The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-17
.SUNKEN
TREASURE
! RECOVERED
100000 In Silver and Lead
Orsdgsd From tha Bottom
Of Staten Island.

New York. Oct. 17.-Tales OF treasure
happy ending OF that just concluded
through the work OF divers and a dredge
In Staten Island sound. of Seawaren,
N. j. Silver and lead bullion worth
100000 has been recovered after lying at
the bottom of the sound since Sept q
last.
The bullion came from the Mexican
mines by way of Galveston on Mallory
line steamship. and was on its way from
the East river water front TO the plant
OF the American smelling and Refining
company near Perth Amboy, n j. There
were 1878 pigs of the metal on the deck
OF the barge Harold.
In company with 13 light canal boats
the treasure ship was taken In tow by a
tug 1t was the last boat in the line.
Under a moon nearly full the night was
brighter than many days. There was no
wind. Peter Moore. captain OF the barge.
spent the evening chatting with the ca.
nalers alongside as the tow dragged
slowly across the upper bay ana into the
XIII Won Kull
The captain was not as comfortable as
might be, so when bedtime came he ac-
cepted an invitation to sleep aboard the
canal boat After all hands had turn
ed I'm the barge rolled to starboard under
the weight of 400 pounds OF metal and
dumped the whole mass except about
300 pigs into the water,
She righted Immediately and went
along as peacefully as before. Some of
the metal landed on the canal boat deck
and Moore was awakened. He hailed the
pilot of the tug, but had no megaphone
and the pilot kept the squadron on the
move. Moore failed TO notice that a for
tune had disappeared from his craft
while he slept. The barge appeared to
be moving along all right and he went
back to his bunk.
When the boats drew up In the morn
ing at the pier In New Jersey there was a
surprise awaiting the smelter officials,
and everybody was sworn 10 secrecy. In
surance companies were notified and
preparations quickly made to search the
bottom OF the sound for the lost pigs.
The waters I'm that part OF the bay are
known TO bo infested with pirates, who
go about I'm small boats preying on canal
boats and coal barges.
They are considered dangerous men and
great fears were entertained that they
might learn OF the affair and locate the
treasure Launches were hurried TO the
scene and for more than a week. while
the men aboard pretended to be fishing,
sounding lines were being put over the
sandy bottom.
Finally Oct the search was rewarded
when the line gave a metallic answer 10
the tapping of the lead.
Divers went down and found nearly an
acre of the bottom covered with the bull
Hon. A dredge Immediately was put into
commission and the work OF recovery
went on rapidly until nearly S5 per cent
of the treasure had been brought UP.
The drivers then went down again ana
gathered up what the dredge had failed
to reach and the insurance company Off
clals breathed a sigh of relief as their
loss will now be small one compare
lively.
rhe bullion was mixture OF lead end
silver, and the latter making up fully
three quarters Of Its value which will be
separated and refined at the Perth Amboy
works. Captain Baxter OF the salvage
crew said the next few days search Will
decide how long the divers shall continue
at work but he Is satisfied not enough re-
mains on the bottom to make 1t worth any
amateur wreckers while TO turn in help
without an invitation.