The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-10-14
FORTUNES MADE OUT
OF WRECKED VESSELS
New York Sum-


London-Another instance of lucky
speculation in wrecks has been pro-
vided, Melbourne firm having
bought disabled ship for $1,84O and
found that it was worth $4,000. The
ship was the Jean Bart, French
bark of 1881 tons net, and she has
just been saved from entire destruc-
tion and has been towed into harbor
after laying a battered wreck for two
months.
The bark was on a voyage from
Antwerp to Wallaroo laden with g.
600 tons of pig iron 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
under water. Her Captain cabled to
his owners in France for orders, and
received a reply to the effect that she
should be sold by 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 confident
ly stated that the salvage was hope
less, but ]. Bell & Co., grain mer-
chants of Melbourne, made a bid, and
the wreck was sold for $1,84O. Some
critics laughed and remarked that
they were paying for a hold full of
water which could not be raised.
Messrs. Bell said nothing, but engag-
ed 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
root IN diameter had been torn in
the bow, and the diver reported that
this could be easily repaired.
work was begun at once, the wa
ter was pumped out of the rold after
the hold had been plugged up, and
after the vessel was thus lightened
she was toWed off and beached. AT |
ter 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 a strong !
gale right ahead the vessel was tow |
ed by a powerful tug to her desti-
nation, and now it is seen that the |
value OF the ship and cargo is over
$4,000. 1t is believed that before
ong the Jean Bart will be sailing the
seas again, for she is very little dam
aged.
AT Lloyds a newspaper representa-
i've was informed that though this
S regarded as one of the plums of
he business, there have been sever
IL similar ones. Round the shores
't Britain every year." said a marine
broker, there are a number of |
wrecks which would yield large
)roflt to any enterprising buyer, pro-
'1ded he had the necessary facilities
% sell or dispose of the property.
Some time ago a steamer was !
wrecked off Yorkshire, and the buy
sr was a man who knew little about
such matters, but he bought the vs.
sci for about $500. 1t was not a
pig 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 large number of pictures. Few
arms cared to touch the business.
and the underwriters let it go for the
sum stated. But the ship was in
Spected and raised, and then. to the
of everybody, the cargo was
discovered to be little worse for it's
The property sold for
nearly $4,000.
There was OnOther case a year or
80 ago of a ship which was wrecked
with valuable cargo on the coast
d Africa. She was given I'D as
hopeless and sold for a song. The
new owner took sporting chance
the value of the cargo-of
;hartering ship and sailing out to
he wreck. He succeeded in raising
Ter and towed her to Gibraltar. Here
he cable parted and she was lost for
wo days, but ultimately was found
lgain and brought to the Thames.
That ship is still sailing the seas I'M
Ter another name and the owner
made his fortune out of the deal.
Few people have any idea that we
lave scores of wrecks lying around
'ur SHORES. In some cases they are
abandoned to anyone who
ares to take the 'pickings,' but in
theirs they have been sold to local
rms for small sums. Even the
mount of iron and wood in some
ulls would pay for the cost of sal
age. One easily remembers the fate
f the Oceana, which went down off
'olkstone 1.-The Mahratta on the God
Wins, and the Preussen. From the
lizard one can see quite number of 1
7recks on the coast line, and it has
ften been suggested that if these Z
oats We're saved Systematically "a II
roftable business could be built UP
this way