Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-17
Divers Get to Treasure Ship
After Years Of Vain Effort
A Silk Gown Is Brought Up In
Good condition ,|It y All Rec.
ords For Deep Sea Salvage
Broken BY New Device

s.ysi OAVASfAU ~ WV DSVASS x
;~oO*t4***as.s. !. ~ 49,: .***:a*|
was owned by the Lake Superior
Transportation company, consisting Of
Wells d. sWalbridge, 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
crew Of thirty. One hundred and
twenty-five persons We're drowned.
Captain Mckay was thrown into the
water and was picked up by a boat
after the steamer sank.
The collision occurred six and q 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 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 its submersion under 1870 feet
OF water for flfty-two years, a silk
gown when dried apparently was al-
most as good as when the waters
closed over the steamer. Tho 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 haireombs 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 gold frame, probably
a picture Of passenger named +. 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 II 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 Is
all we care to say about the operations
now" said Margaret G. Goodman. for
merly Of Detroit, who organized the
company, is director and was in De-
troit in charge of the shipment sent
to Toledo ON the steamer City of
Mackinac.
while we demonstrated last year
that deep sen salvage was possible by
descending 3GO feet in Traverse bay,
we were not prepared to proceed with
the Pewabic salvage until this sum-
mer. The work is now well under
way"
The history Of attempts to reach the
Pewabic's copper treasures constitutes
a story of tragedies. Because Of the
depth in which the vessel sank the
owners at once abandoned her to the
insurance company. The company late
in 1865 sent Billy Pike, famous diver
of those days. in charge Of an expedi-
ton to attempt to recover the copper.
Two Divers Die.
Pike went down, and when he failed
to signal for rise after some time
had passed he was brought up dead
from the terrific pressure. The COM
pany made no further effort to reach
the copper. In 1880 stories Of the Pc
wabic's wealth caused the organiza-
ton Of several expeditions. and two
or three divers lost their lives between
1880 and 1884.
The next effort was made in 1891,
and a party from Ashland, Wis, made
repeated attempts to reach the wreck
with divers. One did. He died.
Next the American Wrecking and
Salvage company Of Milwaukee tried,
but with specially constructed div
ing bell capable of holding several
men and permitting a considerable
Five men In the bell were killed. and
the company gave up its efforts. Since
then the lure of the Pewabic's copper
fortune has failed to overcome the
fear Of the depths until Leavitt's APP
paratus was demonstrated. Today
calm weather appears to be the only
requisite condition for the recovery Of
the copper.