The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-04-21

light came we were far away.
Captain Roberts had pretty
fair chart of the neighborhood
of the wreck, and after a
speedy run down the coast we
reached it one afternoon about 4
o'clock. When we came to work in
shore we got sight of the mountain
peaks laid down on the chart, and in
a couple of hours were satisfied that
the wreck was within mile of us
| north or south. Just there was reef
about four miles off shore and extend
| ing up and down the coast for thirty
| miles. Behind this reef in many
places was deep water up to the shore
line. 1t being summer weather, with
the winds light but holding steady,
we anchored off the reef, and then the
| men were told that we had come to
search for a wreck. 1t was all right
with them, and after dinner two boats
were lowered to begin the search.
Taking the schooner as the centre,
we pulled both ways, running close to
the reef. The treasure craft had been
dismasted in a squall and driven
shoreward, and we confidently ex-
pected to find her hull, if it had not
gone to pieces, on or near the reef.
Before sundown we had made care
full search for three miles away, but
without finding the slightest trace of
her. Next morning we tried it again,
but nothing was brought to light. IN
some places the reef showed above
the surface at low tide, in others there
was plenty of water to carry us over
at any time. The treasure craft
might have hit the reef at favorable
spot and been driven almost to the
beach; but before accepting this
theory we got out the drag and ex-
plored the deeper waters seaward
from the reef. We spent three days
at this work, graphing only the rocks
hidden away from 80 to 60 feet be-
low, and using up the men with the
hard work. The schooner was then
sailed over the reef and anchored in a
snug berth in 80 feet of water, and
we .begaa.sthe ssarch. of the shore
waters. The shore was a rocky bluff
crowned with dense forest, with a
few yards of shingly beach at long
intervals.
We had searched this bay for four
days without luck when | had the
good fortune to discover the wreck
with my own eyes. She lay within
half mile of the beach in % feet of
water, and was bottom side up against
big rock. She had probably passed
the reef in safety, but had struck this
rock, which thrust its head within
three feet of the surface, and in going
down had turned turtle. 1t seemed
now that not soul of her crew had
escaped, and how anybody had after
ward located the wreck and made a
chart of the locality was a greater
mystery than ever. Our first move
was 10 bring the schooner as near as
possible, and then we began prepara-
tions to lift the wreck. She must be
turned over, so as to float on her keel,
if nothing more. Lying bottom up.
there was no possible way to get into
her cabin.
Next day after the discovery, |
went down in my diving dress and
attached chains to her starboard side.
These were spliced out with stout
ropes leading aboard our schooner,
and after half a days work we were
ready to haul. We could lift her a
bit, but not more than foot, and
after working one day we gave up
that method for another. Casks were
sent down to me and attached wher-
ever possible, and but for the presence
of sharks we would have had her over
in day. AS if one monster had
communicated with another for miles
up and down the coast, they gathered
about the schooner and the wreck,
and had the closest kind of call
from being seized by man-eater that
was fully Is feet long. Standing on
our decks | counted sc dorsal fins
moving about rs at one time, and |
don't believe that was half the num-
Der of sharks within circle of
quarter of mile. There could be no
more diving while they were hanging
about, and we set to work to get clear