The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-09-19
THE DAILY GAZETTE.
THE BRITISH FRIGATE HUsSAR.


In the year 1880 British frigate,
the Hussar, while on her way from
New York to Newport, with some six.
ty or more American prisoners on
board and treasure to the value Of
nearly two million of dollars, int nded
for the pay of the troops, struck apon
Pot Rock, Hellgate, and al1nos H.
stantly sunk. The crew were saya,
but the unfortunate prisoners went
down in their chains.
Several attempts have Deen made by
the British Government and by indi-
viduals, to recover the treasure from
the wreck, but heretofore without re-
muneratiye results. A company is at
present, however, engaged in the labor,
with every prospect Of entire success.
From long article in the New York
Times, historical. descriptive and mar
rative. we extract the following inter
esting summing up of the results thus
far of the explorations:
A large variety Of articles, like those
already enumerated, have been brought
mp from the wreck by the present
company. The human bones found
have been principally disjointed sec
tions of the human skeleton, Con
nected with the lower bones of large
number Of arms, have been found
manaeles, and showing, evidently,
that a part, if no. all the American
prisoners on board, were manacle3
and chained. A few days since an en-
tire skeleton, the first whole. discover
ed, was found. Singular as 1t may
appear, the head of this skeleton still
contained a portion of brains. A
chain was connected with manacle
on the right wrist bone Of this skeleton.
As for the amount o. money thus far
recovered, the company do not name
the sum, though there can be but lit
tie doubt they are making it paying
enterprise. Nineteen gold guireas,
taken ont a few days since, were shown
our reporter. These guineas bear
date from I'LL TO 1875. They were
all Of them in perfect condition. A
piece was shown of three guineas, a
crown and half crown found in one
solid lump. The silver was in the
centre. and by coming in contact with
the gold sort Of fgalvanic battery ac-
ton had taken place, making the
whole a compactm ,ss. The,ehect up
on various other metals and substan-
ces, by their long submersion under
water, is worth nothing. Copper and
lead are not changed: wrought iron
loses in quantity, but retains its quality
with cast iron it is just the reverse, it
retains its entire bulk, but diminishes
nearly one third in weight. Wood
shows the depreciation Of worns.--
Cocoa-nut shell drinking cups look as
sound as fresh ones. But it is not for
these trifies or TO note the changes up-
on the different articles submerge |,
that the present company have tfas
lar pursued and continue pursuing
their work. Money--thereco of
81 800, ,000--is their sole aim and
pursuit. The chief difficulty thus ar
encountered, is represented as being
the trouble Of getting away the deck
and timbers of the vessel 80 as to gain
access TO the hold. This difficulty is
stated as now nearly removed. The
whole time of actual exploration va
ries from one to three hours day, and
this during but five months of the
year. 1t is owing to the peculiar sit
nation of the vessel and the violent
tides that no more time could be ex-
pended in the search. The company
claim that the ship has been abandon
ed by the British Government, and
that they are entitled to all they may
recover from the wreck. 1t is hardly
to be presumed that their claim will
be disputed. Ii enterprise and per
servance are entitle1to any reward,
the present company richly merit all
that they may gain from their protract
ed labors.
FORBIDDEN FKUIr.-A striking in
stanceot the power of curiosity, and OF
the proclivity Of human. nature to in
dulge in forbidden pleasures. recently
occurred in London. The Times had
yehemently denounced a certain opera
as IAN exhibition Of harlotry on the
stage" and called upon the people of
England, in the name OF every
thing virtuous, fathers OF families,
mothers and daughters incladed. to
mark their sense OF what was right by
keeping away from the performance.
The "people Of England" answered
this appeal by crowding Her Majesty's
theatre on the occasion Of the pertor-
nance of the opera, to sutiocation, and
not even standing room could be found
in pit or gallery. Masses of people,
principdtly ladies, it is said, poured
into the theatre in manner not wit
messed since the tirsttriumphs OF Jenny
Lind. Not alone had the house never