The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-07-13
SUNKEN SPECIE.
Diving for the Treasure Lost with the
British Frigate Hussar, in 1880, in
East River

Diving for the Treasure Lost with the
British Frigate Hussar, in 1880, in
East River,
from the New York Times.)
After lapse of three years work was
resumed on the wreck of the sunken
frigate Hussar, near Port Morris, with a
view to obtain the treasure, amounting
to 81, 800, 600, buried in the vessel. The
sloop Trent has been moored over the
wreck, which is only stones throw from
the shore, and on her deck is steam
engine and various kinds of machinery
used In submarine work. A general
survey of the wreck was made on Satur-
day morning by diver-Mr. Cook, OF
San Francisco, who has gainened great
reputation On the Pacific coast. He was
lowered to the wreck from platform on
the shore side of the vessel. He
found little of the old frigate left.
There remains a worm eaten keelson,
the knees, and the planking below the
copper line, all of which is covered with
a thick deposit of sand and mud. The
money is supposed to be in the ships
treasury in the run. Over this is solid
mass Of kentledge and single ballast,
which, by the action of the water, have
become so conglomerated that the sub
stance is as hard as iron. The Hussar
arrived with the frigate Mercury at this
port on Nov. %, 1880. The vessels car
ried the money to pay off the British
troops, but on arriving here the money,
amounting to 1890, ZOO, was all trans
ferred to the Hussar, which also took on
board seventy American prisoners, and
set sail for New London, Conn. The
commander determined to make pass
age through Hell Gate, but failed the
vessel struck heavily on Pc Rock, and
the swift current drifted her helplessly
along past Randall's Island. When she
became manageable the Captain decided
TO beach her in a marsh cove below
Port Morris. With the assistance of
some farmers the vessel was run ashore
at high tide and fastened by hawsers to
some trees. AS the tide receded the
strain broke the cables. Some OF the
trees were pulled up and the vessel, with
sudden lurch, went over the ledge and
sunk in 100 feet of water. Here she has
been ever since, and numerous attempts
have been made to get the great treas
ure. The British Government sent over
two briggs in 1894, and they labored for
two summers. One of them sank and
the other was driven off by the American
government In 1919 q company was
formed and work begun but no progress
was made. Others undertook the work
but failed. Over $500 was expended
in coffer-dam, which could not resist
the strong current. About twenty years
ago a company was formed with Mr..
Horace Barnes as superintendent at
Worcester, Mass, known as the New
England Submarine Company, and they
have prosecuted the enterprise ever
since. The company is now known as
the Frigate Hussar Company, and they
hope by the aid of improved machinery
to get at the bonanza. Money has been
found in the wreck, but not IN sufficient
quantities to pay. The articles taken
from the wreck would fill small mu-
scum. In stable near Port Morris are
stored cannon balls, muskets, t1lnts and
bullets, human skulls and bones, and the
manacles of the drowned American cap
tives, pewter plates, bracelets, etc. In
the Central Park museum there is
cannon taken from the wreck, and the
British museum paid 81, 500 for bronze
gun. Among the divers who have been
engaged in the work are Daniel W.
Joshlyne, E. B. Eaton, Thomas
O'NeilI. Otis A. Ramsay, Mr.. Whitney
and Uriah Card. They can work only
at slack water, owing to the swlftness OF
the tide.