Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-10-16
Qbe familp Girtle.
INTERESTING
SUBMARINE EXPLORATIONS.


We find in a recent number of the N
Y. Times an account OF attempts which
have been made to recover the treasur'
of the Hussar, British ship sunk at Hell
: gate, East River, during the Revolution
airy war The amount money on board
was $I,S0as000
The Hussar arrived at New York Dec
10, 1880 She carried fifty four gln,
and was fun differed and Manned
The vessel lay at anchor off the Battery
two DAYS after her arrival. At the time
of her arrival at New York the city wa:
in the possession Of the British As the
Iplace in and about New York where
American prisoners were committed were
filed to excess at this time, it was deei
ded to transport few Of the prisoners tc
Newport, to which ..place.t the Hussar had
been ordered to depart.
Between sixty and seventy Americans
prisoners were accordingly put on board
the Hussar. These prisoners were taken
partly from the prison ships then lying at
Wallabout bay and partly comprised the
mostrecent eaptives of the Revolutionary
4 War, just taken prior to the arrival OF
the vessel 1t is stated that some of the
/ prisoners were officers in the American
Army.
The Hussar left New York under COM
4 mands TO proceed to Newport Rhode Is,
land Paying off the British troops was
the principal object of her mission. In
going through Hell-gate the vessel struck
upon Pot Rock, nearly opposite the up-
per extremity of Randalls Island. The
extent Of the injury could not have been
fully comprehended at first for the vessel
was kept on her way up the Sound in
stead OF luffing about direct to Randall's
Island, which she might have done. The
nature Of the danger sustained being
shortly perceived from the rapidity the
vessel began to take i'll the water, an eff
fort was made to land her on the OPP
posite end Of Manhattan Island as it was
then called. When the vessel got within
one hundred yards Of the shore for which
she was making, she sunk almost immedi-
ately. Capt Randall the original pur-
chaser, of Randall's Island at the time Of
the accident was with a company of men,
at work on the northern shore Of the is
land in full view of the scene of the disas-
ter. He saw the vessel sink, and imme-
diately hurried with his men in row-boats
to the place and was the means Of saving
a good many lives.
But two or three of the vessels crew
are said to have persisted. All The Amer
lean prisoners on board went down with
the ship. The place where she now lies
is seventytwo feet under water at low
tide.
The British Government in 1904 at
tempted to recover the property, and vari-
Gus attempts have since been made by pri-
waite individuals.
In 1850 the Company at present at
work in searching after the money in this
sunken vessel entered upon their expert
menting researches. The Company is
known as the Worcester Hussar Compa-
ny, and it is designated by this name as
the leading parties who have capital in
the enterprise, are residents of Worces-
ter, Mass. Mr.. Charles R. Plat and
Mr.. Bancroft have the superintendent
Of the work. They have schooner, the
Superior, anchored directly over the sunk
en- vessel, andlnine men in all, engaged ind
asslstlFis % g9t up the LOST tfeasnFe.-f
lhey have no{ been at work nearly six /
years. The Submarine armor used. was
invented by Captain Taylor 1t compri
ses simple india rubber jacket and pants
with copper helmet attached to the lac
ket for the head. In front of the helmet
Is piece of glass, inserted to enable the
explorer to see about him while under
meath the water. The pants and jacket.
Whlch are made separate, are attached bv
means OF metallic aanges in manner to
oe perfectly secure and Natertight. 49,
'tached to the helEet is hose to run up
to the surface of the water above and
connect with an air pump as means Of
Supplying fresh air to the diver. A valve
lis SO arranged in the helmet as to let the
foul air escape. The total weight of the |
armor is some seventy pounds
Three descents says the Times, were
made by Mr.. Platt last Friday after
noon. during the visit Of our reporter on
board his schooner over the wreck of the
Hnzzar. The descents were made be-
tween two and four o'clock, this being the
a period favorable on account of low tide. /
Having enclosed himself in the armor
above mentioned, and 100 pounds weight
being attached to his legs with suita-
bic arrangement of the signal ropes, he
disappeared quiclkyunderneath thewater.
On his first ascent he remained beneath
the water II minutes. He gave the sig
.nal-two pulls on the rope-when he was
brought to the top. Some small ropes
which he had taken down with him, he
fastened around two large bars Of pig
iron found on the wreck below, which
were shortly hauled to the top and lifted
on the schooner. The object of bringing
up these were to show the sease with
which the diver could manage business
while under water. After few minutes
interval a second descent was made, Mr..
Platt this time remaining underneath
twenty-six minutes. He took down on
this occasion an ordinary grain bag and
filled the same with minor articles, found
about the wreck. The articles comprised
three portions Of human skeleton, sever
al cannon balls Of various sizes, porotins
Of the stocks and barrels of muskets two
bayonet sheaths, the bottom of junk bot
tie, cocoa nut drinking cup, fragment