The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-28
TO SEEK LOST TREASURE
NEW DIVING BELL NOW BEING
TESTED IN LAKE HURON.
40 BE Used in Recovering $500, 900 I'm
Gold from the Sunken EIbe-Has
Legs and Arms, and Walks.

MILWAUKEE, June 2-The finding the
other day OF the steamer Pewabic, which
sank in Thunder bay, Lake Huron, thirty
two years ago, opens a new era in marine
diving. The wreck was located in 100 feet
of water by means of a new diving bell
invented, by W. G.. Smith, a clerk formerly
employed in the city treasurers Office OF
this city. The new apparatus is now to
be used in the raising Of the steamer Elbe
which sank in a collision in the North sea,
January, 1895, with $4,000 in gold on board
The wreck lies in 225 feet of water and has
never been reached on account of the great
depth of the water. The promoters of the
Smith bell claim to be able to go down one
thousand feet, and therefore say they are
able to recover the treasure on board of the
Elbe wreck.
The Pewabic was sunk in a collision with
the steamer Meteor in 1865 and in the acct
dent fifty persons persisted The steamer
carried on board 260 tons of copper, valued
at that time at $4,000 but worth now only
about one-third of that amount. 1t is also
said that in the vessels safe there is $50 900
In currency, while one OF the women who
sank with the wreck had a belt around her
that contained diamonds valued at $1,000
For many years these riches have attract
ed the attention of wreckers and during
the past thirty years from one to four at
tempts have been made yearly to locate
the Pewabic with the view to recovering
the treasures. All expeditions have failed
and on several occasions have resulted in
the sacrifice of life.
In 1895, W. G. Smith, of this city, invent
ed new diving bell and with this it has
for the first time been possible to descend
Il
Pewabic Last year the American Wreck
ing and Salvage Company was organized
here for the purpose of fitting out an ex-
petition to locate the wreck. The wreck
ing tug Root was chartered and last fall
a search, that extended over some two
months, was commenced. Rough weather,
however. interfered with the plans of the
company and the undertaking was aban-
doned for the winter. The wreckers re-
turned to this city and In marine circles
were looked upon among those who fool
ishly had spent their money trying to re-
cover riches outside Of the reach of human
hands.
This spring the expedition was again or
ganized and about two months ago the
Root steamed out of port. Last week the
wreckers found the lost steamer and now
arrangements are being made to recover
the e gS o OF c0RReFE t hS aIns IS VIII Mof e
80 per cent After the copper has been Sc
cured, the safe on board the steamer will
be extracted and an effort then made to
recover the skeletons Of the victims who
sank with the boat
The officers are juhlant over the success
of the bell and profess to believe that the
bell will be the means Of recovering mil
lions now buried at the bottom of the sea.
Speaking of the bell, President William n.
Starkweather yesterday said: just before
the bell was taken to Thunder Bay the OFF,
GERS of the company were taken out on the
lake and were shown test. The bell was
dropped in 800 feet of water and the several
men in the apparatus suffered no Ill effects.
The bell Is made to resist great water
pressure and can be used in LOCO feet OF
water"
Since the success of the bell became
known the company is receiving inquiries
from all parts OF the country regarding it.
Among others with whom the company is
now corresponding are the agents OF the
North German Lloyds, owners OF the Elbe.
Fifty thousand dollars has already been ex-
pended to recover the vessel: The LOCAL
wreckers are confident that with their new
apparatus they can easily accomplish the
raising of the Elbe. The bell has already
been tested in deeper water than that in
which the Elbe lies, and therefore success
seems sure if the work is undertaken. AT
present the cOmpanys entire efforts are
centered on the Pewabic, but as soon as
that work is completed negotiations with
the Elbe owners will probably be closed
and efforts made to recover the 100000 in
gold on board of the wreck will be under
taken.
The diving bell in many respects resem-
bles a large boiler 1t consists of shell,
eight feet high and six feet in diameter.
Its shape is like a boiler, excepting that
there is a lid at one end. This opening is
to admit the wreckers. The bell is cop
structed of solid steel one inch In thick
ness, and is SO designed as to resist the
pressure of water to a depth of 1000 feet.
The wreckers work from inside of the bell.
There are several small windows through
which the divers see what is transpir
ing III the water. These windows are also
built to resist the great water pressure
Under the windows are two iron arms.
These work in a socket joint and are so
arranged that they can be operated from
the inside. 1t Is with these arms that
work is done, such adjusting chains
etc. There is also strong electric search
light in the bell, by means of which the
sea is Illuminated that the wreckers
can see around them for 100 feet. Inside
of the bell the wreckers also have telephone
communication with those on the steamer
above There Is an arrangement in the bell
whereby the men are kept supplied with
fresh air, so that it is possible for three
or four men to stay under water for nearly
a day at a time. One of the unique fea-
lures of the bell is that it walks. 1t stands
operated from the inside like the arms.
Thus the legs can be manipulated, causing
the bell to move about. The bell is held
in position by means of water. A seacock
in the bottom is opened. allowing the bell
to the bottom of the sea. 1t weighs 1900