Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-04-17
Treasures Under The Sea.

conception OF the vastDess OF the
treasures which the sea has entombed.
Public opinion has, however. been
recently called TO the subject by the
successful floating OF company
formed for the purpose of recovering
treasure OF two French ships, one
L'Orient. line Of battle ship blown
up by Nelson at the Battle OF the
Nile, and the other the Maza Mundo,
large transport, both wrecks sunk
in Aboukir Bay The result OF this
adventure is being watched with deep
interest, and il successful will as
suredly lead TO many similar eIpedi-
tions.
L'Orient is stated TO have had on
board specie OF the value OF no less
than $1,000, 600, besides other treasure,
the spoil Of raid on Roman Cath
Ollie Cathedral at Naletta, and an i'm
mense quantity OF other valuables.
The vessel had been dispatched with
money 10 Bonaparte, TO pay the ar
rears due TO the French forces. Cap
tain Ponsonby, is some experimental
efforts, recently succeeded in recover
ing from the deck OF the vessel
French officers sword and several
other interesting relics; but OF much
more Importance was the recovery
from the stomach Of all enormous
sword fish. of two wooden boxes,
measuring eight inches by ten, filled
with rough diamonds. This monster
fish had caused a good deal OF uneasi-
ness to the divers by its apparently
rival researches around the wreckage.
\ parallel case TO L'Orient IL that
OF the Lutine, war ship OF thirty
two guns. wrecked of the cost OF
Holland in 1899. The vessel sailed
from the Yarmouth Roads on October
Q Of that year, with an immense guam
titv of treasure for the TeNel In the
course OF the day ii came on To blow
a heavy gale; the vessel was lost and
went TO pieces. Salving operations
during eighteen months resulted IN
the recovery OF S4OO, 600 in specie.
In 1914 further attempts were made
10 get at the wreck, which had be
come deeply imbedded III the SAND,
but with very Indifferent success
the result OF seven years toll tlSl4-
1921 being the recovery OF only few
pieces OF silver. In 1922 several
thousand pounds were spent in div
ing operations, but the result was alb
solutely nil. From 1922 TO 1857 spas
modic and unsuccessful efforts were
made TO fish up further spacie. In
1857 a further agreement was entered
into between the Dutch Government
and Lloyd's and from 1857 TO 1861
(siIty years after the wreck took
place great good fortune attended
the efforts OF the searches. about
e2j, 900 being the amount OF Lloyd's
share. Some interesting relics were
also.found, including part Of the ships
rudder and her bell.
In 1871 the Society Of Lloyd's OBJ
tained a special act Of Parliament for
the purpose amongst other things
OF applying the said sum Of e25 900 to.
ward further salving operations.
These efforts appear TO have been
further successful, for only two years
since gun was salved and presented
to the city corporation. 1t is predict
ed that should the bed Of sand now
covering the wreck be shifted in a
storm, the salving opei ations could
be continued much more successful
ly.
Another remarkable case OF recov-
cry OF specie is recorded in 1905, wheE
sirty-two chests OF dollars, or the val |
ne OF about 10000, were fshed up by |
the means Of diving-bell from the |
Abergavenny, sunk some years pre-
yiously at Weymouth.
Philadelphiaus are familiar with /
the efforts that have been made to .
find the wreck Of the British frigafe I
De Brook. lost in storm of Lewes,
in 1898, having on hoard no less than
10 OOO. 900 dollars worth OF specie and
towels taken from an intercepted
Spanish fleet while on her voyage to
Halifax. and 200 prisoners. The lat
ter were In irons on the lower decks
when the vessel foundered, and all
were lost
II would scarcely be beloved that
yaluables have been recovered nearly /
25O wears from the date OF wreck,
but nevertheless il j. recorded that /
the good chip Harleem, which was
driven ashore in Table Bay, in May.
1913. and became total wreck, had \
on board many cases full Of curiosi-
ties and antiquities for sale To Eu-
ropeau museums.
These cases contained idols, rare
china glass. silver, etc. As lately a.
1883. salviDg operations were re.
warded by the recovery Of several OF
these articles. The china was not at
all injured by having been 235 years
under the sea, but the silver articles
had suffered considerably.
Another very notable case 10 that OF 1
the Thetis, British !rigate, wrecked |
of the coast Of Brazil In 1890, with |
e162. 900 in bullion Oh board. The /
hail went to pieces, leaving the treas
ure at the bottom in five or six faith
ON. OF water. The admiral Of the
Brazil station and the captains and
crews Of four slooprof-war were en-
gagged for eighteen months In recover