Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-18
From the Norfolk Vlrginian.
\ EsaEANSs FEAT.
Safe OF the Gum berland Recovered.

On the 9th OF March, 1852, the
sloOp- of war Cumberland was run into
by the prov OF tAG lrOn-ciad NIrg: MIA,
and sunk in thirteen fathoms of water.
Her destruction was so speedy that
nothing could be saved from her, and
a number OF her crew were drowned
by the sinking of the ship. 1t was re-
ported at the time that there was
large amount of specie in her chest,
and this stimulated number of par
ties to attemp- its recovery. During
the war a company was formed for
that purpose, bat after sinking several
thousand dollars the attempt was
abandoned. The wreck WAS SLOWED
to rest for few years, when com
q. Walker, Jn0. A. Hebrew and p. G.
Assessor, undertook the job They
recovered number of the guns, and
other articles of value, and used tor
pedoes freely, but the wished for
chest was still invisible. MI West,
the diver, next undertook the enter
prise, and worked at it with varying
fortunes for about year and a half,
also using torpedoes. In the mean
tirae other parties, employing the best
divers in the country had made efforts
in the same direction, but without
success.
Some months ago several gentlemen
in Detroit, Michigan, stimulated by
the reports of divers who had visited
the ship, iormt q a company for the
purpose Of recovering the safe. They
purchased the right to search from the
government for so, 900, and having five
or six divers employed, worked for
about two months without success.
While at work they used the wrecking
schooner, j. c., belonging to Messrs.
O. E. Maltby & Co., of tins city, and
when they abandoned the work they
left the job in his hands, to be prose
cuted at his leisure, with the proviso
that the profits were TO be divided.
Since they left, Captain Clements
Brown, celebrated diver, who is one
Of thc firm OF 0. E. Maltby & Co.,
has been otherwise engaged, and did
not visit the wreck until Wednesday
last, when he made an exploration.
The swiftress of the tide at tha' point
only allows diving operations for about
two hours during the change of the
tide. Captain Brown had made care
full inquiry MS to the exact location OF
the chest, and on Thursday, when he
went down for the second time, he
found the mizzenmast, and laying his
course from it almost instantly put his
hand on the chest, one corner only of
which was exposed, the remainder
being covered with mud. A few min
utes' work exposed one of the handles,
TO which a line WAS made fast, and
after one or two efforts the safe was
safely landed upon deck. The safe, when
found, was lying upon deck below
where it originally stood, and its re-
moval was probably due to the use of
torpedoes. When the safe reached |
the deck from a fracture near the bot
tom (supposed to have been caused by |
torpedoes) q number Of gold and silver |
coins, to the amount of S25 or $50, |
rolled out, which are now exhibited |
as e proof that there Is ''money in the |
thing"
As to the amount it contains, there
is no means Of forming even a cenjec-
ture, and the safe will not be opened |
until the company in Detroit is heard
from. The me1e fact OF finding the |
safe, after SO many vain etfof is have
been made, is glory enough for Cap
himself upon it. The safe was envel-
oped in canvass and lowered into the
hold of the J. c., wher she sailed for
this city. 1t will, we learn, be taken
out to-day aud placed in one of the
stores under the Atlantic Hotel for ex-
hi bition.
Captain Brown also informs US that
in immediate proximity to the safe he
found the petrlfied body Of man.
to be, from the situation. an
officer still wearing ci0fbinp aIthOuph |
covered with mud This he was COM
PEELED to leave for a future visit. This
would be great curiosity, and, if ex-
lihited. would realize fortune to an
exhibitor. The work of
the Cumberland and search
ng for another safe supposed to be i'll
aer, will be prosecuted with vigor, a.
soon rs eli arrsngements are made.