The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-19


Canaries, Brought to the Surface.
Pail Mall Budget.
Some time ago we gave an interesting ac-
count of the diving ex hi bit at the naval ex-
hibitiOn, and referred briefly to the recOv-
cry of q vast quantity of treasure from tho
Afpnonso XII. MIR. A. D. Stevens, Q son of
Captain Stevens who had charge of the ex-
petition, now writes as follows and sends
us number OF photographs from which
sketches were made:
steamer AlphOnso XII. belonging 20 tho
Lopez line, bound from Cadiz to Havana.
sank OFT Point Grando, Grand Canary. in
twenty five and one-half fathoms of water.
and about mile from the shore. She had
on board f1O0,000 worth of Spanish dollars.
these being the only ive-dollar-p pieces bear
ing the year 1874. which were especially
coined for the trip.
The insurance was effected on the specie
at Lloyds, and was paid over to the In
surers after the vessel fOundered. More
than year had elapsed before the under.
writer's organized q salvage expedition,
and In May, 1885. Captain l.. I. Stevens,
Lloyds' surveyor of great experience In
salvage operations, was intrusted with the
expedition. taking with him three we'll
known divers, namely. Messrs. Lambert,
Tester and Davis.
Special diving apparatus had to be con-
structed for the work by Messrs. Siebe &
German, the submarine engineers, and In
the above month Captain Stevens and his
men left Liverpool in the steamship Niger
for Las Palmas, and arrived at their destl-
nation on the 25th of May.
On the morning of the Goth Captain Stew
ems proceeded In the steam launch ALBANIA
In search of the wreck, . strong trade wind
from the northeast. with chOppy sea,
supposed position he steamed about 1t,
sounding at intervals endeavoring to strike
the wreck, but failed to do so.
Captain Stevens then employed boats
80 .I> h
her. and after some little time the fisher
men gave a signal. and on steaming up he
found that they had swept the foretOpgal-
lantmast. and on looking down through the
water he distinctly saw the shadow of the
mast and the Observation-Disclosures sail loose
and floating in the water at y depth of six
fathoms.
He then had the topgallantmast buoyed.
| and as soon as the weather moderated he
intended laying down mornings. SO as 10
| place the vessel in euch position that the
diving was TO be done from directly over
the wreck.
The money was in the mail room. almost
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 dan
| gers and difficulties which were experienced
In these operations were OF the most OK
traOrdinary nature.
Not only bravery but great patience and
perseverance, had to be exercised, as testi-
tied by the fact that Captain Stevens and
his plucky divers wero about nine months
on the island before they had completed
their task. The wreck lay on. 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 fatbOmless depths.
But fortunately, through Captain Stew
enss great experience In the use of eXpiO-
sives the fear was not realized. When the
explosion 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 great
est 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
Captain Stevens had been advised to aban-
don all hope OF recovery of the treasure. he
was sanguine of success directly fine wealth
er would set in.
And his hopes were soon realized, for on
Nov. IL, after waiting anXiously and pa
,tiently, he had the pleasure of writing to
London as follows: Lambert has got both
scuttles open. and succeeded In sending up
fist box of gold"
This was glorious news to all concerned
and especially to Captain Stevens, who had
charge of such a tedious undertaking.
The saving of the remaining boxes of
! gold was now merely question OF Oppor-
| tunity. Dip after dip WAS made by Messrs.
| Lambert and Tester with varied success,
and by the 18th of December they had re-
covered between them, six boxes, the lions
| share being obtained by Mr. Lambert. thus
| leaving a balance of four boxes to be
raised.
In q very short time. considering the un.
| favorable weather, they succeeded i'm send
| ing up three more bOxes. making in all nine
boxes. OF 10000 out of fl000O0 UnfOrt-
| unately. the last box could not be found, so
| Captain Stevens and his plucky divers had
| to come away without il. No praise is too
| great for the manner in which Messrs. LAM
bert and Tester worked under such an able
commander.
| have noted these few facts down from
| my dead fathers log book. AS the treasure
| chest and the gold dollars at the naval ex-
| hibitiOn attract SO much attention send
you these additional facts.