The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-27
Sunken Specie.
From the New York Time!

From the New York Times
After lapse of three years work has
been resumed on the wreck of the sunken
frigate lIussar, 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 a stones throw from
the shore, and on her deck is u steam en-
CINE and various kinds Of machinery used
in submarine work. A general survey of
the wreck was made or Saturday morn
ing by a diver-Mr Cook, Of San Fran
cisco, who has gained q great reputation
Oh the Pacific Coast. He was lowered in
the wreck from 4 platform on the shore
side of the vessel He found little of the
old trigate left. There remains the worm
eaten keelson. the knees, and planking
below the copper line, all of which is
covered with Il thick deposit Of sand and
mud. The money is supposed to be in
the ships treasury in the run. Over this
is Il solid mass of kent-ledge and single
ballast, which, by the action of the water,
have become SO conglomerated that the
|'substance is as hard as iron. The Hussar
arrived with the frigate Mercury at this
,crt on November %, 1880 The vessels
Nti IiCt INV ll'hNS " P'ty VII lilC III ltlSil
! troops. but on arriving here the money,
amounting to t960,0OO was all transfer
red TO the Hussar, which also took on
board seventy American prisoners, and
set sail for New London, Conn. The
commander determined to make a pas
sage through He'll Gate. but failed the
vessel struck heavily on Polls Rock, and
the swift current dritted her helpless along
past Rand;ilrs 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 ca
pies. Some of the trees were pulled up
and the vessel, with sudden lurch, went
over the ledge aud sank in one hundred
feet of water Here she has been ever
since, and numerous attempts have been
made to get the great treasure. The Brit
| ish 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 company was formed and work
| begun, but no progress was made. 9th
ers undertook the work, but failed. Over
fifty thousand dollars was expended in a
Golfer 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 Sub
marine Company, and they have prosecu-
ted the enterprise ever since. The Com
pany is now known as the Frigate lIussar
COMPANY, and they hope, by the aid OF
improved machinery, to get at the bo-
nanza. Money has been found in the
wreck. but not iii sufficient quantities to
pay. The articles taken from the wreck
would fill a small museum. In stable
near Port Morris are stored cannon balls,
muskets, flints and bullets human skulls
and bones. and the manacles of the drown
ed American captives. pewter plates.
bracelets, &c. In the Central Park Mu-
scum there is Il cannon taken from the
wreck, and the British Museum paid 81,
500 for 4 bronze gun.