The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-13

considerable time. Nevertheless, had
little difficulty in making it out. I
have that scrap of paper still; keep it
with few other curious relics of the
sea. Here it is:
Nevada struck unknown rock in mid-ocean.
God have mercy upon US. We are all lost
H. B. WEST, Elmira, q. ST.
"A strange message" said Capt.
George, land it came into my hands
in very singular way. Some years
ago was cruising off the west
coast of Ireland. One morning we put
out a trawl, and in making haul we
captured an enormous Goldfish. When
the cook opened it he found in the nav
silver match box, plain gold ring
and small case of cedar wood. That
case, which bore the initials H. B. w.
contained this scrap of paper. Though
the water had soaked into it, I fancy it
must have been floating when the
greedy fish got hold of it. infer this
from the fact that there was an inch or
SO of string hanging from the case, as
if it had been originally attached to
bottle, piece of cork, or something of
that kind"
1.-THE Nevada" said, repeating the
name. II fancy remember hearing
of that vessel"
every likely" he replied. "She was
an Atlantic boat, running between Bos-
ton and London. If I'm not mistaken,
she was lost in '79-another of those
ocean mysteries, you see, for her fate is
still matter of mere conjecture in the
shipping world"
Il suppose you endeavored to trace
the friends and relatives of this Mr.
West? for it looks like mans hand
writing"
mot I. What good would it have
done? His friends or relatives, if he
had any, had long ago given him up for
lost. Why should open an old wound?'
But at any rate you communicated
with the owners of the vessel?"
II did nothing of the kind. should
only have brought their representative
down upon me; probably he would have
followed me from port to port, and
had no fancy to be pestered in that
way. Very possibly a newspaper man
|. would have been set on my track, and
couldn't have given him the slip so
easily. If he failed to find me in port
he would have started off in chase of
the Wanderer, and tried to interview
me on the high seas as one of them
did, you remember, in the case of Capt.
Morren of the Missouri"
$50 you kept this information entire
~ to yourself?"
II made good use of it. went and
searched for that rock; and found it."
Where does it lie?"
you shall see for yourself; that is,
II you agree to a proposition have to
make. When discovered the position
OF the rock determined, some day or
other, to make a careful survey of the
spot on my own account by sending
down a diver to examine it's forma-
ton. The conversation this afternoon
has revived my-well, whim, fad, or
whatever you like to call it. am
ready to set out on the expedition
whenever can find diver bold
enough"
I'm your man, Capt. George!" ex-
claimed. =
Good; l couldn't ask for better. 1
think you will find it as profitable en-
ployment as staying at home and taking
your chance of wrecks. This is not ex-
actly the best time of year for the en-
terprise, but no matter! It will take a
week or SO to get the Wanderer prop
erly fitted out and ship sufficient
stores Can you be ready within ten
days?" = -.
l told him l had no other work in
view once we had finished with the.
Magellan, and, after that days storm,
! fully expected she would give us lit
tie further trouble.
II will drop into Landport at the
end of next week, he said. Mean
while, keep this project to yourself;
don't want it talked about, or to have
any fuss made in the newspapers"
He accompanied me on deck, the I
boat was hauled up alongside and 4
returned to the shore. When I awoke
EFst5ss 5iI