Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-12
THE TREASURE OF THE GOLDEN GATE.
BY GEORGE Ho5LE.

gold coin and bullion. was recovered
rom the wreck of the Pacific man
steamship. Golden Gate. ! have the
story direct from one Of the principal
men of The enterprise. During the Pc
.iod which elapsed between the dis
eovery of gold IN California and the
establishment Of transcon;inental traf-
&c. the custom was 10 ship coin and
bullion from san Francisco to the 18TH
mus Of Panama. across which il was
carried TO Aspinwall, now Colon, on
The Atlantic. There il would be re-
shipped 10 its destination in the Unit
ed States or Europe.
Thus in July. 1862, the side-wheel
steamship. Golden Gate. was en- route
from San Francisco &c Panama. carry
ing more than FIVE hundred passen-
GERS and 4 large amount CT treasure.
While running aloLg the west coast
Of Mexico. about two miles offshore.
Fhe was discovered to be afire. She
vas headed for The beach. and when
she struck the fire had so enwrapped
her that all On board were forced TO
fling themselves into the surf. There
was vicious undertow. Two hundred
and twenty-eighi people were lost. and
Of the vessel herself. in short time
Dothing remained in sight except some
Of the tall machinery.
After the wreck became known it
was announced that there had been
a million and hall dollars worth OF
gold in the treasure-room Of the Col
zen Gate. The underwriters sent
skilled divers 10 the scene 10 attempt
the recovery OF this treasure.
The divers. after a prolonged eX-
animation, reported that the vessel
had broken in two az he treasure
room. and that the geld had been
buried so deep in the sand. through
the combined action CT The surf and
the undertcw, that the recovery of any
portion OF il was impo ssibie. The I'M
derwriters thereupon abandoned the
attempt.
A number Of adventurous spirits in
San Francisco. upon learning Of this
report. determined 10 make personal
examination of the wreck. This they
Cid in August. 1862. and corrohcrated
the report OF tho previous divers.
A second expedition went down. and
although not successful, brc1ght back
reports that furnished e3coIrag cement
fer a third. which started IRON: San
Francisco in October. 1868.
This expedition sailed in two schoon-
ers. the r. p. Potter, q former pilot
boat of seventy tons. and the Naiad.
little craft OF Thirty tons previously
csed for collecting gulls' eggs fror.
the Farallone Islands There wera
ten men on each vessel. including div
ers and engineers. and there was all
the necessary apparatus.
The diving apparatus WIS pat into
shape: the two sthCcncrs were mocred
OF a safe distance from the breakers
the air pump. with lis attendants.
was placed in position CT the launch;
and one of the civ2Ts. in his submar-
inc suit. drcrpod over the side. but
old not vanish. Since the water was
hut four fathoms deep and clear as
crystal. he COLD easily be seen as he
walked along The tc:icm toward the
wreck. 4 stream q air-buhhlos rose
behind MIN. a36 FISH end sharks fed
from him in every direction.
as he approached the wreck and
found shalloNer water with each step.
IL wlps seen tha; the furious surf and
the hndertow forced him by degrees
to 81 pop until he vas crawling along
on all fours When nc was directly
ever the wreck he BEGAN 10 employ
the ingenious apparatus &c which the
adventurers looKed for success.
This apparatus consisted Of a brass
PIPE. with nozzle two and one-half
inches in diameter. which was at
tachedI 10 five hundred feet of hose
leading TO steam-pump on board the
Naiad. A continuous stream Of wa
ter. as powerful as that from FIRE
engine, was 10 he forced through the
hose: and this. il was bored. would
ron the sand 10 such state that the
diver could grad ially settle down into
il and lay hold IF The treasure.
as socn as he reached the place
where he vas 10 work, the diver gave
The signal 10 start the pump.
After an hour Of exI rctanCv by those
above. The diver sicnaled 10 step the
pump. and then came 20 the surface.
After being relieved q his helmet. he
Grew in few bTe2;hs Of fresh air and
reported:
Everything IS ell right so far. but
there is lot more work 10 be done
than We rargairod for The sand has
accumulated 90 :ha: where We expect
eG two CT three feet there are almos,
six. Unde this IS The coal. and in il
we shall fl6 tho boxes of gold, if VIC
ever find mem.
THE experiment. with the hose
worked wed" he continued. II Kep,
plaving the nozzle uaccr and about
nv legs. ard sank three feet easily
Dut / tell on. there's danger for a
diver in tbs thing. II the steam
nrnp ever scps working while mar
js deep in te roiled-rp sand he will
hc caught thTe sure, Cor The sand will
grow solid aout him before he can
get ont
The men I'D not thought Of this
before. fu' Thy al once saw the truth
Of IL. az arraced that every iniagin-
allie pr satin should be taken to
keep III pum working.
Roth hvers iosccnGed on he second
Gay. blt afjcI considerable time re-
appcaro5 .iti no more ercouraSinc