The Detroit times., 1916-09-23
Valuable Treasure Is
SOugth In Quest
For Merida
DIVERS BRUSH
SHARKS IN DEPTHS
Marine Men T h in k
Vessel Is Now Cow
cred With Sand

NORFOLK. Va, Sept 23-Search-
Ing for sunken ship on which
there e over 100000 in money
and silver bullion. the treasure
hunting crew or ~ men under thr
command OF Capt George Stillson,
master driver, inventor and expert
In submarine engineering, Ia not
proving an easy task. St.llson says.
The treasure-laden ship is. or was.
the Ward line steamer Merida. She
about IS miles OF Cape Charles
lightship when she was rammed by
the freight steamer Admiral Far
ragut Tho Merida carried over 800
passengers. all II whom were taken
OF by the FarraRut and transferred
TO the Old Dominion steamer Ham.
nton. which landed them In Nor
folk
Among the passengers were
number OF Americans fleeing from
Mexico. They had with them the
savings OF their lifetime. and these
savings, they say, were locked In the
safe In the Office OF the purser OF
the Merida. When the steamer was
struck the water poured through the
hole in her starooard side so fast
that they did not have time 10 save
any OF their vsluables
The Merida also carried silver
bullion said 20 have been worth over
100000. This purser's safe is filed
with money and jewelry The yes
sells cargo was fruit
The misunderstanding feet is com.
posed OF the yacht J. II Beckwith,
tho trawler Fearless and barge
used by divers. There are about n
dozen divers in the OUTFIT. including
r. Nilsson, who Il said TO have been
the FIRST 20 explore the bottom ~
the Atlantic near where the Merida
went down.
Capt. c. Hermanson, who IL in
, command OF the flagship OF the feet,
Is Of the opinion that II the Merida
Is found she will be some miles
away from the spot where she went
down
The treasure hunters, barring bad
weather, have been searching for
the sunken ship FOR nearly a month
now. They have been driven to
port several times by high seas and
wind. but with the coming Of fair
weather have gone forth again to
renew the search
Divers have explored two miles Of
the Atlantic ocean, It Is stated, and
have found several wrecks, one OF
them apparently a steamer, but Il
was not the one they sought Divers
sent up portions OF a deckhouse II
the steamer There was nothing OF
value in the wreck
Sharks were encountered by the
divers on several occasions. but they
stood OF az distance. apparently
watching with interest every move
OF the divers, who were armed with
axes. and also carried large knives
In their belts.
Capt Stillson says ne has not Civ.
ON up hope OF finding the Merida
and IL not disappointed AZ not find
ing the vessel at the point where she
went down.
"A vessel seldom goes right
straight 10 the bottom when she
sinks" he says, especially where
the water is deep and the currents
strong" II Is possible that tho
Merida Is 10 miles away from the
spot where she went down. Under
currents sometimes carry vessel
miles away before she settles on the
bottom. And after she strikes the
bottom, shifting sands sometimes
carry a vessel several miles
"If we find the Merida within 10.
or even 20 miles OF the spot where
she went down II will not be un.
usual When We dc find her, II will
not prove very difficult To bring up
the treasure In her, and believe we
are going 10 be successful Our
greatest difficulty f. 20 locate her.
Capt. Hermanson also is of the
opinion that tho Merida will DO
found, and the drivers. too, are con
ndent.
The men tell OF encountering
strengthening objects under water.
OF stumbling against a sunkcn yes.
sci. or meeting a shark face to face.
After searching FIVE miles in one
direction. the treasure hunters will
return 10 the spot where the Merida
went down and search Ave miles in
another direction After they have
gone north. south, east and west for
five miles. ;hey viii continue the
search for FIVE miles further IN the
same direction. If she IS not found
before winter comes on II Is prob
able that the search will be aban
doncd until next spring
The expedition is a costly one
The drivers are paid ne high as $40
day n Us said hat Capt Stillaon
will receive big bonus n the cN-
petition is eucccss. and fair"
compensation II n fails
In marine circle1 Il is believed
that the Merida will not be found.
IL A.. 49, IN H.. a.