The mirror., 1920-09-09


miners returning from the California and
Nevada fields.
The raising of the copper stored in the
wreckage has established a record for
deep-sea salvage. For three years Toledo
and Detroit men had been spending money
in various fruitless efforts to salvage the
fortune cargo. The efforts of the midsum-
mer of 1917 at last proved the venture a
success, even though more money may have
been spent in securing the copper and iron
than the metal was worth, for the search
created various devices for deep-sea SAL
vaging which have paved the way to Sc
curing unlimited fortunes lying on the bot
thought that the recovery of this cargo
would more than repay those who labored
to secure it.
The success of the effort was due to
the use of a diving-suit invented by a
woman, Mrs. Margaret C.. Goodman, of
Toledo. This suit is made of phosphor-
bronze and carries its own air-supply suf-
icint for hours submerging. In the usual
diving-suit the divers limit is about
seventy-fve feet depth for fifteen minutes
duration.
Along the jaws of Sawtooth reef, on
Keeweenaw peninsula, Lake Superior, lie
scores of cargoes of iron and copper Year
after year vessels have sunk there. Many
lie less than one numbered feet down. Lake
Huron has scores of wrecks that should
yield fortunes. The Colburn sank in 1872
near Port Huron with copper that today
is worth half million dollars.
The Pewabic was sunk ffty-two years
ago this summer in collision with the
steamer Meteor. She had on board one
hundred and fifty passengers and a crew
of thirty members. Of these one hundred
and twenty-five were drowned. Capt.
George P. Mckay, her master, was picked
up by a boat and saved. The collision
occurred six and half miles south and
east of Thunder Bay island, about four
teen miles from Alpena.
Because of the depth of the 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 Goodman diver reported
that the Pewabic rested 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 sent up for souvenirs
one load of objects that lay close at hand.
Among these werH silks and broadcloth
garments.
Despite the submersion under one hun
dred and eighty feet of water for fifty
three years, silk gown when dried was
apparently almost as good as new. The
crimson and blue colorings of cotton goods
were as bright as the day they were
bought at the store. Several watches,
revolver, coins, jet bracelets and hair
combs, square-toes shoes and slippers, silk
handmade. lace, checks from the baggage
room, door-keys and locks, steamer silver,
and other articles were sent up.
The silver was found to be badly oxi-
died. Gold articles were scarcely tar
nished. A daguerreotype in gold frame
was as distinct as the day it was made.
A gold stamped card-case was also
brought up. Divers report that the white.
oak, of which the vessel was built, is rot
ted to depth of not more than one inch.
The history of the various attempts to
reach the Pewabic's copper fortune con-
stitutes a story of tragedies and romance
more startling than fction's pages present.
Because of the great depth at which the
vessel sank the owners abandoned her to
the insurance company. The company
late in 1865 sent Billy Pike, noted Great
Lake diver who had made startling sue
cesses in submcrging, in charge of an ex-
nor fO off tn fho