The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-30

namely. Messrs. Lambert, Tester and Davis
Special diving apparatus had TO be con-
structed for the work by Messrs Siebe 4
German, the submarine engineers, and in
the above month Capt Stevens and his men
left Liverpool in the steamship Niger for
Las Palmas and arrived at their destination
May 25.
ION the morning Of May % Capt. Stevens
proceeded IN the steam launch ALBANIA in
search OF the wreck, strong trade wind
from the northeast, with a choppY sea,
blowing at the time. On arriving at her
supposed position be steamed about 1t,
sounding at intervals endeavossnS 20 strike
the wreck, but failed to do so.
Capt. Stevens then employed boats
crew OF fishermen to assist him in finding
her, and after some little time the fishermen
gave signal, and on steaming up he found
That they had swept the fore-topgallaut
mast, and on looking down through the
water he distinctly saw the shadow of the
mast and the fore-topgallant mast sail loose
and fouting in the water at depth of six
fathoms.
He then had the top-gallant mast
buoyed, and as soon as the weather moder-
ated he intended laying down mornings so
as TO place the vessel in such position that
the diving was to be done from directly over
the wreck.
hO AuoiiC1 WIS III Lu6 tudll room, al
most at the bottom of the vessel, and to
obtain access to that part of the ship it was
found necessary to blow up the decks The
dangers and difficulties which were ex-
perIenced in these operations we're Of the
most extraordinary nature.
Not only bravery, but great patience
and perseverance had to Le exercised, as
testified by the fact that Capt. Stevens and
his plucky divers wsre about nine months
on the island before they had completed
their task. The wreck lay on a ridge of
rocks. and one of the fears entertained be-
fore the explosion was effected was that the
force might precipitate the vessel to almost
tathomless depths.
but fortunately, through Capt. Stevens
great experience in the use of explosives
the fear was not realized. When the explo-
sion took place one of the masts shot right
out of the water, and thousands of dead fish
came to the surface.
Another difficulty, and probably the
greatest the divers had to encounter was
the extreme pressure of the water at so
great depth, but the gallant fellows were
most enthusiastic in their work, and,
although Capt. Stevens had been advised to
abandon all hope of recovery of the treas
ure. be was sanguine of success directly fine
weather would set in.
And his hopes were soon realized for,
on NOV. II, after waiting anxIously and
patiently, be had the pleasure of wiring to
London as follows Lambert has got both
scuttles open, and succeeded in sending ND
first box of gold
- This was glorious news to all concerned,
aud especially to Capt Stevens, who had
charge of such tedious undertaking.
The saving Of the remaining boxes Of
gold was now merely a question of oppor-
tunity. Dip after dip was made by Messrs.
Lambert aud Tester with varied SUCCESS.
and by Dec IL they had recovered between
them six boxes, the lions share being OBJ
tanned by Mr.. Lambert thus leaving a
balance of four boxes 70 be raised.
." In very short time. considering the
unfavorable weather, they succeeded in
sending up three more boxes, making in all
nine boxes, or 100000 out OF 100000. I'M
fortunately the last box could not be found,
80 Capt Stevens and his plucky divers had
to come away without it. No praise is too
great for the manner in which Messrs.
Lambert and Tester worked under such an
able commander.
Il have noted these few facts down
from my dead fathers log. book"