Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-13


AlluSion has been made more than once
in these columns TO efforts being m lde to
recover large amount OF money sup
posed to be contained in the wreck OF the
British treasure snip Hussar, which
foundered in New York harb0r during the
revolutionary war. The amount of money
in the wreck is generally estimated at
about one million pounds sterling, or five
millions of dollars, EF)rts have been
made al various times to locate the hull
OF the lost ship and to recover the treas
ure, but they have all proven IN
successful. The last person who has
/ had the nerve to undertake this
enterprise is Mr.. Thomas, of New York,
who has a contract with the Treasury
+ Department of the United States tor rails
( ing and recovering this snug little pile Of
/ British gold. Three parties appear to be
/ interested in the speculation-the gov
I eminent, which is represented BY a Mr..
1 Cross, Mr.. Thomas. the contractor, and a
/ Mr.. Bean, of New York, who has been adj
yancing money to the contractor to carry
I on the work. So far these parties have
! not been able to find any of the treasure.
! but they seem TO have had faith in
their undertaking. OF late, however,
/ Mr.. Cross, representing the Treasury
/ Department, and Mr.. Bean, representing
the money be had invested in the enter
/ prise, probably with the understanding
that it was to be returned with a large
/ percentage of the treasure, have become
dissatisfied at the manner in which Mr..
Thomas was carrying on the work, or
rather not carrying it on; and have APP
piled to Secretary Folger for cancella-
ton of the contract, and Mr.. Thomas has
responded by asking that the appointment
of Mr.. Cross be revoked and another re-
ceIyer appointed.
The Secretary gave the parties hear
ing Thursday, and the controversy was
quite spirited and interesting. Messrs.
Cross and Bean charged that Thomas
was not using proper diligence in carry
Ing out his contract, but was attempting
to obstruct the receiver in the perfor-
nance of his duties, with the intention
not only to defraud the government, but
also Mr.. Bean. Thomas responded that
their allegations were untrue, and pro-
posed to show that he had been acting in
good faith, and doing all he could to
advance the difficult work in hand
An interesting statement that came out
in the course of the hearing was that
Thomas had at first proposed to Mr.. Cross
to turn over to the Treasury % per cent.
of whatever treasure should be recovered,
and to give Cross per cent. for his SER
vices in the matter, but that it was finally
arranged that the government should get
only 10per cent. and the other 10 should
also 90 to Cross as additional compensa.
ton for securing the contract and super
vising the work of recovery. These facts,
! II true; would Indicate that Cross himself
las not acted in good faith with the gov
eminent, and that the charges Of intent
to defraud would lie against both himself
and Thomas.
The parties were all represented by
counsel, and after discussing the evidence
the controversy was adjourned for a fur
Their hearing.
The fact that the Hussar has been IN
the mud Of the sound for over a hundred
years, and that not one piece oil the sup
posed treasure has ever yet come to light,
would seem to make the interest of any of
the parties concerned in this enterprise a
very intangible affair, and unsatisfactory
security on which to advance money.
ret, with the late inventions in engi-
neering and improved appliances, there
is little doubt that the money can be re-
covered; if it is there. If the charges
maids by Cross an Thomas against each
other are sustained, the Secretary ought
to revoke both the formers appointment
as receiver and the latters contract, and
tnis action would leave Bean to shoulder
his own losses.
Probably the best plan for the govern
ment would be TO take the whole thing
out of the domain of the contract system
and put it IN charge Of competent engi-
neers.