Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-04-29
AN ISLE
OF GOLD.
But 1t Was Believed That
Curse Rested Upon It

OHe Jay III 1910 a carpenter stopped
at Panama on his way home from
California, where he had earned a fair
measure of success in the goldfelds.
In such places men are not discrimi-
mating as regards the acquaintance
they make, and he fell in with a couple
OF rough looking sailors who had de-
serted from a whaler that put into port
for provisions.
One evening, upon learning that he
was a miner and therefore familiar
with metals, they showed him a strong
bag filled with some hard substance,
which they asked him to examine and
pronounce judgment upon.
He examined the contents, which he
found to be gold of the finest quality,
whereupon, after first imposing an
oath of strict secrecy, they told him
that shortly before arriving at Pana-
ma their ship had touched at an island
to take in water. The casks were
RATED ashore and quickly filled, the
ship meanwhile standing off and on.
While waiting for the ship to stand
in these two sailors strolled along the
beach for about two miles until they
water course came down from a high
mountain, passed under a natural
stone arch and emptied into the sea.
Here they noticed that the sand of the
beach was filled with a number Of
shining particles resembling gold and
that the crevices or seams of the
water course also seemed full of it.
Not sure whether it was gold, they
gathered small package and retraced
their steps to the boat, saying nothing,
however, to their companions of the
discovery.
Being assured by the carpenter that
they had discovered genuine gold, the
sailors proposed that the three of them
should fit out a small vessel and re-
turn to the island. The plan was
agreed to at once. A vessel was pur-
chased. and six or eight more men
were induced to join the expedition.
There were so few men available
that they had to take such as they
could get, and they got as precious a
lot of rascals as ever went unhanged.
There were two big negroes, two vii
famous looking Spaniards who could
not be trusted out of sight, a hunch-
backed, snaky looking fellow who, it
was afterward learned, was an escap-
ed convict from the penal colony in
French Guiana and a surly, SCARED
old fellow who had been warned out of
California by a vigilance committee.
He was feared by every member of
the crew, and even before the coast
lines had sunk below the horizon he
had let out little suggestions that fill
ed the carpenter with premonitions
that he was going to make serious
trouble. Surly and morose, he SLOUGH
ed about the deck without a word to
anybody. The other members of the
crew were Indifferent.
The vessel was fitted out, ostensibly
for coasting purposes, with mining
tools, provisions for two or three
months and couple of barrels Of rum.
A man and woman were taken along
as cook and stewardess. Toward even
ing of the second day out they sighted
the island.
1t was a lonesome, cherries looking
spot, with a rough, irregular beach,
along which the surf was tumbling in
long curls of creamy foam, and a little
farther in upon the rocks were groups
of Shiny, black creatures which gave
voice to the desolation with their
hoarse barking. There was sporadic
growth of palms on the island which |
dwindled away into a scraggy growth |
of underbrush upon the slopes of two
which rose symmetricaIly |
from the two eXtremities.
A small cove, bordered by a sandy |
oh, off
into this the vessel was cautiously
and the crew was set to work
at once at landing the stores.
That night there was a grand carou-
sal aboard the vessel in celebration Of !
the successful termination Of the voy-
age, during which rum flowed freely
and Quarrels were frequent. The car
penter and one of the sailors, however.
held aloof from these orgies, remaining
Oh deck, prepared to leave the vessel
should matters come to a crisis. Mat
ters did come to a crisis with a crash
when one of the Spaniards dragged the
poor, frightened stewardess into the
cabin and insisted that she should sing
/ Spanish song for the company.
The big ruffian with livid scar, who
claimed to be an American, declared
hat she should sing nothing but yam
zee Doodle" The Spaniard attempted
70 force matters by drawing a knife,
put the American anticipated him with
MS gum" which he began to dis
charge right and left.
In moment the fight became gener-
II. Out of the cabin and up on the
leck they tumbled, shooting and cut
ing and cursing in a manner that was
'rightful to hear. Half of them would
nave been killed or wounded had it not
been for an accident that drew their
Intention from the fighting to danger
hat threatened them all in common.