The New York herald., 1879-09-30
WRECK OF THE HUSSAR.
The Story of the Treasure Ship in
the East River.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES
Efforts to Find the Gold in the
Lost Vessel.

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The work Of finding the Hussar's gold goes on
Apace and visitors stand tho and watch the
workmen as IL progresses The place is not oasy to
get at, and good many inquiries necessary be-
fore it can be reached Among those who tried to
hnd 1t lately a HERALD reporter.
''Can you tell me the position of the old frigate
HusssrY asked the reporter of the younger of two
men who were at work the bank Of the East River
above Mott Haven.
..He can tell you all about it." the man answered
pointing to his aged companion.
'Oh. yes.' said the old man. II was born up here
and worked on the wreck years and years. I know
old MIR. Atkinson who was the pilot OF the Hussar.
He owned the North Brother Island and lived there
till he died. Atkinson was ninety-eight years old
then and thore s no telling how long he would have
lived II he hadn't drownded himself"
'He committed suicide, thcn?'
eyes. often heard him speak about the loss Of
the British ship with the gold in It, There is good
mite O. money in the old hulk
'.Tell mo all about the loss Of tho Hussar as At
kinson told It to you." the reporter said.
"Well, you soc. the frigate had como out to pay
the troops. She had a good many American pris-
oners on board. She had taken them of another
vessel somewhere down East-yes. I remembers
Stonington Point Everybody on board was feeling
OF the officers were drunk"
"DrunkY
EYES, drunk, heard him say so many q time.
They told him he must make the passage Of Hurl
Gate that night. They had come down the Sound
and wanted to reach the city. Atkinson told them
1t could not be done but they swore at him and
compelled him to try.''
"Did you hear Atkinson repeat their language
on that occasionY' the reporter asked.
Tho old man hesitated for q moment. which is not
surprising in person of such pious instincts that
he says "Hurl Gate instead of ''Aell Gate. To re-
peat the phrase for this profane aye he was COM
him With u jerk like the first heave Of anchor:-
They said they were going through He'll Gate or
"And they went to the latter placer"
THE WRECK HUssAn.
Next door,. said the old man. "The ship struck
on fot ROCK ana Knocked hole In her bow, under
the starboard. She swiried round and drifted back
past Randalls and Wards islands, near to a willow
ON the property Of old Gouverneur Morris. You can
almost see the place from here 1t is there the
brow OF the hill at Port Morris. below gas works
and between the shore and the Two Brothers. She
was making water fast and SO they made up their
minds to beach her. They hawser out to
willow which used to stand where tho old Keyes
in about seven hours. There was ledge of the
shore, about forty feet at high water down which the
tho bottom at seventy five feet. low tide
'Was the ships company savedT
''S0veu or eight OF the officers and most OF the
crew saved themselves but all OF the American pris
oners were lost. We brought UP fourteen skeletons
some years ago. with the.r belts and other equip
'How much money was said to be on board?"
II have heard $4,000. 900 sterling. 1t made up
found the bii Of the man who made the casks. p
sort O. calculate the money is in the stern and il
they get down far enough they will find it,"
: Inquiry developed the fact that the HERALD
porter informant was Mr.. OTIS Grimes
my grandfather's name was Graham, :" he said.
''but We have got down to plain Crimes"
A CONTEMPLATION OF THE
It will be seen that Mr.. Grimes estimate Of the
CANT The actual amount is f96O.OOO about
$6O0O,OOO. instead OF pounds) This mistake. u
very natural one for an old man, is very good
specimen OF Wcstchester tradition in regard to the
lost treasure. Even the search after the buried
spoils Of Captain Kidd is not romantic story
story gives touches of human interest
and something OF tho completeness Of personal
detail TO disaster which history has
links which bind the Revolutionary struggle and its
incidents very closely to the American heart His
who in his youth tried to guido the Ill fated man-of
war through the surging rapids OF He'll Gatc and in
whore tho Hussar went down His memory brings
back and puts upon record the profane words which
preceded the catastrophe Through him marvel
- 1t were. only al event of yesterday.
Grimes is not dead! Ho sings anew
o .h wns * srSSnsy Ss flew
OF the proud Husssr, with wealth untold,
FROM IN he sosr. hS Third
Young Atkinson, a bold pilot then,
Stood AZ the wheel, while hundred
Watched the frigato through tho swell
Where the surglng waters OF Pot Rock roar.
Trembling stood. when tho captain swore,
Through He'll Gate or TO hell"
The Husssr ;.n, srasI and bearing her back.
- The waters the proud ship bore
10 a willow tree was her hawscr knit,
Whom the tide went out the hawser split,
And tho ship swaycd Off from shoro
The Hussar sunk, whilst tied to hor guns
We're soventy patriot captive sons.
Who found ON her decks grave
Grimes In not dcadl IIo sings anew
Tho requiem chant for tho gallant fcw
Whom no ono sought 10 save.
RFFoRrs TO FIND TIE TREASURE
The effort to find the treasure was begun very
sArly. In 1794 tho British government sent two
brigs to look for the Hussars gold. One of these
eoundered where tho frigato had gone down, and
now lies short distance from the Hussar in the
East River. Tho other was ordered off by the fed
erAl authorities. In 1919 company was formed for
tho purpose of seeking tho gold. but it mot with
apprccable or encouraging results. good many
years passed before another effort made, but
during the twenty-eight years previous 1876 not
season was allowed to pass without an effort
TO secure the gold. Once much $4,000
was spcnt In constructing coffor dam, but
1t swept away by the tide. During tho
last thirty the work has been under the irec
ton of Mr. Horace Barnes tho leading spirit of
the New England Submarine Company and of its
successor, tho Frigate Hussar Company. Many
divers have been employed. among them Daniel W.
Joshlyare. who made more desccnts than any of tho
of tho Pacific coast; Thomas O'Noil. now deceased;
Mr.. Whitney, Urlah Gard Otis A. Ramsey and Il. Is.
Eaton. Ton after ton of the ships material has been
lifted among other relics q bronze gun. for which
TO hnd the gold. Mr. barnes believes in the possi-
bity of finding Il as thoroughly when he began