The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-02-20
To Dive for Fortunes

pany has been incorporated to seek
the lost treasure Of the ship Pewabic,
that was sunk in Lake Huron some 30
years ago, and in attempting to recover
which three lives have already been
sacrificed. The stout oaken hull lies
20 fathoms deep opposite the entrance
to Thunder bay. In it are supposed
to be 500 tons Of pure copper and
coined gold to the amount of $780, 600
or $500, 900.
The company has been formed by
Minneapolis, Detroit, Duluth and
Chicago capitalists. The work will be
done under patents for subaqueous
travel owned by a resident of Harris
burg, Pa. He believes he can so to
the great depth and come up alive.
The wreck was located in 1892 and
the spot was marked by buoy.
The Pewabic was sunk by the Me-
teor. She was bound down the lakes
from Copper island, which was then
the richest deposit Of the pure metal
in the world. The collision occurred
while the vessels were passing pack
ages Of newspapers and letters from
one to the other. The Meteor sheered
into the side of the Pewabic, and in 4
minutes the latter was sunk. With
her went over go Of her passengers,
most of whom were in their berths at
the time.
After 25 years an attempt was made
to locate the vessel and get her cargo.
Appliances for deep sea diving were
crude then, and two men lost their
lives.
After this nothing was done until
1892, when the small steamer, Emer-
aid, was fitted out with all the latest
appliances for diving, and the diver,
Oliver Pelky, who had made some re-
putation for deep water work, was en-
gagged to go down. The Emerald used
its drags for two weeks before the
wreck was located.
Pelkey went down Nov. 3, 1892.
He reached the wreck successfully,
and when he came to the surface he
was enthusiastic over his new suit.
He was sure he could get the treasure.
He had been below 20 minutes and
had walked entirely around the sunk
en- vessel. He had experienced no
difficulty on account Of the great pres
sure.
The confident diver disappeared the
second time and over the side of the
Emerald, and for time his signals
were numerous, and it was apparent
from the movements of the lines and
the airbubbles that he walked about
the vessel and soon climbed up intoit.
Suddenly the signals of those on
the Emerald ceased to be answered.
This gave no alarm for some minutes,
but finally the men pulled the life
line. 1t was evidently caught and
could not be moved.
1t was thought that Pelkey must be
dead, and the steamer was started
back, giving the line jerk.
Soon the diver appeared. 1t was
found that his suit had been torn open,
letting in the water.
The Emerald's crew were convinced
that Pelkey had really discovered the
treasure ship, but that when he climb:
ed into this lines got caught. They
were also convinced that the pull Of
the steamer had torn open the steel
armor and killed him. A piece Of
copper was found clinging to one Of
the lead shoes of the suit.
Late last summer another expedi-
tion was fitted out, and diver of long
experience, NJ. F. Chalk, was offered
large pay to make the attempt. Chalk,
who is widower, and bas only one
child, daughter, refused all offers,
saying he did not want to be the
fourth to die in attempting to recover
the treasure on board the Pewabic.
Then came the Harrisburg diver.
and his offer was accepted. He will
use, besides special armor, system
of air bags for lifting the vessel and
cargo.