The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-26
NO COLI IN THE HUSSAR.
N OF THE SEARCH THE
sUEKEN ERIGATE'S TREASURE.

francis N. Eppiey Gives Up hts UNDERTAKINGS,
ana Hts Centract with the Governuent
Has Keen Csnccned-Ne Money was on the
Vessel when she sank Other Searches.
WASHINGTON. July 25.-The Solicitor Of the
has advised Secretary Gage to grant
tho application made by Francis M. Epploy. in a
letter dated July o, for tho cancellation OF q con-
tract entered into By him with the Government
for the recovery Of treasure supposed TO be In the
hun Of the British frigato Hussar, which sank
in the East River OF East 135th street In 1880.
The cancellation will DO the last chapter in n
long story dealing with the attempts made to
secure the golden cargo with which the Hussar
was laden when abe left England moro than a
hundred years ago.
Mr.. Eppley IL q counsellor at law. with ofices
at lao Nassau street, New York. and 252 Main
street, Orange, N. J. In addition to being O
lawyer. he II an expert in submarine matters. |
He was employed by Gen. John Newton, Corps
of Engineers, u. 8. A., as q photographic sur
veyor in the work Of blowing up Hallett's Point
at Gate, and was also employed by Gen. q. |
A. Gilmore OF the Engineer Corps In surveying
and removing sunken wrecks in Charleston har.
Dor. For four years he was in the United States
Coast and 0eodetic Survey. In 1886 he organized
the Orange Crosstown and Bloomfield Rail |
way Company at Orange, N. j., and was Prest-
dent Of u for six Year,. He sold out his interest
in 1893 for $4,000. All this information about
Mr.. Eppley was obtained by the Treasury De-
partTnent before 1t entered into the contract for
securing the reputed treasure. The inquiry of
the department showed that his financial and
professional standing was excellent In the
work Of recovery Mr.. Eppley had associated
with him Thomas G. Burr, an electrical engineer
Of Philadelphia and Newark. He prosecuted
his inquiries earnestly, and after spending much
time and money attained what he believes to be
conclusive evidence that the treasure which he
sought to secure was not In the frigate when
abe went down.
Little about the Hussar and her disastrous
ending was known when Mr.. Eppley made his
contract with the Government. He did what
none Of his predecessors In tho attempt to Be-
cure the treasure had done. He had o search
made Of British records and of records in this
country, and It was through the systematic
method pursued that the true story of the
alleged treasure was brought to light. The pre-
vious attempts had been made by mon who were
not 90 thoroughly In earnest a. tho scientific
attorney. They had contented themselves with
dredging, and apparently had mover made any
efforts to ascertain the truth OF the report that
money on hand when tshs went to the cotton II
little attempt to carry Il out. The other con:
rom the sunken hulk Of Els Majesty frisste.
The story Of the Hussar 10 told In Official REQ
Vas built in 17es a. inwSood'S. yard. on, the
Thames She yas Of 627 tons. lo2 feet along
pismeat' Of 200 ohicers and men. Her Batteries
consisted Of twenty-four .9pounders and four
&nRSasssdcr Bayard from the Admiralty once
Goriee Pole. che left England for The United
French lug inRx sp nj In c or h HHis I he Hus sMG
was joined, BY Q convoy, consisting Of the Plxm-
Gajesty's troops had not been paid for q long
Psiloih; inS t So Ih Sf HS. sRGw was :.o snsTi WItS g. ee seS
silver, and copper coin TO take to them. Tho
On board. which was to be- transferred to tho
HuBsar before the vessels reached America. Tho
Rumo1rs were rife that the city was in danger Of
Is.s;sF T ss;s ssss's &. e En- SsT RiSs; ~ + Ts ~ sn %ss
with the accident which brought about her loss.
s siss, sss1sh 81 0 Nov a I 81 ana st ,. sSSst is ? eI Snsls IL, s1t the
ward TS. o. .1o what q I, In no Sr Eat 1 ;5;sh, street se% he, vain.
she went down. caused George ". Thomas Of
nsns i ior psrm ~ slRai{ 70 Z. drs sas t for the .r Dspars.
After some negotiation the secretary Of the
fsiatine' 10 t the recovery owe q. wrecked. d%ere shet. or
abandoned property, made q contract with
confirmed in the wreck. By which The United
States was to receive ten per cent. OF tho
lGi eSs' a paoG snd al ii the the roll relics s" obtained.' Tho TRcm 1%a,
was to receive 90 per cent. and bear the whole
e eieRrf q the af Trsssney Z D e 5eP9rs MAJ. Tso ~ 9 s ,SS
ceeded in interesting o number Of persons in the
venture; They advanced the money for carry,
The event Of success. He obtained moro than
SrSnd scale. The Claims against the amount OK.
Pected to be recovered aggregated moro than
-Four years after the contract was made charges
Of dallying with the work and diyerting to his
whom Thomas had interested in the venture:
An investigation was made BY the Secretary Of
Of THOMAS CONTRACT. some interesting, things
about Thomae were brought out at the investi.
Gm Ssaaani, 1hS SAY. law .S slsr Of S Sl@: WRIT ut I. t Clear Fe ESas
Thomas ma . had not only secured npsdr sdvsnee sn by s1 eli;
was recovered and his family provided
for. hS would devote the remainder o.
o oas o %s.sHas that sS h 20" Sel!e eSsS' it was wa ts ss' Iord az
york, and that he was His steward; and IT is 9
least received great consolation from these hyp;
e%critical professions, and thoroughly believed
s sns ) d through SsSIn the mass IA Of ap evidence inVolSed
that the treasure Thomas was after WAS moi
a. M1 the "h Bottom MaS Of fa tRRee East : River W Pr Prs i mut Z
occurring the contract With tho Government
T Tss eas. e1s s Sssa " s silsi' 6 Dss sSld On H Il. I 9srsss =
twenty-five cents a package. and he WAS without
means. In 1884, when his contract was an
nuiled, he owned considerable real estate II
Hsehs.t nsGioS rom n; u Iiss Sh al 1s b purchased dur
Nelson Cross, who had been instrumental IL
occurring the contract for Thomas. and who, un
der Its terms, was receiver for the Government
led in the tight against Thomas. who retaliateC
by showing that Cross had an interest Of ia
per cent in the gross proceeds OF any treasure
recovered.
So the Thomas contract was annulled, and II
the fall, Of 1884 the Secretary Of tho Tressur!
entered into a similar agreement with Beam
and Hartwell. who are represented In one of tn
documents on ale to have been victims Of tn,
snuff peddler. They organized an association
called the Treasure Trove, the members OF whicl
were those who had advanced money to Thoma
The association continued to search for a shor
period In 1885, and then abandoned tho project
The treasure trove, people secured a decree
from the courts ordering Thomas to account
but the suit WAS never pressed. Attempts wer
made by the Government TO locate Beane an,
Hartwell, who hailed from Providence. r.. !
but they had disappeared. One Of them went :
who had been requested to aid In the search