Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-10
THAT BURIED TREASURE.
How the Hussar's Wealth will be Recov-
ered--Mlllions in the River.
From the Neto YORK Tribune.

ere0-MtkliOnS in the RIVER,
From the Ne,o YORK Tribune.
For nearly a month two big scows have
been lying at the dock of the Pierce Iron
Works, at Sixth street, Long Island City.
Shortly before noon yesterday they were
towed by a steam-tug up the river, and
anchored between North Brother Island
and the Port Morris shore. They con-
tanned the apparatus to be used in the
effort to reclaim the treasure which went
down with the old British trIgate Hussar
over 100 years ago. In 1880 the Hussar
made this port, having in her magazine
81, 100000, which was to be used in pay
ing the arrears due to the British soldiers
in this country. She struck Pot Rock
off RandalPs Island, and hole was stove
in her bottom. She managed TO reach
Port Morris and then sank. The British
| Government tried to recover the treas
ure, but the American Government inter-
tered.
Since that time numerous unsuccessful
attempts have been made to recover the
money. A man named Thomas succeed
ed in getting the contract to secure the
millions about live years ago. He issued
bonds in order to raise money sufficient
to carry on the work The government
was to receive 10per cent. Ofall the money
recovered. About year ago the bond
holders became dissatisfied and made
complaint against Thomas management,
and the contract was declared forfeited
| They then formed a company Under the
name of the Treasure Troye Company,
and secured the contract for themselves
two months ago. The company called in
/ Charles ID. Pierce, of the Pierce Iron
Works, as consulting engineer, and de-
cided TO give him the contract. Mr.. Pierce
at once went tO'wOrk, and the two scows
We're secuFed, and the designing and
manufacture Of the machinery TO be
used began. The scOws are about 100
feet long. They are bound together by
heavy yellow pine timbers strapped to the
deck beams and to the sheathing on the
outside of the boats. A space OF eight
feet is LETT between the scowe. On one
of the boats is large derrick TO be used
in lifting the machinery and clearing
away the debris.
Tue Hussar is under 80 feet of water,
and is covered by a mass of mud and
stone to the depth of 50 feet. 1t is pro-
posed TO drill through the mud and stone
to the magazine of the trigate. When
| that is reached pipe eight inches in d.
| ameter will be inserted, reaching TO the
| true bottom of the river. About 40 feet
from the surface of the water there is a
side opening to the pipe, tn which win be
attacheda rubber pipe five inches in
/ diameter. A rotary suction pump IS
/ placed on one of the boats connecting with
| the pipe. 1t will be OF sufficient power to
| suck into the main pipe and through IL
! into the barge, all the debris within a
radius of several feet from its mouth. So
/ powerful is the suction that stones four
/ inches thick will be drawn into the sc0w.
/ The stuff will be screened, the water 60
/ ing overheard, and the debris left on the
scow, where it will be carefully searched
| for treasure and relics, and then thrown
overheard. When all the material is
recovered that is possible by this means,
a large pipe from three to five feetln diam
eter will be sunk to the bottom of the
river, and men will work in it.
| The magazine mas been pretty well
| placed by previous efforts, and the loca-
! ton tor the drilling operations will be
| made more certain by means of an cleo
trician. The scOws we're placed in posi-
| ton last night, and fastened securely hy
an anchor from the stern Of each, and an
inshore and outshOre anchor in addition.
| The tide rises aboTt five feet off Port
Morris, and the anchorage will probably
not be perfectly secure, so that operations
may not begin until tomorrow. Mr..
Pierce expects to show practical results
within a month after he gets to work. He
| will personally supervise the work.