The New York herald., 1876-07-03
SUNKEN TREASURE.
FRIGATE HUssAR-NEARLY FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EAST

FRIGATE HUssAR-NEARLY FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EAST
RIVERA RELIC OF $780,
Work upon the wreck OF the British irigate ussar,
sunk in the East River during the Revolutionary war
has been resumed afssr suspension of three years
On Thursday last the sloop Tont moored the
wreck, which lies short distance below Port Morris
and within stones throw OF the shore In frame
structure on the deck Of She sloop is steam engine
and other machinery used in submarine work. The
diver is lowered to the wreck IRON platform the
shore side OF the vessel He made his first descent
Saturday morning Tor the purpose OF making general
survey of the wreck He found but little left OF the
old rgate. All that remains Is the worm eaten keel
son, knees and Flanking below the copper line. The
wreck Is covered with heavy deposit Of sand and
mud, and several large boudcrs have logged in her
hull
The Hussar 208 feet In length, 5S feet bcam and
carried lhirtytwo guns She arrived in this port with
the irisa,e Mercury and fleet OF merchant vessels
November IS, 1850 In the Hassars treasury were
f5so, 900, gold, and the Mercury $3.50, coo,
making nearly S. 000. 900 in all This treasure was
sent over by tho British government to pay the forces
engaged in wagng war on the colonists Two days
aiterward the gold brought over by the Mercury was
transferred to the Hussar with which, after taking on
board seventy American prisoners from the over
crowded huks in the Wallaboui she set sail tor New
London Conn. Paul Jones at the time
cruising along the American coast His feat Off
Marlborough Head year before had inspired the COM
mander OF the Hussar with healthy respect Tor his
powers, and IL therefore determined TO make the
voyage by the way OF Hell Gate 1t was a hazardous
undertaking Tor "A vessel of her tonnage but negro
pilot had succeeded Il short time before IN taking
through another irgnte. The Hussar attempted the
passage with tavoring wind and n high tide, and
safely passed the most dangerous points IN the chan
"A, nlrn Au in rhn
ate struck heavily on Pot Rock. The swift current
swung her around. and she drted heipessly
Islands making water rapidly When the vessel
once obeycd her helm she iliing so last
that the commander determ ned to beach her at
the entrance TO n narshy cove below Port Morris.
This was done, and the crew, with the assistance OF
farmers at work by held he. the shore by pass
ing hawsers around the large trees there more dam
gerod5 point could not have been selected, ior the
irisate from amldships hung over prec'pce nearly
one hundred ieet high. When tho tide began to fall
the STRAIN upon the cables was tremendous. Some
parted others pulled from The ground tho trees
TO which they were attached, when the ship gave q
lurch and went bodily over the ledge Worst OF all,
she carried down with her the seventy hapess wretches
chained 10 her gundeck. The officers aud escaped
In l9i the British government sent over two brgs,
and Tor two summers unsuccessful efforts were made
to raise the sunken rgale One OF the brigs oundered
while engaged in ih,s work and now lies IN thirteen
iahoms o water short distance below the hu OF the
Hussar The other was driven of by the American
government. Twenty-Five years elapsed before another
| elort was made a company WAS formed ana work WAS
begun the spring OF 1879; hut with the clumsy ap
phances then in vogue no progress was mado. One
enterprise succeeded another, but with ike result
! over $40 900 was expended in constructing Golfer
DAM which proved weak To resist tho force of the
tide. over twenty years ago company formed In
| Worcester, Mass called the New England submarine
Company, with Horace Barnes Us superintendent TINS
company and us successor, the Frgate Hussar Com
pny, have prosecuted tho work since except during
The three past summers. They have resumed
operations and hope the use OF improved machinery
and new process to get possession OF the golden
treasure burod in the frgate's hull Dir. Barnes
! still supcrihtends tho work.
But little money has thus far been taken from the
wreck ana tue gums found supposed 10 have been
the private boards OF officers aud mon. In stable
Fort Morris stored human SIX uls and boues aud
manacles worn by tho drowned American captives,
bullets pewter plates, &c The British Museum paid
81 500 for bronze In tho Central Park Museum
arc lother mementOes OF the wreck. Obstacles to be
overcome are numerous and great The ships
was located in the run OF the vessel. The kcntledge
Qron) and shge (stOne) ballast by The action OF
the water become Joined together a mass almost us
dense cast IRON. This overles and surrounds
the treasure and has to be drilled blasted through
Eternal night relgns around the wreck. Electric
lights have tailed, and owing to the swift tides
work only vi slack water.
one OF the divers engaged for the present season Ia
Mr. Cook, OF San Francisco AIR. Cook OF tho
mVs expert and success ul members OF his profession
His operations along the Pacific have achieved
for hm reputation for daring aud sagacty which has
preceded hun.
Among the well known divers who have within the
past twenty Ave years worked upon the wreck OF the
Hussar Daniel W. Joshlyne has probably made the
largest number of desceuts. lie has also remained
| upon the wreck Tor longer period than any other
dlv.r having on one OCCASION stayed below Tor two
| hours and nifty hve minutes Mcssrs 4. B. Eaton.
Thomas O'Neili ldeceasedl OTIS A. Ramsey, uriah
Card and Mr.. Whitney are the other divers best e.
membercd.