Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-07-30
grim EVIDENCE
Of TRAGEDIES At
SEA Is WRfCkAGE

tCorrcspondcnec of the Associated Prcss)
Dieppe, July 7.-Flotsam and jet
sam cast up by equinoXial tides ana
sold here by auction under maritime
regulations that date from the time
of Colber.. reflect each year the de-
structive force of nature IN Jury al
sea. In ordinary years 1t IS smaii
wreckage that predominant es-minute
salvage from sailing and fishing yes
sells such as pieces of rigging, fish
ing nets, broken rudders barrels OF
tar and so forth but the wreckage
washed ashore on the coast OF Nor
mandy has lately gone beyond all
previous records.
Jagged wounds in pieces or SHIPS
hulls showing the traces OF torDedoes'
barrels. casks, more or less Clipped,
dented. or crushed by contact with
the sharp reefs, with cordage and
smashed cabin furniture. life-saving
belts. bales of rubber and cotton. bar
rels of oil and molasses casks OF tai
low. with conglomeration of appar-
atus and paraphernalia such as none
but a mariner could identify or con
meet with any rational use. were col
iected in one lot along with baby's
cradle and a behes,ded doll. The
cradle was almost intact, the body
of the beheaded doll was blackened
as if by powder a
flotsam and jetsam of this coast, who
come here every year to speculate
upon the seasons disasters. The mis-
cellaneous debris OF an average yeal
has acquired certain value that
none but these experts would ever
venture to get out of it. This year
in harmony with the general move
ment, nearly everything brought wal
prices. There were some rare COM
medities in the salvage and there was
sentiment.
The industrial alcohol, rubbes tai
low and oil went to Unprecedented
prices, other miscellany thst would
have been comparatively neglected ~
ordinary years was readily turned in
to money.
The buyers came MOSTLY from
Havre, but this year many came from
as far as Paris The industrial alec
hol went to merchant from Armen
there's who is still trading with sol
diers there under continual lombard
ments Alcohol is rare along TIL
front. With the cask bought by TIN
man from Armentieres tho soldier
in that section will be able to hea
their rations.
Life belts and buoys as rule g
begging with buyers from the inter
jor. This year there was take
for every one offered A belt tina
resembled one of these white wreath
sold in Paris for the decoration G
graves, with the Inscription IS.
Tomas, London" upon it, belt t
which some life had clung to the las
moment of physical resistance, Ii
doubt, brought the unheard of pric
of ten francs.
Gang planks. ships boats. and lad
ders, along with cabin furniture an
bunk clothing, brought only the avel
age auction price, but the smalle
debris--things no landlubber can eN
pect ever to find useful, were snappe
up by the buyers from the interio
if they showed the slightest evidcno
of having gone through one of tn
sea dramas of the great war.
All this wreckage gathered alon
the coast by custums officials, il
ventoried and classified, is sold aftc
the legal lapse of time. if unclaimo
before. The proceeds. less the "in
port duty'-are held for thirty yeal
in the treasury of the Marine Inv;
lids, and definitely acquired by tn;
charity only if no one establishes
claim upon it in the meantime.