Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-08-18
SUBMARINE EXPLORATIONS
EAST RIVER.

SUBMARINE EXPLORATIONS IN
EAST RIVER.
Visit 20 the 'Wrecf Of he fEis.te As.-
sar-Fivo Million Dollars Waiting Ae.
covery.
From the New York Times Of July sist.l
Yesterday some experiments were
made with a new form of diving bell,
or submarine explorer, as its inventor
chooses to call 1t, at the foot OF One
Hundred and Twenty-eighth street, East
River, in the presence of q number Of
scientific and practical gentlemen, the
results Of which were highly salts
factory.
The experiments made with the eI.
plorer Yesterday were in the vicinity Of
the wreck of the English frigate Hussar.
This vessel formed part Of the English
feet during the Revolutionary war, and
on board Of her vas kept the treasure
for the payment of the British army.
On the 18th Of November, 1850 (Eyacu-
alton Day. the officers Of the vessel,
knowing Of the vicinity of the French
feet, attempted to escape to sea by run
ming the frigate up East River. She
struck, however, on Pot Rock, at He'll
Gate, and sustained serious damage.
Her officers sailed her on for about q
mile, to what was then known as Port
Morris, now the foot Of One Hundred
and Thirty-eighth street, supposing that
they would there find shallow water.
In fact, however, they had unwittingly
selected the deepest part Of the river,
the vessel having at least seventy feet
of water beneath her keel. A hawser
was got out and made fast to q huge oak
tree on the bank Of the river, and in a
few minutes afterward an alarm was
raised that the vessel raj sinking. So
rapidly did she settle down that the
officers were compelled to rush from
their cabins, leaving their clothing and
even their swords, money and jeweled
snuf-boxes behind them. On the lower
deck were eighty American prisoners in
m~anacles. No attempt was, or could
be made to save them, and every man,
so far as known, persisted. The hawser
which had been made fast to the oak
tree exerted such q strain upon the tree
that it tore it up by the roots. Not far
from the spot where the vessel went
down, Governor Morris had an elegant
Mansions field Of young corn now
waves over its site-where he afforded
accommodations for the night to the
officers of tho Inflated Hussar. On the
arrival Of these gentlemen 10 England a
court-martial was held, and from the
evidence then given, it appeared that
the Hussar had on board at the time
she sunk, nine hundred thousand
George III. g~uineas, which were packed
in 6fty-two iron boxes bound with cop
per, and built into tho run Of the yes
sell. There can, therefore, be no doubt
that the treasure is ystlying at the bot
tom of the river, to reward the luck
and perseverance Of some one.
In 1894 the English Government sent
over two briggs with men and imple-
msuts to raise the frigate but amer
two seasons of fruitless labor they left.
In 1919 they made a second attempt to
raise her with the most powerful ma
chinery known, but the workmen were
ordered off by the American Govern.
ment, on the ground that the vessel q
all she contained were prizes Of war.
The wreck was then allowed to rest for
a time, but in l848 another attempt was
made to recover tho treasure. An Or
g~anizatisn known as the Frigate Hussar
Company, with which was connected
Mr.. G. W. Taylor, the well-known diver,
wal formed, and constant attempts were
made to discover the treasure without
success. Up to 1867 the company had
expended S67, 900 in its fruitless search.
This company now has a contract with
Messrs. ". R. Taylor and ]. A. Weese,
owners of the submarine explorer, to
raise the treasure Of the Husssr on a
salvage of thirty per cent. The compa-
ny is chartered by the State.
RESULT OF EXPLORATIONS.
The explorations in and around the
wreck of the Hussar, which have been
made from time to time, have resulted
in the discovery Of the officers swords,
which were left in their cabins, a small
superb gold jeweled snuff-box, q silver
snuff.box, . small box of lignum-Vit@,
containing gold coin, l25 guineas, rs
cannon, 1000 balls, q number OF mus
kets, bullets, buckshot, buckets bearing
the name Hussar, bottles Of porter, and
p~un-hints. Several skeletons or parts
Of skeletons with manacles on the wrists
have also been discovered. or the can
non raised two were presented to the
British Government, and several are
still to be seen in the arsenal at Central
Park.
Two 'descents q day are nov made to
the wreck in the submarine explorer.
So far very little has been discovered.
The treasure is supposed to be beneath
the stone ballast, Of which the frigate
had many hundred IONS on board. This
ballast is now being turned over, but
this, of course, Is a work Of time.
Much money and much patience will
doubtless be required before the g~uineas
are brought to light. Not long since
the stern post of the vessel was stand
ing, and this acted as a guide to the
divers in prosecuting their researches.
Some one, however, who ought to have
known better, tore it down, aud now
the divers are left to make their exPlo-
rations 10 the best nj they can be-
meath seventy.fve feet Of water. Yes.
terday one descent was made about two
o'clock in the afternoon. The bell
reached the bottom in fifteen minutes
and was allowed to remain there one
hour and a quarter, whom the divers as
cended, bringing with them some mus
ket ~fints, copper nails, &C., and the re-
por. that they believed they had struck
wood. The explorer acted to perfec-
ton, and the divers declared that they
had experienced no Inconvenience what
ever during their submeriion.
VEGETABLE ORGANISMS IN HUMAN
BLoop. - DR.. Richardson, of Union