Year: 1876




come in order 70 secure the prize. Then,
again, the divers had to work right in the
surf, which was always quite heavy from the
southwest swell, and at times would COM
pletely envelope the engine-frame and pad
die wheels, which stood erect in the sand
about 40 feet high. There are only three
months In the year when vessel can lie at
anchor off the coast with any safety-Janu-
ary, February and March. The first eXpe-
ditiOn accompanied was under the COM
mand of William Ireland, OF San Francisco,
veteran in the wIecking business, who had
previously been down in the steamer Active
with Capt. Waterman having charge OF the
divers. We left San Francisco in a schooner
of 150 tons, with all the appliances that could
be thought of to experiment in


DIGGING SAND UNDER WATER.


We had carpenters, blacksmiths, calkers,
a stock of iron, endless chains with buckets
attached, to be used as elevators from the
top of the engine frame to convey the sand
ashore 10 be worked over for loose money.
We also had a cargo of lumber to build
lighters, in which we were to work when
diving. We had working crew oi u men, g.,
with two divers-one, Duncan Johnson, 8
muscular man weighing 200 pounds, and
myself weighing $50 pounds. We reached
the harbor of Manzsnillo in due time, pro-
cured permit from the commanCant OF the
port to wreck On the coast, and next day
sailed for the scene OF ruin or fortune, as
many had their all invested in the expedi-
ton. Arriving of the wreck we dropped
anchor ln 20 fathomS of water, mile eff
shore, and commenced TO build lighter,
which was finished and lauehed from the
vessel in a few days. About this time q
sloOp came down the coast
from Mazatlan with II native pearl
divers, all stalwart fellows, who afterward
gave us much trouble. Johnson made the
first dive. He was down about half an hour
He went down outside of the surf and
crawled into shore on his hands and knees,
carrying only the ordinary weight that
divers use. He, however, did not accom-
plish anything, and was drawn up some
what scared, baving been roughly handled
by the SURF l then dressed myself ard
went down, carrying more lead, and, by not
displacing so much water as Johnson,
Jared better under the waves. By moving
around fiat on my abdomen to avoid being
knocked around by the rollers, only had
the undertow to contend with. l examined
every thing with which my hands came in
contact. Shortly after reaching the locality
OF the broken end of the keel, which was
confined in the sand under the engine bed
plate, was violently forced along the bot
tom by the undertow. After being dashed
in shore by


HUGE BREAKER,


came in contact with two square ends of





inches, but before could make an exami-
nation of them was dashed away. When 1
again found them I clssped both arms
around them. while the surf and undertow
would swing me around in circle. / did
not know what had hold of, whether the
ends of timber or boxes of gold, until the
undertow, running under my arms, cut the
sand away around the boxes so they tilted
over. Ithen realized whst held clasped 10
my arms. shouted and cheered to myself
as / knew all would do when the boxes
would reach the lighter. Now, did not
know what TO do with them; 1 could not
handle them both, and was afraid to leave
one lest the Mexican divers might find it,
or il might become buried before could
return tor it. 1 finally took one in my
arms and gave quick, strong pull on my
life line, which is the signal of distress,
and is never given except when
the diver wants to be drawn up
in haste. lay about three hundred feet
from the lighter. The bottom was winrowed
in small waves of sand, running parallel
with the shore. Over these drifts / was
dragged as fast as four men could haul me
with an inch rope around my waist. On be-
ing hauled up under the end of the lighter,
my back came out of the water first, my
feet being loaded with loaded boots and the
box of gold in my arms. l could family
hear excited words-that / was dead. In
the excitement the men ceased pumping air
to me. The slxif came around where was
suspended, and l could distinctly hear the
| men say / was dead. One OF them reached
under my head to unscrew my face-glass,
and discovered the box in my arms. Then
| all was changed from sadness to extreme
Joy, and three cheers went up for the diver.
| After being relieved OF my burden, waved
my hand to be lowered to the bottom again,
and soon found


THE OTHER BOX.


gave the same signal on the lifeline, but
received kind treatment compared with my
first trip to the lighter. never want an
other such a ride as 1 had over those sand
ridges with a box of gold weighing 175
pounds in my arms, lying on my side and
dragged at the end OF rope. / thought
every bone in my body would be broken.
We recovered one or two boxes next day,
| the totalivalue amounting to 100000, No
| more treasure would ever have been recov-
cred, as there were some broken planks
under these boxes, which prevented them
from sinking in the sand with the rest, had
it not been for an invention of our carpen-
ter. We had nothing to penetrate the sand
with. Feeling confident that the rest Of the
treasure was there in the sand, near the
| same place, all hands set their wits at work
to devise some means to recover it. After
| lying idle week or more, / was talk
/ ing one evening with the carpenter, when
be asked me howa stream of water would
affect the sand. saw at once that it was
just what was needed, and told him so
Then he made q wooden force-pump, and q
hose OF canvas with nozzle was made by
rolling up piece of sheathing metal. We
also built another lighter to work the force
pump on. We had small donkey engine
which was prepared and put on the lighter
and towed to shore to be tried. AS force
pump 1t was failure. However, thought
would try 1t In the sand before condemn
! ing 1t. dressed and went to the bottom
under the boat, with the understanding
that If il would drill hole in the sand 70
| take il into the surf and try it. II did not
like 1t they were 10 baul the hose mp and
condemn it. Thus on my decision hung
the fate of s., 800 900 gold, worth S 0O0, 600 at
| the time In greenbacks. I found on forcing
the nozzle into the sand that it confin ed the
water In the hose, and gave it force to cul
into the sand, and with that rude pump
we recovered over 5000 900.