The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-25
SUNKEN TREASURE.
The Enormous Fortunes That Have Gone to
Davy Jones' Locker.

Davy Jones' Locker.
A company, it was stated, lately set
out from Sydney to New Zealand to re-
cover sunken treasure from some old
wreck on the west coast of the Middle
Island; but, so far, no returns have been
published, the operations probably not
being complete. The subject of sunken
treasure reminds one of the heaps of
gold carried in the galleons and like
packets years ago. In 1869 a ship-of-
war from Rio to Lisbon had on board
5000, 600 of crusades in diamonds and
about 100, 200 ''crowns turnois'' in pias-
tiers, making in the whole 29,O5O, 900
1vres tournois. So much for single
ship. In 1774 two Spanish ships from
Vera Cruz and the Havana arrived with
22,OOO,OOO of crowns, exclusive of mer-
chandise valued roundly at $4,000. 600
crowns. Such examples could be multi
piled. OF the cargo of an English India
man In l171, one item alone-a diamond
In the rough-was valued at e1OO, 900,
going to be manufactured in England
on account of one of the Asiatic nabobs;"
and on the private freight of this vessel
the policies of insurance were opened at
Lloyd's at high premium, so costly
were her contents and so doubtful her
safe arrival. AS a costly shipwreck, La
Lutlne deserves notice. She was of
thlrty-two guns, commanded by Captain
Skynner and went ashore on the bank
OF the Fly Island Passage on the night
of October 9, 1899. At first she was re-
puted to have had 100000 sterling
In specie on board. This was
afterwards contradicted by a state
ment that the whole amounted to
about 9140, 900 sterling. In more mod
ern times the costliness of shipwreck is
to be found in the destruction of the
fabric and her cargo rather than in the
treasure on board. Whatever NAV have
been the worth of a galleon as ship,
there need be no scruple in concluding
that when brand-new her value would
be but that of toy in comparison with
such ocean mailboats as now convey
specie and valuables. The sinking of
an Atlantic, Indian or Australian liner
even with clean hold-would repre-
sent an immense treasure if told in dol
lars, ducatS or piaSterS; and when is
added the cargo of such craft along
with the passengers luggage, which
would include quantity of jewelry ex-
pressing many thousands of pounds
alone, some astonishing figures would
be the result. The Royal Charter is the
most notable modern instance of the
wreck of treasure ship. She left
Australia with $3.50, 900 in her. Of this
sum, says Charles Dickens, in his chap
| ter on this dreadful shipwreck in the
''Uncommercial Traveller" $500, 900
worth were recovered at the time of the
novelist's visit to the spot where she had
driven ashore. Meanwhile how much,
gold and silver, minted and otherwise,
is annually afloat? How many millions
are yearly borne over the deep to and
from India, America, Australia, China
and South Africa by English steamers
alone? There should be no difficulty in
making the calculation, which, when
| arrived at, must surely yield fine idea
of the treasure over which the red flag
| flies and an excellent notion of the
trust that is reposed in the British ship
master, and of the high and sterling
| qualities which go to the fultillment of
it---Sydney Herald.