The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-10-18
Lost Treasure
Is Recovered
Silver and Lead Bullion Worth
500. 900 Found at Bot.
tom OF Ocean.

New York. Oct. iT,--Tales OF treas,
ure lost at sea do not generally have
the happy ending OF that just concluded
through the work OF divers and a
dreage in Staten Island Sound on Sc.
warren island. Silver and lead bullion
worth sioo,e0e has bAen recovered after
lying At the bottom of the sound since
Seat smber %,
The bullion came from the Mexican
mines by way of Galveston ON NAL
lory line steamer and was on its way
from the East river water front To the
plant of he American Smelling 4 RE-
fining Company. near Porth Amhoy. ",
]. There were 765S pigs of the metal
on the deck OF the barge Harold, In
company with Is light canal boats the
treasure ship was taken in tow by a
tug II was the last boat in the line,
Under 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 canalers alongside as the tow
dragg ID slowly across the upper bay
and into the XIII Won Kull. The Harold
was not as comfortable as It might be,
so when bed time came the captain ac-
cepted en- invitation TO sleep aboard the
canal boat.
After all hands turned In the barge
rolled to starboard, under the weight of
100 tons of metal. and dumped the whole
mass, except about 200 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 fortune had disappeared
from his craft while he slept. The
barge appeared 10 be mooving along all
right and he went back to his bunk.
When the boats drew up in the morn
ing al the pier in New Jersey there was
4 surprise awaiting the smelter officials
and everybody was sworn 10 secrecy.
Insurance companies were notified and
quietly made to search
the bottom of the sound for the lost
pigs The waters of that portion of the
bay are known TO be infested with pi-
rates who go abou. in 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 To-
rate the treasure. Launches were hur- |
ried TO the scene and for more than a |
week. while the men aboard appeared |
TO be fishing, sounding lines were being !
PASSED over the sandy bottom. Finally |
October 5, the search was rewarded
when the line gave a metallic answer |
to the tapping of the lead.
Divers went down and found nearly
m acre of the bottom covered with !!
bullion A dredge was Immediately put
nto commission and the work of recov-
Fry went rapidly on until nearly So per
cent Of the treasure had been brought
up. The divers then went down again
aud brought up what the dredge failed
o reach and the insurance company off
.ials breathad sigh Of relief as their
oss now will be small one, compara-
lively.
The bullion was mixture Of lead and
,llyer. the latter making up fully three
quarters Of its value, which win be sep
irated and refined at the Perth Amboy
works. Captain Baxter of the salvage
rev says the next few days will de-
ermine how long divers shall continue
It work, but he is satisfied not enough
emalns on the bottom to make 1t worth
my amateur wrecker's while to turn in
md help without an invitation.