The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-21
ROMANCE OF WAR IN
SALE OF THREE SHIPS
One Sunken Vessel, Bought
for 10000. Brings $780,
600 When Raised.

Confirmation ~ the report that three
ore carrying vessels had been purchased
by interests closely allied with the Gug-
genhe!ms and the American Sinalting and
Refining Company was obtained yester-
day. Two Of the vessels will ny the
American nag and will ply between New
York and Chile and the other will re-
main under British registry will be
put In the transatlantic service. In the
financial district the purchase price Is
estimated to be about 81. 900. 900 for the
three vessels.
The two ore carriers which will ny the
American flag in the New York and Chile
service were bought by the New York
and Chile Exploration Company and
'he Braden Copper Company. The Brit
'sh boat was BOUGHT by the American
Smelling and Refining Company.
The Republic. Of 700 gross tons. and
and the Sherman OF 1000 gross tons.
are the vessels hat will ply IN the South
American service. The Republic was
al one time the German steamer wal
kure and the sherman was called the
Gobernador Bories. when she was sailing
under the Chilean flag and was owned
by Mitsui 4 Co. Of Japan.
The Republic. when she was Inc
Walkure. shortly after the war IN Eu-
rope began war loading phosphate AT The
Island OF Makatea. In the South Seas. She
was captured by the French and taken
into the harbor Of Papeete. the capital
Of T',hit.. Society Islands. and was held
'here'as a war prize.
In the afternoon OF September 90.
1914. two German raiders,
the Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst.
appeared. A soon az they had steamed
within range they began to lombard the
harbor OF Papeete. \ number OF the
shells hit the Walkure above the water
line and the men In charge of the prize.
after covering her engines with a thick
coating OF grease and oil, opened her
sea rocks and she went Ia the bottom
OF the harbor In about Atty feet Of
water.
Several months later the French Gov
ernor OF TaIiti published notices in the
local newspapers that bids would he
received for the purchase of a number
OF wrecked vessels. Among them was
the Walkurc. This Information finally
reached San Francisco and interests In
that city sent representatives 10 Tahiti
TO bid for the vessel. TIL successful
raising of the Walkure began.
Cofferda ms. pontoons. pumps and
divers were used and the vessel was
raised on the first day OF 1915. The
engineers In charge Of the work found
after the grease had bee scraped away
from the engines that the vessel was
in fair condition., 80 she was loaded
with copra and other products Of the
Society Islands and sailed to San Fran
cisco. where her cargo was discharged
a new system OF oil fuel was In.
stalled and the vessel wa overhauled
After the San Francisco interests had
spent about $4,000 on the ship sht
was sold to the New York and Ch,ls
Exploration Company and the BradeI
Copper Company for about 100000.
The Potomac. which will sail under
the British flag. will be operated BY
the Potomac Stea mship Company. a sub
sidiary II the American Smelling and
Refining Company. with offices in Liver
pool and London. She will carry sup
plies to the allied Governments,