Listers. Our Sacramento Bee was full of this story today as a portion of the salvaged treasure of California Gold was to be on display at the Bank of California in San Francisco today. Then it then is to be displayed in Las Vegas, Chicago and London before arriving at Sotheby's auction house in New York for auction. Story in Sacramento Bee is - "on Aug 20, 1857 the SS SONORA sailed from San Francisco to Panama with $1.6 million in California Gold Rush bars, ingots, coins and dust. Some of the finest pieces came from BLAKE & CO. Assaying House 52 J St. in Sacramento, CA. This was where prospectors took their gold dust and nuggets" Hey, could have been some of our guys gold!!! "Shipment was then sent by rail across the Isthmus of Panama and Loaded on the SS CENTRAL AMERICA....." it was headed for New York, but hit a storm off North Carolina where it sunk in a storm. Of the 592 passengers and 101 crew, only 173 were saved. All the gold went to the bottom of the sea and treasurer hunters finished retrieving it 10 years ago from 8,000 feet deep in the Atlantic. (Can't seem to find when the ship was found). The Sacramento Bee article mentions "SHIP OF GOLD IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA, by Gary Kinder, published 1998 which details the sinking of the CENTRAL AMERICA and the efforts that went into recovering the glittering cargo". I found this interesting and searched my ship books and found some information on this story in GOLD RUSH STEAMERS OF THE PACIFIC, Published 1938 by Quarterman Pub.., Lawrence, Mass. (page 237). It tells this story but the finding of the ship in 8,000 feet of water off NC is not mentioned as it had not happened yet!!! Tells of "SS SONORA" (Pacific Mail Line) sailing from SF to Panama City and the CENTRAL AMERICA (United States Line) "which was originally knows as the GEORGE LAW, had been recently repaired and repainted and had her name changed to CENTRAL AMERICA. On account of her long sea service she was not considered particularly seaworthy" ........ Lots more about the aid or lack of by other ships and the number of folks who were saved and how long some of them were in the water. Also tells of the engineer jumping onto a life boat and at knife point fighting off other passengers who were attempting to board............ On and on!!!!! I thought some of you might find this interesting and even want to look for the books I mention (or others with this story) at your library. Later, RUTH ___________________ Ruth(Grady) & Don Skewis ruth4527@pacbell.net