Smyrna times., 1878-01-16
A Bonanza.
TREASURE OF THE STEAMER JAPAN FOUND IN
DEEP WATER BY DIVERS.

DEEP WATER BY DIVERS.
The Canton correspondent Of the New
York Times has the following:
1t will be remembered that the steamer
Japan, of the Pacific Mail Company, was
burned off the coast of China in December,
1874. The scene of the accident was 1876
miles east of Hong Kong and so miles from
Swatow. The nearest land was Breaker
Point, 20 miles away, and the depth of
water where the wreck sank was twenty
three fathoms. The Japan had on board
about $350,000 in specie, and the under.
writer's at Hong Kong Immediately gave
notice of their intention to attempt the
recovery of the coin.
They engaged for this undertaking Capt.
Jno. P. Roberts, of New York, who formerly
commanded the Underwriter in the New
York and Liverpool packet line, but has
been in China for the last fifteen years, and
largely engaged in wrecking enterprises
schooner and small steamer were
bought and equipped with the necessary
apparatus, and in January, 1875, Capt.
Roberts began sweeping the oceans bed in
search of the wreck. In the month of
March lie found one Of the paddle-wheels.
but it was not until near the end of July
that he discovered the wreck, eleven miles
southwest of the position of the wheel
From this time to the 18th of September
work was pushed forward for the opening
of the treasure tank and removing the
money. The southwest monsoon blows
from March to September, and it is only
during the prevalence Of this wind that the
) divers are able to work at the wreck. On
the 10Th the monsoon ceased, and the work
was abandoned, and on the morning OF
that day Capt. Roberts believed that the
whole enterprise would end there, and the
Japan and her treasure be allowed to rest
undisturbed forevermore. But on the last
plunge for the season the diver managed tc
push his hand through hole in the tank
and secured a black lump resembling {
piece of coal.
0 The lump, on examination, proved tt
S consist of twenty-four American trade dol
0 lars, burned and oXidized SO much that they
r required great deal of securing to revea
e their true character. But they were mucl
;, more than S24; they were valuable as al
d encouragement to the underwriters t
e continue at their work The wrecker
!, retired to Hong Kong for the six month
e of the northeast monsoon, and resumes
n operations in the following spring. Sine
e then there has been no serious obstacle t
/ the prosecution of the enterprise, and dul
ing the summers of 1876 and 1877 abou
l. $l75,000 of treasure has been recovered
is 1t is thought that the balance of the none
k will be secured in 1873. 1t is the frs
lie wrecking operation ever conducted in tn
open ocean at so great depth, and tn
RS instances where divers have descended s
ID far, even to still water, are comparativel
m few.
v, The coin is mostly in good condition
ul though nearly all of it is black and heavil
ed oxidized. Some near the surface of IL
G. tank was partially melted by the heat
e- the burning steamer, and many of til
n, boxes were charred and broken. Some
the dollars are bright as new when brougl
d. to the surface, but they speedily turn blac
he when exposed to the air. No attempt HI
n been made to secure anything except IL
ok coin, but on one occasion line was passG
en- around a case of timed Holsters by way
as experiment. The lobster was fresh an
ay sweet as when first put up, and the Chimes
We found it good eating. The gilt eagle tn
ornamented the stern of the Japan lies c
by the dark sand Of the bottom, and the ca
IN tain thinks that when his work on Il
re treasure is ended he will take this bird
As as trophy. But he is now too busy vii
ce silver eagles to take any trouble about
ce gilded one.