing encoun-
tered. rushed SWIFTLY from the cabin
into the darkness Of the hold beyond.
Frightened by the sight OF the dead
man and the appearance OF the cat,
{ the wreckers rushed from the cabin 10
the deck above Curiosity, however,
soon overcame their fear. and they
went Through other parts Of the mer-
chairman. They found her laden
J. with a cargo of coffee, tea, spices and
other rich products. but there was none
r TO watch over il save the big gray cat
' and the dead man. The beachcombers
. carried much Of the Minerva's cargo
ashore before a storm came tearing
down the coast and broke her L
u pieces. Long afterward it was learned
81 that the Minerva was owned at a litth
Il seaport town on the bay OF Biscay. Sh,
a was bound for Aimeria OF her crew
= or the cause Of their desertion of thei
ship nothing was ever learned. Some
times, when the sea currents rul
, srongHhe sand washes away from tn
a spot where the Minerva lies, exposing
" her timbers Of iron-hearted oak. The,
,s are black and dark green with thei
covering of barnaeles and seaweed an
,e they recall to those who have hear
is the Minervas story one OF the myster
a. les Of the sea.