The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-08-29
LINERS BRING
COLD BY TON
Millions of Precious Metal Beng
Shipped to This Country
From Europe.
is HANDLED LIKE OLD JUNK
New York Longshoremen Find Han
ding of Millions Is All in Days
Work-U. S. Holds Fifth of
Worlds Supply.

New York.-Gold, tons of it, COMING
here on every large passenger line
that plies the Atlantic, is handled b,
seamen and longshoremen as noncha
lantly as if it We're scrap iron.
On such ships as the Olympic arrive
! millions of dollars worth of the pre-
/ ciOus metal-shipments such as would
have swamped an old galleon sailing
i the Spanish main. But the heavy, steel
| bound boxes of ingots or coin stored
/ away in the holds of the giant liners
arouse among passengers and crew far
less interest than the presence of an
, internationally known actress or prize
winning Pomeranian.
1t was recently announced that the
United States subtreasury vaults here
already held $1,5OO,OOO,OO0 in gold,
one-fifth of the worlds entire supply.
Gold as Freight.
Gold is classed as freight and GER
tain rate per ron is paid for transport
ing it, although, due to it's value, spe-
cial consideration is given to it's safe
ty In each of these big ships is a
vault-known in ship language as the
strongroom. 1t is a big box or cham
Der, heavily lined with armor-plate
steel and located in one of the lower
holds in such position that it can be
approached from but one direction, by
a passage opening from but one door
or hatch.
There is no space around the strong
room for would-be thief to work with
a drill and, indeed, if he should get in,
he would probably find himself a pris-
oner
Delivered to the ship in a European
port, the purser carefully checks the
number of boxes of gold, notes the
stated value of the contents, sees to it
that proper customs permits for ship
ment have been issued and in the name
of the ship signs the bills of lading.
Under his personal eye it is slowed in
the strongrOom, where it is again
checked. The room is locked and the
keys and combination of the door are
several of the ships electric alarm de-
vices add TO It's protection.
TrundIed to Vans.
On arrival in New York the gold
shipments receive first attention after
the passengers have been discharged.
A special force of longshoremen under
the eye Of a trusted boss is led to the
in company with a repre-
sentative of the bank or banks to
which the gold is assigned. The boxes
are checked out loaded on trucks,
certain weight to each man, and trun-
He'd away to waiting vans near the
ship sides.
The lOngshOremen who handle the
reasure make no fuss about tit is
Ill in work day of eight hours-and,
gold or pigiron, it is the same to them.
)nce in the vans when the ship is re-
eased of responsibility, however. there
S show of guards.
What would happen to the gold if
he ship would meet with an accident
nd go down?
1T would have to lie with the ship
nless conditions were such that 1t
ould be removed after the lives of ali
Il board had been saved was the an
wer of the lines.
Like other freight, it is insured, but
OF even treasure must be taken into
when lives are at stake.
Gold shipments which have gone
own are occupying the attention of
cores of marine experts today. MI
lerous devices have been patented
nd many lives have been lost in at
smpts to salvage sunken treasure.
mong hundreds of others rich re-
ard awaits the man who can salvage
le treasure lost With the Lusitania.