The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-10-12
NINETY FEET DOWN.
The Search in the Water for Sc, 100000
of Gold 100 Years Old.
From the New York World. Sept. %.

| u reporter OF the World from Hallett' S
Point to the sloop Intent, just off Port
Morris, where divers are searching the
bottom of the sea for IS, 600, 900 treasure,
which went down with the British frig-
ate Hussar during the Revolutionary
4 War. The Captain was for thirty years
! pilot OF one of the Astoria ferry boats,
which used to run between Eighty fourth
street and Astoria. ST once went through
there with my boat" said the old man,
pointing to the narrow channel between
Wards and RandalI's Islands, known
as Little He'll Gate. ''John Jacob Astor.
father of all the Astors, wanted to go to
Harlem in a hurry, and took him there
at the risk of wrecking my boat. He
never gave me a cent for it, though, }"
continued the Captain, meditatively.
81 suppose he gave the owner some
thing"
The Intent lies not more than 200
yards from the shore, her hull black and
weather beaten, and her, masts as bare
as walking sticks. She is anchored by
| lines stretching out from her four quar-
ters. A shanty has been erected on
board for an engine and canopy shell
| ters her after-part. Strewn all over her
forward deck, are pieces of decayed
wood, rusty iron, earthen-ware, and
human bones, yellow and worm eaten.
-Four persons were found on board-two
of them intelligent young fellows, who
kindly overhauled their specimens for
the benefit of the World Here were
large chunks of live oak from the old
| frigate's timbers, honey-combed and
black. When first taken from the sea
these pieces are like sponge, SO entirely
perforated are they. Some are in bet
ter state of preservation than others,
retaining in few cases outlines of their
| original forms. Ribs and knees can be
recognized. ''Here is thigh bone of
man, said the captain, as he tossed
well preserved bone towards the report
er. On one side of the deck was piece
of brown earthen pottery evidently q
fragment of broken jar. Besides, there
were a piece of glass, quarter of an
inch thick !; an iron ladle, evidently used
in the loading of cannon sheet of
copper, shives, and parts of blocks used
in manipulating the ships rigging, and
innumerable other relics.
stalk about your Centennial bells"
said one Of the young men, "we have
one that will beat it all hollow would
you like to see it ?"
eyes"
As he raised the hatchway, his host
invited the reporter to "come on, if he
could climb"
Down the two accordingly clambered
into the damp, moldy hold. Here was
a collection of relics even more interest
ing than that on deck. A ship bel, cast
OF copper or brass, weighing about SO
pounds and green with rust, first at
tracted the visitors attention. The
only Ineligible mark to be found upon
it was the representation of an arrow cut
with die on the outer surface of the
bell. 'sWe find this same mark upon
nearly all of the metal articles found"
said the guide. cit was the Govern
ment mark of England Beside the
bell there is a ton or two of other curious
and interesting things scattered about
the hold-a rusty cannon ball, a block
for tackle, number of bottles, piece
of large hawser, a wooden bowl, rack
for holding cannon-balls, piece of a
gun carriage, truck, a number of pew
ter plates also marked with the arrow.
One of them is foot in diameter, with
the name of the ships crew scratched
upon it. The British tar was well fed
in Revolutionary times, judging from
the size of his plate. Here, again, is a
large iron basket, evidently used in
handling ammunition; over these, ships
irons-shackles and handouts for man
acling the Revolutionary prisoners a
massive lock, rusted almost beyond re-
cognition; bullets and grape-shot an
old sword and piece of antique crockery
bearing quaint pictures. On one side is
a curious contrivance; it is round block
of wood four inches in diameter, with
sharp iron points projecting from its
rim. This was an instrument used IN
warfare for century back for cutting
the rigging of the enemy's ships, when
| fred from deep-mouthed cannon
Then there is wine basket, which holds
at least bushel, filled with human
bones.
The search for the treasure supposed
to be sunk with the Hussar has been in
progress for nearly forty years, but lit
tie was accomplished until last spring,
when Capt. Cook, who recovered the
treasure of the sunken Golden Gate,
took the matter in hand. He adopted
different method from those followed by
the previous divers. He rigged his
diving suit differently and introduced
the method of submarine excavation by
stream of water, forced through a rub
Der hose by q powerful pump. The
weight attached to the diving suits ior
merly used came directly upon the head
and no more ar could be forced down
than would counterbalanoe the weight
without raising the diver to the surface.
The suit now used is weighted by about
400 pounds of lead, the larger part of
which is rlaced aro,1Dd the waist in the
shape of belt. Lead shackles, brace
lets and necklaces are also used, so that