South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-01
FISHING $15,OOO,OOO
IN GOLD UP FROM
BOTTOM OF THESEA
Diver Describes SaIving of Bullion
Which Went Down With the
White Star Liner Laurentic.
BY JOHN c. MAC DONALD.

in saving many cargoes and vessels including
German submarines. furnishes graphic details
which have not hitherto been given 20 the public.
LONDON. Jan. 31.-The richest cargo that ever lay
on bed being salved from the S. Laursnte
includes bars OF gold to the value OF $4,000
600.
This stately White Star liner Of 10000 tons was sunk
miles outside Tough swiy. of the coast %
Ireland
mine she being used auxiliary cruiser, and
the fatefu voyage which 70 prove her last she
OF the richest cargOes which ever LEFT the
shores of Great Britain
Bound for America. the Laurentic. in addition =
valuable cargo, carried in her strong room no lesS
than million pounds sterling worth OF gold IN
specie The gold was in the form nine inches
long inches broad, and inches thick, every
one o which valued $500.
The stately liner sank in 81 fathoms Of water
but time elapsed any efforts 70 reclaim the
vast wealth her hold could be made. About April
1917 admiralty ordered operations for saving the
bullion to be commenced. The great ship was easily
located although 100 feet down in the deep. and
the mooring lighter volunteer engaged retaining
the gold from the wrecked Laurentic.
SALVING THE FIRST MILLION.
Owing the stress OF weather and the presence Of
German that quarter the operations had
TO be suspended after time. but before gold
the extent OF about million pounds sterling had
been recovered from the bed.
When work W again restarted the sunken White
Star Levathan, Commander Damant, +. n, the Sal
wage Ship Corysea proceeded survey the wreck Their
report that would be well worth while proceed
ing with the task OF recaimng the bullion.
At this time I employed the Racer, gov
salvage ship then located at Southampton.
We took heavy moorings and other tackle at Ports
mouth, proceeded north of ireland. but the
passage rough had TO take refuge In Belfast
I.ough Owing to the heavy deck cargo the
the sides the ship, the old Racer weather
ed the storm After the mOorings had been laid
the wreck orr divers found that the sides and deck OF
the had fallen in owing the great pres
This rendered the task of discovering
where the gold hidden very difficult. heavy
charges Of gelgne had 70 be made 70 clear the wreck
DIVERS WORK IN RELAYS
When the blasting down below took place IL almost
shook the old Racer out Of the water Crocery and ev
erythng movable In the salvage ship smashed a.
the charges were fired from battery the deck Of
the Racer the wreck being Immediately
Afterwards found Il advisable 10 move away bit
when charge about 10 take place.
The divers work in relays, down at the wreck
coming up and a third going down, thus ensuring
that would always be actually on the Job.
In deep water the diver must come up very slowly
view Of the difference in the atmosphere. but had
not time for that while working on the Laurentic on
the deck O the Racer we had decompressng cham
Der. that the diver could straight 10 this
chamber and the air was pumped IN until he was able
10 breathe the ordinary atmosphere on the surface
The gold the Taurentc up covered
buckets and the enaed UP to the salvage snip
bucket This 10 ensure that of these valua-
BILE bars of 3old would asray coming 10 the sur
face.
At first we reached the gold quite easily but after
wards for a lost the of it, the pressure of
routine on the Racer was; Up anchor al $50 a. me-
proceed the scene Of the wreck and commence on
erations This work proceeded till about o'clock at
night
Altogether it is stated that about s15.oooOoO have
been salved from the liner.
sALVAGING A U-BOAT.
One the interesting and dramatic experiences
in salvage work was concerning the sinking and
salving the German nine-ayfug submarine, CC-44.
This Hun pirate craft which destined for terri
fate KEEL July %, 1917, for the south
She had chambers TO hold IS mines and of Wa
terford the U-bOat laid deadly mines ia circular
form Il while trying out 20 the open a
that she fouled of her mines. which shattered
the fran submarine by the stern and she sank in -
fathoms water. The U-boat commander managed
70 jump the coming tower just She struck
the mine, and two German seauen also got out. but
they drowned.
The commander who wore a rubber suit kept aGoat
about hours. shouting loudly for help an the
time. until he rescued.
When taken ashore the Hun captain treated very
Hospitality the people being under the impression that
he a British seaman. as he spoke English almost
perfectly.
thing and the German officer arrested and
TO the tower Of London. The naval authorizes
then ordered divers from Waterford survey the
a Racer, on which I was emu
admiralty proceeded 20 the spot where the U-lot
had disappeared.
DANGEROUS TASK
At this time the admiralty were very keen 90 dis
what type OF craft the sunken U-boat was We
obtained l2-nch wires which We're placed underneath
the wreck and IL only after 13 different tighten
ngs Of the wires that finally beached inside
the little haroor or Dun.nore East our first opera
ton 70 render the mines harmless There still
nine deadly mines left IN the Uboa chambers and
levered the mines out and removed the detonat0rs.
The deadly T. y. T. then steamed out the
mines After that the grues0me task OF rernov-
ing the dead bodies OF the U-boat crew. There we've
10 German sailors altogether.
The bodies Of the victims o. their German
made mines wrapped up in canvas and taken out
for by drifter Courage. chap
lain from Queenstown officiating at the burial eere-