The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23
TALE OF A TREASURE OF RUM.
BURIED SIXTY.ODDY YEARS UNDER
LAKE ERIE AND NOW SOUGHT.
&2OO,O OO Worth Sank I'm the schooner
FayOrite. I'm n Wreck, which Left One
Suryly0r--N0w He's to Guide search
Party After Living Like q CrusOc.

TOLEDO, Ohio, Aug. 21.-At the bottom OF
Lake Erie at its western end, somewhere
between the mouth of the Detroit River
and the point where the muddy waters OF
the Maumee River and the deep blue OF
the lake are engaged in the process OF
assimilation. there lies sufficient material
to furnish horrible examples to tenn
perance lecturers for the next score OF
years 1t is the sunken cargo Of the good
ship Favorite, bound from Buffalo to Toledo
laden with whiskey and rum, in the autumn
of 1889.
The story of the wreck was almost for
gotten history until, recently, an item ap-
peared in the papers announcing tho or
ganization of a company OF Detroit and
Toledo capitalists for the purpose OF en-
deavoring to recover the cargo. Capt
Frank Sayen, Capt. Frank Abair and several
other old-time lake captains then recalled
details Of the wreck.
The Favorite was one Of the best OF lake
vessels Of her day. She was schooner.
trading principally between Buffalo and
Detroit, but frequently touching at Toledo.
Upon this, her last voyage, she cleared
from Buffalo with cargo Of liquor con-
signed to a Toledo firm. According to
those interested in the plan for recovering
it, the Favorite had on board 1858 barrels
of whiskey and 1872 barrels Of rum.
Just as the vessel was entering Maumee
Bay a sou wester blew up suddenly and
drove the Favorite out into the lake and
northward toward the mouth Of the De-
troit River Somewhere abreast OF Mon
hat,s bar ,v,I ptpS
the vessel foundered and was abandoned
by her crew. Only one of these survived
the storm. He was rescued by some fisher
men, who found him more dead than alive,
clinging to some floating wreckage.
The schooner broke up rapidly, as was
evidenced by wreckage that was washed
ashore The sole survivor in time made
his way to Toledo. He remained here only
few days. Then he disappeared. 1t was
thought his mind had become affected
by the exposure he had undergone. Many
thought he had committed suicide or wan
dered away in the wilderness which then
surrounded Toledo
Several efforts we're made to find him be-
cause it was thought he might be able to
pilot party to the point at which the vessel
had gone down, but the project had to be
abandoned.
The story of the finding Of this lone sur
vivor of the wreck, whose name is withheld
by those interested in the new effort to
locate the cargo. was told the other day by
one of the Toledoans interested in the new
company, said he
"A short time ago party Of Detroiters
and Toledoans planned a cruise on Lake
Erie. 1t was n jolly party out to have good
time We planned a cruise among the
islands of the lakes. In fact, our idea was to
find something new, if possible, and to go as
near as possible to where man had never
been before One day, while skirting the
Canadian shore, we did reach small island.
1T was one of those mere specks Of land.
just peeping up through the blue waters
Of the lake. We had no intention Of landing
until we saw thin column of smoke rising.
We could see no human habitation. We
cruised around the little island twice, in the
hope of attracting some ones attention,
Failing in this, we made a landing with a
small boat we had on board. In the centre
of the island. well surrounded by shrubbery.
we found a veritable Robinson Crusoe, who
was apparently az much surprised az We
were He was an old man, clothed in the
garb of fisherman, with long gray hair.
reaching well down his shoulders. When
we hailed him he stood like sphinx and
scowed at our intrusion Then. as We APP
preached him he retreated into his shack,
built of logs and wreckage, and shut the
rickety old door behind him with bang
"Our first intention was to retreat for
fear of hostilties. but more intrepid men,
Der of the party scoffed at our fear, walked
up to the door and raped We were sur
prised to see the door open, few words
were exchanged and then our advance agent
pulled flask from his pocket and offered
it to the hermit He took long draught
eagerly,
This was our introduction to the hermit
of Jag Island, as we named it, He proved
TO be the sole survivor of the wrecked
schooner Favorte, the gentleman and
scholar who is to head the expedition now
being organized in Toledo and Detroit to
recover the valuable cargo now reposng
on the bottom of Lake Erie.
Gentleman and scholar we found the old
recluse. He lives there alone and makes
trips to the mainland in little boat but
seldom. He obtains his sustenance from
the fish in the surrounding water and, sur
rounded By few domestic pets and "A small
but select library of the best things in Eng
lish literature, he dreams his DAYS away
"He has travelled the world over. has |
sailed many seas and has been a party in
many adventurous eypedit ions He has |
been up and down in the scale of fortune |
Al present no is neither clear down. nor |
away up, but | judge he need not WORM |
For ten years he has lived as he is living |
to-day.
at was from him, after n two davis stav
about III" n"iEhbolhood, that We first heard |
the story OF thN laundering of the Favorite
ant her valuable u so. At came III INSTALL
mcntS, between eatahles and Crnkabl.s
with enough evidences of correctness thrown
in TO allay our doubts. The old rechlse
has charts drawn from memory and other
valuable documents which will be of ser
vice TO US in our search This is all dare
say about the enterprise for tho present
But we feel confident of our ability 10 re
cover that cargo and when recovered IL
will be worth, at least calculation, 5000 ono
Interested with us is a man from Detroit
who is one OF the best-known wreckers on
the Lakes, and who has had wears of ex-
perlence in handling this kind of property
we have thoroughly verified all stories
Of the wreck by investigating the customs
records as to quantity of cargo, time OF
smiling, and other important mottsrs
Having found our friend correct in these
matters we feel more than ever encouraged
and more confident that the entire plan is
feasible ~
The peculiar character of the undertaking
makes all those interested charv about