The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-13
a DIVER RICHLY Y REWARDED.

A Lucky Dive-Immonse Treasure Found
"A Safe that has been under Water
over Vhtrty Years Brought TO the Sur
face - $4,000 In Gold Reoovsred-A
Poor Fisherman Enriched,
From he N0ShU,lle Gazette, 9th.
Most of our readers are familiar with the fact
that party of divers IN this city devote this
season of the year, when the water is at low
stage, TO diving in the Cumberland. For the
past two months scarcely day has passed that
the upper levee has not been the scene of such
exploits, and large amount OF old iron has
been bshed out in this way, ana some of the
parties have been remunerated handsomely from
the sale of the same.
But in order TO do justice to the lucky haul we
are about TO describe, letu 90 back to the good
old time when Nashville was village, and when
such men as BrownlOw were regarded as small
potatoes. 1t was winters day in the year 1886,
when the putting OF steamboat was heard
several miles below the city, and the loud and
distinct seaping betokened that she was double
engine craft, and belonged In the trade between
New Orleans and this point. In those days the
trade was mostly, If not altogether, by river,
and this was the most direct and shortest route
to reach Nashville from the Crescent City. There
were large number o. fine boats engaged in
the trade then, and daily arrivals we're of COM
mon occurrence. Those of our citizens who
were living here at that day will remember the
interest manifested by all to crowd to the wharf
when they heard the boat approaching. Some
were anxious to hear the condition of the New
in getting the quotation of the groceries, while
many were the receipts of letters from friends.
But to proceed. The boat puffed away, and
finally reached the head of the island, and the
knowing ones were satisfied that it was the John
Randolph, one of the best craft in the trade.
She moved upon the water like thing of life,
and was swiftly coming into port. But Just as
she reached the old Nashville bridge, volumes
OF smoke ana sparks of fire were seen issuing
from her decks, and the glorious old craft which
had carried passengers by the thousands and
millions OF tons of freight, was enveloped in
flames. The cry of fire was sounded, and soon
the whole town crowded to the bluff to learn
the particulars. She was heavily ladened with
cotton and crowded with passengers 1t would
have been hazardous to have attempted land
ing where she was, and the captain determined
to reach the city wharf.
The strong current of air tanning the flames
caused the boat to burn rapidly. Small boats
were thrown out, and the passengers sent to
shore, while the crew we're busily engaged in
throwing overheard freight. Such scene, in
Iact, we have never witnessed since. The boat
reached the lower end of the wharf perfect
wreck, and in few moments the mighty waters
OF the Cumberland covered the remainder of
the proud Randolph She went down, and with
her an lmm9nse amount of treasure, including
the safe of the boat, which contained large
amounts,
Let us now return to the scenes of yesterday
Three well-known fishermen and expert divers
were engaged in exploring the undiscovered
country below the surface of the Cumberland.
when one of the party came upon something
MASSIVE. He attempted to move it, but he
found it deeply implanted in the sandy bottom.
He arose, and soon again descended, and from a
second observation came to the conclusion that
1t was safe. He arose AGAIN the second time
and reported his convictions 10 his comrades,
The matter was thoroughly canvassed, when an
old boatman narrated the particulars of the
loss OF the safe on the Randolph just at this
point.
council of war was held, and it was deter
mined to rescue the safe at all hazards Crow
bars we're procured, several canoes and yawls
were anchored out at the place, and the divers
again proceeded to their work. The crowbars
were used successfully, the safe had been moved,
and all worked smoothly. Ropes were procured
and properly adjusted, and, after seven hours
hard labor, their efforts were crowned with
success. They succeeded in recovering from its
long hiding place an old rusty cooking stove,
which was safely brought to shore, and the
profits arising from the sale of old iron divided
among the party.