The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-07-19
A Silk Gown Is Brought Up In
Good Condition-AD Rec
ords For Deep Sea Salvage.
Broken by New Device

was owned by the Lake Superior
transportation company, consisting Of
Wells D. Walbridge, J. T. Whiting and
L. Mcknight, all Of Detroit and oil of
whom died many years ago. On her
way from Duluth to Buffalo the Me-
teor rammed her.
She had on board $50 passengers and |
q crew Of thirty. One hundred and |
twenty-five persons were drowned. |
Captain Mckay was thrown into the !
water and was picked up by boat |
after the steamer sank.
The collision occurred six and a half
miles south and east of Thunder Bay
island, about fourteen miles from Al
pena.
Because of the depth Of water the
boat sank below all currents and storm
disturbances and has remained more
than half a century on the exact spot
where she went down.
The Leavitt diver reported she rest
ed on clay and rock, on even keel, with
her rigging and deck structure intact.
He was able to make his way through
the steamers saloon and cabins with
ease, and he sent up for souvenirs one
''clam'' load Of objects that lay at
hand. Among these were numerous
fine silk and broadcloth garments Of
fifty years ago.
Old Time Fabrics Endure.
Despite it's submersion under $50 feet
of water for fifty-two years, silk
gown when dried apparently was al
most as good as when the waters
closed over the steamer. The crimson
and blue colorings of cotton goods
were undimmed by their long INNER
sion. They were as bright as the day
they were purchased.
A peculiar condition marked wooden
fabrics, however. The material that
comprised the wool had disappeared,
leaving the warp as small meshed net
ting, but in good condition.
Several watches, an ancient revolver,
coins Of dates prior to the civil war,
jet bracelets and haircombs in fashion
of the period, square toed shoes and
slippers Of that day, the "gentlemen's
boots" affected by the dandies-there
must have been several on the Pewa-
bic-black silk handmade lace, checks
from the Pewabics baggage room,
door keys and locks with the steamers
name stamped upon them, steamer sill
yer and other articles were sent up.
Old Daguerreotype Unframed.
The silver is badly oxidized. Gold
articles were scarcely furnished. A da.
guerreotype in a gold frame, probably
a picture Of a passenger named F. W.
Ludlow, was as distinct as the day 1t
was made, the picture being unframed
A gold stamped card case marked with
the name F. w. Ludlow was also
brought up, and it may be that if vic
tins Of the wreck have relatives alive
some Of them may yet recover relics Of
those who went down.
1--WE have been successful. That Il
all we care to say about the operations
now" said Margaret G. Goodman, for
merly Of Detroit, who organized thu
company, is director and was in De
troit in charge of the shipment sen
to Toledo on the steamer City O.
Mackinac.
"While we demonstrated last yea
that deep sea salvage was possible b,
descending $50 feet in Traverse bay
we were not prepared to proceed witt
the Pewabie salvage until this sum
mer. The work is now well unde
way"
The history of attempts to reach tn
Pewabic's copper treasures constitute
story of tragedies. Because Of til
depth in which the vessel sank th
owners at once abandoned her to tn
insurance company. The company lat
in 1865 sent Billy Pike, famous dive
of those days, in charge of an exped
ton to attempt to recover the copper.
Two Divers Die.
Pike went down, and when he faile
to signal for rise after some tim
had passed he was brought up dea
from the terrific pressure. The con
pany made no further effort to reaC
the copper. In 1880 stories of the P
\ wabic's wealth caused the organic
ton of several expeditions, and tW
, or three divers lost their lives betwee
. 1880 and 1884.
The next effort was made in 1S9
and party from Ashland, Wis, mao
= repeated attempts to reach the wre<
l. with divers. One did. He died.
Next the American Wrecking al
= Salvage company of Milwaukee trie
4 but with a specially constructed di
= ing bell, capable of holding sever
Il men and permitting considerab
r movement.
Il Five men in the bell were killed, al
the company gave up its efforts. Sin
# then the lure Of the Pewabic's copp
r fortune has failed to overcome t.
j. fear Of the depths until Leavitts a
- | porot11e waS damon Strato6 Tod