The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-10-14
FORTUNES IN WRECKED SHIPS
MELBOURNE SPECTATORS PICK
UP \ VALUABLE CARGO.
Wrecked and SunlIen Vessel Sold for
$3.50 Was Worth 100000.
Other Lucky Purchasers.

Another instance of lucky specula-
ton in wrecks has been provided, a
Melbourne firm having bought a dis
abled ship for $1,840 and found that
it was worth 100000, says a London
dispatch to the New York Sun. The
ship was the Jean Bart, a French
bark, of ,9S1 tons net, and she has
just been saved from entire destruc-
ton and has been tOwed into harbOr
after lying a battered wreck for two
months.
The bark was on a voyage from
Antwerp to Wallaroo laden with s.,
900 tons of pigiron and coke, when
she ran aground on Waudang island,
in Spencer gulf, South Australia.
Her hold quickly filled, and it was
soon Impossible to float her For two
months she was in this condition, the
whole after part of the ship being I'M
der water. Her captain cabled to his
owners in France for orders, and re-
ceived a reply to the effect that she
should be sold at auction.
A number of Australian firms sent
representatives to inspect the wreck,
but none of them thought that it was
worth while to buy. 1t was conf
IDENTIFY stated that salvage was hope
less, but j. Bell & Co., grain mer-
chants of Melbourne, made a bid, and
the wreck was sold for $3.50, Some
critics remarked and laughed that
they were paying for a hold full of
water, which could not be raised.
Messrs. Bell said nothing, but en-
gagged a diver to inspect the vessel,
and then the news became known
that the damage to the bark was only
slight A hole a little more than
foot in diameter had been torn in
the bows, and the diver reported that
this could easily be repaired,
Work was begun at once, the wa
ter was pumped out of the hold after
the hole had been plugged up, and
after the vessel was thus lightened
she was towed off and beached. After
that further repairs were carried out,
so that the ship could be brought to
Melbourne to be locked The work
was successful. In spite of strong
gale right ahead the vessel was towed
by a powerful tug to her destination.
and now it is seen that the value of
the ship and cargo is over 100000.
It is believed that before long the
Jean Bart will be sailing the sea
again.
At Lloyd's a newspaper represent
alive was informed that though this
is regarded as one of the plums of
the business there have heel similar
ones Round the shores of Britain
every year" said a marine broker,
there are a large number OF wrecks
which would yield a large profit to
any enterprising buyer, provided he
had the necessary facilities to sell or
dispose of the property.
Some time ago a steamer was
wrecked off Yorkshire, and the buy
er was a man who knew little about
such matters, but he bought the yes
sci for about $500. 1t was big
ship, but she had a valuable cargo
on board and it was feared that the
bottom had been ripped out Of the
ship and the cargo lost. In the cargo
was a large number of pictures.
Few firms cared to touch the bust
ness, and the underwriters let it go
for the sum stated. But the ship
was inspected and raised and the
cargo was discovered to be little the
worse for it's immersion. The prop
erty sold for nearly $4,000.
There was another case a year or
so ago of a ship which was wrecked
with a valuable cargo on the coast of
Africa. She was given up as hope
less and sold for a song. The new
--.,,,,- +..t~ - -ro,.+iYor chance I,iI;,,s-.