Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-11-03

pose Ol stthluS the .lOsJ treasure.
A schooner with a small force was
sent down to Cuagua island, aud
the remnant of the wreck was easily
found, but owing to the lack Of
proper diving apparatus the attempt
proved a failure, The company, a
few months later in the same wear,
sent out another expedition. Mr..
Blair, the well-known diver, had
the supervision Of the work, and
employed the best appliances for
submarine explorations known at
that time. During the first three
months quantities of copper, an
chors and guns were dragged up,
but only about $500 in silver coin
was recovered. The divers became
so discouraged by the i'll results Of
their labors that they refused to
continue unless those in charge Of
the explorations would test the
theory they formed, which was that
the force of the explosion had
buried the treasure chests some dis
tance away from the spot in which
the ship went down. They were
humored. The Frances Emma was
anchored in another place and work
was briskly recommended. The
first time the diving bell went down
$3.50 was picked up in two hours.
In six months about 100000 in
silver coin had been recovered. 2
Success intoxicated the party, and
going ashore to spend a part Of
their booty they were arrested. The
remainder of the party returned to
Baltimore, having been unable to
pursue the exploration for want ol
divers. Various other parties re.
covered considerable amounts Of
gold and silver, among them Capt
Nicholas Town, in 1855, the sum OF
$4,000, and Captain Whipple, in
1858, 100000 In April last Capt
III. Folingsby went from San Fran
cisco to Venezuela to obtain gov
ernmental permission to search fol
the lost millions. He was sue.
cesSful in effectiug contract with
the government whereby in consid,
Grafton of the payment of five pei
cent on all sums he may recover, he
is granted the exclusive right tc
drag, dredge and dive for the sunk.
en- treasure for six years. Captain
Folingsby arrived in New York il
July last, and has since been quiet
ly perfecting the organization of at
expedition for the exploration of al
the ocean bed over which the treas
ure might have been scattered. Hi
has had extensive experience as
diver, and having been in the EN-
Iploy of the Baltimore company fol
nine months in 1856 in theil
search, is thoroughly familiar with
the ground. He believes that the
strong boxes which held the gold
jewels and church plate were mo-
burst by the explosion, but simply
tossed away to a greater distance
than seekers have hitherto deemed
it worth while to go from the wreck
There are no rocks or other obsta
cles to interfere with the working
OF dredges, and the weather is such
in that cline that the explorations
can be prosecuted during the entire
year. He thinks, however, that he
can go over all the ground in eight
months. His dredges and drags are
Of the most improved patterns, fit.
ted with special appliances, such as
chain nettings to let sand escape,
but to hold everything else. With
them he expects to search five hun
dred square feet Of ground per
diem. Little more than S3O0,00O
has been recovered from the wreck
and S500,0OO would cover all that
has thus far been found by all
expeditions. He has, then, as an
incentive to extraordinary exer-
tions, the hope of finding at least
81, 100000 or IS, 100000. His ar
rangements are being rapidly COM
pleted, and he hopes to be able to
set sail Tor his ocean mine next
month.