Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
AN ISLE
OF GOLD.
But 1t Was Believed That
a Curse Rested Upon 1t.

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One day in 1877 carpenter stopped
at Panama on his way home from
California, where he had earned a fair
measure of success in the goldfields.
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 whaler that put into port
for provisions.
One evening, upon learning that he
was miner and therefore familiar
with metals, they showed him a strong
bag filed 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
came to a place where a ravine or
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
hnonh GlInd Nf
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 a 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 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 q
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, bunch
backed, snaky looking fellow who, II
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 goirs>o 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 a 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 rough, Irregular beach,
along which the surf was tumbling In
long curls Of creamy foam, and little
farther In upon the rocks were groups
nR hlanly xya
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
mountains which rose symmetrically
from the two extremities.
A small cove, bordered by sandy
beach, offered a safe anchorage, and
into this the vessel was cautiously
steered, and the crew was set to work
at once at landing the stores.
That night there was a grand carou-
sol 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
on deck. prepared to leave the vessel
should matters come to crisis. Mat.
tiers did come to crisis with crash
when one of the Spaniards dragged the
poor. frightened stewardess into the
cabin and insisted that she should sing
q Spanish song for the company.
The big ruffian with livid scar, who
claimed to be an American, declared
that she should sing nothing but "Yan,
kee Doodle" The Spaniard attempted
to force matters by drawing knife
but the American anticipated him with
his "gun," which he began to dis
charge right and left.
In moment the fight became gener-
al. Out of the cabin and up on the
deck they tumbled, shooting and cut
ting and cursing in manner that was
frightful to hear Half of them would
have been killed or wounded had 1t not
been for an accident that drew theil
attention from the fighting to danger
that threatened them all in common
In the scuifle in the cabin large lamp
was overturned, and before any one at
tempted to put out the flames the