The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-23
Valuable Treasure Is
SOugth In Quest
For Merida
DIVERS BRUSH
SHARKS IN DEPTHS
Marine Men Think
Vessel Is Now Cow
cred With Sand

NORFOLK, Va. Sept. 23-Search
Ing for n sunken ship on which
there Is over 100000 In money
hunting crew OF "a men under the
command OF Capt. George Stiltson, a
master driver. inventor and expert
In Submarine engineering, Is not
proving an easy task, St.llson says
The treasure-laden ship is, or was,
the Ward line steamer Merida. She
was sunk In the summer OF 1911
about IS miles on Cape Charles
lightship when she was rammed by
the freight steamer Admiral Far
ragut. The Merida carried over 300
Passengers, all Of whom were taken
of by the Farragut and transferred
TO the Old Dominion steamer Ham
fton. which landed them In Nor.
folk
Among the passengers were a
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 star6oard side so fast
that they did not have time 10 save
any Of their valuahles.
The Merida also carried silver
bullion said TO have been worth over
100000. The purser's safe Is filed
with money and jewelry. The yes
sells cargo was fruit
The treasure hunting feet Is COM
posed OF the yacht j. II Beckwith,
the trawler Fearless and barge
used by divers There are about n
dozen divers In the outfit. including
+. Nilsson, who Is said 10 have been
the first TO explore the bottom of
went down.
Capt G.. Hermanson. who Is 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 heen searching for
the sunken ship for nearly 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, IL is stated, and
have found several wrecks. one OF
them apparently steamer, but II
was not the one they sought. Divers
sent up portions OF a deckhouge Of
the steamer. There was nothing OF
value in the wreck
Sharks we're encountered by the
divers on several occasions, but they
stood of at 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 he has not Civ.
on up hope OF finding the Merida
and IL not disappointed at not find
ing the vessel al the point where she
went down.
"A vessel seldom goes right
straight TO the bottom when she
sinks" he says, especially where
tho water IL deep and the currents
strong II is possible that the
fc N
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 vessel several miles.
"If we find the Merida within 10,
, OF even 20 miles of the spot where
she went down II will not be I'M
usual. When We do find her, II will
not prove very difficult Ia bring up
the treasure In her, and believe we
are going to be successful Our
greatest difficulty is 10 locate her.
Capt. Hermanson also Is Of the
opinion that tho Merida will be
found, and the drivers, too, are con
fident.
The men tell OF encounterlng
strengthening objects under water.
OF stumbling against a sunken yes.
sci, CIR meeting shark face to face.
After searching FIVE miles in one
directiCg. the treasure hunters will
return to the spot where the Merida
went down and search FIVE miles In
another direction. After they have
gone north, south, east and west for
five miles. hey will continue the
search for five miles further In the
same direction. II she Is not found
before winter comes on II il prob
able that the search will be aban.
doned until next spring.
The expedition Is costly one.
The drivers are paid rs high as $40
day IL II said that Capt Stillson
will receive n big bonus II the OK.
pedition IL success. and fair"
compensation X " falls.
In marine circles II Is believed
that The Merida will not be found