Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-11
DIVING FOR LOST GOLD.
,eA DIVERS RECOVER NEARLY HALF
A MILLION or MONEY


mas, the rreasur. Of the Airhonso XII,
SINK on the Canary Islands. Was Secured
n, cantaip stevens Clever work-Sine
Mouth. Of Toll below water
Some time ago we gave an interesting
..connt Of the diving exhibit at the
naval exhibition, and referred briefly to
tho recovery OF vast quantity Of treas
r,e from the Alphonso XII. Mr.. A. u.
stevens, sou Of Captain Stevens, who
bad charge Of the expedition, nov writes
o. follows'
In February. 1894, the Spanish mail
reamer Alphonso XII, belonging to the
I,opez line. bothid from Cadiz to Havana
nnk of Point Gando. Grand Canary,
m twenty-five aud half fathoms OF
water and about mile from tho shore
sbe had on board 100000 worth OF
SPANISH dollare, these being tho only
Ave dollar pieces bearing tho year 1914,
which were specially coined for the trip
Tho insurance was effected on the specie
nj Lloyda and was paid over 70 the IN.
mrors after tho vessel foundered.
More than a year had elapsed boforo
the underwriters organized n ealvagc ox.
pedltion. and in May. 1885, Captain l.
II stevens, Lloyds surveyor OF great
experience In salvage operations, was
iutrusied with tho expedition, taking
with him three well known divers
namely, MossrA Lambert, Tester and
Davis Special diving apparatus had to
be constructed Tor the work by Mcssul
siebe q German. the submarine ongi.
neers, and IN tho above month Captain
Stevens aud his mon left Liverpool in
the steamship Niger for Las Palmas. and
arrived at their destination on tho 2jth
Of May.
LOCATING THE WRECK.
On tho morning Of tho Goth Captain
Stevens proceeded In tho steam launch
Alianza In search OF the wreck, strong
irado wind from the northeast, with n
ehoppy sea, blowing at tho time On
arriving at her supposed position he
steamed about. sounding at intervals, en-
deayorlng to strike tho wreck, but failed
TODD 20. Captain Stevens then employed
boats crew OF fishermen 10 assist him
in finding her, and after some little time
theashcrmcn gave n signal, and on stcnn
Ing up he found that they had swept tho
foretopgallantmast, and ON looking down
through tho water no distinctly saw The
shadow OF tho mast and tho forotopgal
lanisall loose and flouting in tho watci
at depth Of nix fathoms
Hethcn had tho topgallanimast huoyed
and rs soon ~ tho weather moderated HI
intended laying down moorings, 50 as {,
place tho vessel IN such position tina
the diving was 10 DO dono from directly
over the wreck.
The money was In tho mail room, al
most at the bottom Of tho vessel, and Il
obtain access to that part OF tho shiI
It was found necessary to blow up tn
docks THIS dangen and difficulties whiel
were experienced In these operations wor
81 the most extraordinary nature. No
only bravery, but great patience and per
severance. had TO DO exercised, as tcsti
fed by the fact that Captain S,eyons an,
bis plucky divers were about nino month
On the island before they had completes
their task.
Tho wreck lay on q ridge Of rocks, an
cue Of the Gears entertained before tho cx
posion was effected was that the fore
might precipitate tho vessel TO almos
iAlhomlcss depths But fortunately
through Captain Stevens great expert
encoin tho uso of explosives, tho fear wa
not realized.
ALL nut $500 RECOVERED.
When the explosion took place ono c
the masts shot right out OF the water
and thousands OF dead fish camo TO th
surface. Another difficulty, and probr
bly the greatest the divers had 10 er
counter. was tho cxtromo pressure OF th
water at 80 great a depth. but the ga
liant fellows were most enthusiastic |
their work, and. although Captain 81,
yens had been advised 10 abandon u
hops Of recovery Of tho treasure, he wa
nnguino OF success directly fine weathg
would set in. And his hopes were 500
realized. for on Nov II, after waitin
anHiously and patiently, no had th
pleasure Of wiring to London as follow
Lambert haa got both scuttlos opei
aud succeeded In sending up first box ,
gold This was glorious news 10 n
concerned. and especially to Cap,ai
Stevens who had charge OF such ted
Gus undertaking,
The saving Of the remaining boxes I
gold was now merely u question Of Of
tortunity Dip after dip was mado i
Messrs Lambert and Tester with var
Gus success aud by Dec. ~ they had n
covered between them nix boxes, III
Hons share being obtained by Mr., Ian
bert, thus leaving balance OF four box,
10 be raised In u very short time, col
tldering the unfayoublo weather, the
succeeded in sending up three moi
boxes, making In all nlno boxes, or 500
900 out OF 100000.
Unfortunately, the last box could N,
DO found, so Captain Stevens and Ii
plucky divers had to come away withol
u No praise Is too great for the ma
ner in which Messrs. Lambert and Test
worked under such an ablc commando
have noted these few facts down fro
my dead fathers log book As the trea
nFo chest and the gold dollars ut Il
naval exhibition attract 30 much atte
non send yon these additional facts.
Pail Mall Budget.