The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-07-23
THE TREASURE OF THE GOLDEN GATE.
BY GEORGE NOBLE.

value OF nearly one mlllon uolldis 'n
gold coin and bullion. was recovered
from the wreck of the Pacific mail
steamship, Golden Gate. | have the
story direct from one of the principal
men of the enterprise. During the pc
riod which elapsed between the dis
covery of gold in California and the
establishment of transcontinental traf-
fic, the custom was to ship coin ana
bullion from San Francisco to the 18th
mus of Panama, across which ii was
carried to Aspinwall, now Colon, on
the Atlantic. There it would be re-
shipped to 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 to Panama, carry
ing more than five hundred passen-
gers and n large amount Of treasure.
While running along the west coast
of Mexico about two miles offshore.
phe was discovered to be afire. She
was 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 a vicious undertow. Two hundred
and twenty-eight people were lost and
of the vessel herself, in a short time
nothing remained in sight except some
of the tall machinery.
~ After the wreck became known 1t
was announced that there had been
million and half dollars worth of
gold in the treasure-room of the Col
cen Gate. The underwriters sent
skilled divers to the scene to attempt
the recovery of this treasure.
The divers, after a prolonged ex-
animation, reported that the vessel
had broken in two at the treasure
room, and that the gold had been
buried so deep in the sand, through
the combined action of the surf and
the undertcw, that the recovery of any
portion of it was impossible. The un-
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
did in August, 1862, and corroborated
the report of the previous divers.
A second expedition went down, and
although not successful, brought back
reports that furnished encouragement
for n third, which started from San
Francisco in October, 1863.
This expedition sailed in two schoon-
ers, the r. b. Potter, former pilot
boat of seventy tons, and the Naiad.
little craft of Thirty tons previously
used for collecting gulls' eggs from
the Farallone Islands There were
ten men on each vessel. including div
ers and engineers, and there was all
the necessary apparatus
The diving apparatus was put into
shape; the two schooners were inoored
at safe distance from the breakers:
the air pump, with its attendants,
was placed in position on the launch;
and one of the divers, in his submar-
Inc suit, dropped over the side, but
did not vanish. Since the water was
crystal, he could easily be seen as he
walked along the bottom toward the
wreck. A stream Of air-bubbles rose
behind him, and fish and sharks fed
from him in every direction.
AS he approached the wreck and
found shallower water with each step.
II was seen that the furious surf and
the undertow forced him by degrees
to stoop "util he was crawling along
on all fours. When he was directly
over the wreck he began TO employ
the ingenious apparatus to which the
adventurers looked for success.
This apparatus consisted of brass
pipe. with nozzle two and one-half
inches in diameter which was at
tached to five hundred feet of hose
leading TO steam-pump on board the
Naiad. A continuous stream Of wa
ter, rs powerful rs that from a fire.
engine, was to be forced through the
lose; and this, it was hoped, would
roll the sand to such state that the
diver could grad Tally settle down into
1t and lay hold of The treasure.
AS soon as he reached the place
where he was to work, the diver gave
The signal to start the pump.
After an hour of expectancy by those
rpo'c, tHr ulftl slSIlttltu 10 StOp lne
pump, and then came to the surface
After being relieved of his helmet, he
drew In few breaths of fresh air and
reported:
Everything Is all right SO far, but
there is lot more work to be done
than we bargained for. The sand has
accumulated 20 thai where we expect
ed two or three feet. there are almost
six. Under this is the coal, and in Il
we shall find the boxes of gold. II We
ever find 'hem.
"The experiment with the hose
worked we'll" he continued. 'T KEEP
playing the nozzle under and abou
my legs. and eank three feet easily
hut tell you. there's danger for ,
diver In this thing. II the steam
pump ever stops working while a maj
70 deep in the roiled-rp sand he will
10 caught there sure, for the sand will