Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-01-23
Diving foe Treasures.

MI Lowe, the submarine engineer
was asked by a reporter if the wreck OF
the English frigate Hussar. whick is
said TO have sunk off Port Morris about
ore hundred years ago, having on board
S5 000. 900 in gold, could be raised al
this late day.
'Thls Hussar treasure story" said
he. sis an old. old tale. When was O
hoy heard of it and to my knowledge
they have been workiog at il for the
last thirty years. The Hussar is said to
have struck on Port Rock and been run
ashore at Port Morris. Hawsers were
attached to her and fastened to neigh
boring trees, and for time it was
hoped that her damage could be re-
paired, but she slipped her cablea and
sank. Now it is more than likely that
the officers utilized their SPARE tlms in
getting of the treasure and housing it
safely on shore instead of risking it in q
sinking ship. About twenty wears ago
looked into the matter, and / met an
old gentleman who was the first diver
who ever came to this country from
England. He was very much interest
Cl III thC IluoStffs tbll Itc lLltl
he had looked up the records in Eng
land. From what he could learn there
he was satisfied that the money was all 4,
or nearly so. taken out before she sank.
The Hussar is Captain Kidd story
th ink. was asked TO take part in the
or esent enterprise in 1867. 1 went T.
the place and was surprised, They
had no tools, and l. frankly told them
that it was worse than useless to go on
in that way"
"Has anybody else worked at it?"
"ies, believe so, 4 certain Cap
tain Pratt, from Worcester. Mass. got
the insane idea that he could make a
fortune, and worked seven years and
then gave it up. Some persons say
that he msde money by the operation.
but l don't believe that he and his
party could have recovered any verv
large amount. If they hal it would
have been given out before now. On
the whole, they have been working in
the neighborhood OF the wreck for
more than thirty years, and il they
took my advice they would shake the
job. But it seems that these treasure
hunters never get tired"
but this company proposes to give
the United States Government ten per
cent. of the find. aud that. nodestly
placed, amounts to half milton"
That's so" said Mr.. Lowe, "I didn't
think of that. I'll tell you what we will
do-you and will sign a contract. as
citizens Of this country, relinquishing
our share of the proceeds-we'lI give it
to the poor.
"Now there is one thing" he con-
tinued. ''that the public do not know,
and as have been a diver for the past
twenty-five years can affari to tell 1t.
In our waters We have species OF bore
worm, sort OF parasite, with what
you may call a patient BIT mouth. These
animals, by pecclisr cork-screw action,
can bore hole through six inch pine
IN few years. / am sure that seven
Years after the Husssr went to the
bottom all that part of her that was
not imbedded in the mud was honey
combed completely, and, mind yo1, the
Husssr never shifted en- inch after she
sank. So there is little left of her to
examine
"What would be the best way in
which to decide whether there is treas
ure buried in the Hussar or notf"
THAT could easily be done. I am
ready to make contract to raiss any
irigate OF the Hussar's siza within two
years, or 1 will raise the Hussar, keel
and all, inside of year. if they choose
to make the contract. There are others
beside myself who will do the same.
1 don't want any of the treasure, but L
must be pail for the work.
"Do you know of any great treasures
that were reclaimed from the sea?"
If my memory serves me right there
are three or four very clever pleces of
Giving work recorded. The steamer
Golden Gate, on her way from Cali
fornia to New York with about $1,000
600 in gold, was wrecked somewhere in
the Pacific. 1t was durlng the early
gold days, and everybody was anxious
to get the wealth. There were great
difficulties met with in the shape OF
heavy surf, but in spite of all about
81 800, 900 was recovered. The steamer
George Lord, which sank of Hatteras
with large amount of gold, had some
of it brought back to terra firma, and
Hctieras Is rough place."