Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-10-06
M'GRAW'S MEN FAIL TO
REACH HOME PLATE ONCE
IN TOTAL OF IS INNINGS
HUNT SUNKEN
TREASURE
THE ATLANTIC


for suEken treasure amounting to
$4,000. 900 and which has been at the
bottom of the ocean eleven yeras i'm
the wreck of the Ward Line steam
ship Merida is vigorously going OH
Mt point 90 miles east of the vir-
ginia capcs where the Merida went
down after a collision with the Unit
ed Fruit Company's steamer Admir-
al Farragut. Word has come from
the treasure hunters that they believe
they have located the wreck of the
sunken vessel and expect soon to
bring 10 the surface of the ocean the
gold. silver and precious stones which
had 10 be abandoned when the yes
sci sunk.
The search for the ships wreck II
being made from the steamer Rip
pie, disreputable looking craft.
Looks don't amount TO much as far
as salvage vessels 90, however, and
aboard the Ripple il the best gear
for the work in hand that can be
obtained. Manned by a picked crew
Of twenty-five men the ship carries
Three Of the best-known divers Of the
country all Of them able to work nj
depths considerably i'm excess of the
900 feet, in which the Merida IA sup
posed to lie.
The search for the Merida's trca-
sure is being financed by a group Of
prominent New Workers. The Ripple
left New York on August 80, and
has been steadily dragging the bot
tom NJ a point approximately sixty
miles east Of Cape Charles. where the
Merida is supposed to have founder
ed.
When the Ripple commenced the
sweeping of the bottom at the po-
sition given by Captain George w.
Nordstorm, chief officer Of the Me-
rida when she sank, a six mile row
Of buoys. spaced a mile apart. was
placed SO that the same ground would
onto be twice gone over. Finally the
drag line grew taut. Captain Nord-
storm. who il aboard the Ripple, be-
lieved that the obstruction encount-
cred IL a pile Of the Merida's lifeboats
and lifecrafts which were dropped
over from the steamship Hamilton
after she had taken the passengers
aboard The HamiIton's position at
that time is estimated at from
quarter OF a mile 10 mile from the
spot where the Merida rests.
Those aboard the steamer feel CON
fident that. once located. the wreck
can easily be stripped Of its trea-
sure. Among the three divers Is
Frank j. Crilley. who holds the
worlds record for depth. 800 feet.
made while he was assisting in at
tempts % rescue the crew of the sub
marine F-5, sunk off Honolulu some
years ago. Fred Nelson. who went
down 2SG feet when engaged upon
the same task is also aboard. The
third member Of the diving trio II
Frank Kramer. well known up and
down the coast
The Merida's treasure consists Of a
large quantity of silver. about $500
600 in god and "A quantity of pre-
cious stones. She was sunk in May.
1910. when bound from Mexico. via
Havana. for New York, by the
steamer Admiral Farragut. The colli-
sion occurred about midnight. in n
fog. the Merida remaining afloat for
for six hours. The Admiral Farragut
was badly damaged but remained
afloat. All passengers Of the Merida
were saved by ships which answer
cd her O s messages.
The vessel had 4,70O tons of cop
per in her hold, carried "a ballast.
She II believed to be resting on an
even keel on the hard sand bottom
which obtains in the vicinity.
The Ripple expeditio mis- the second
to attempt the finding Of the Meri-
da. About four years ago a number
Of New York capitalists fitted up
steamer and dragged for some days
for the wreck. II was believed at one
time that she had been located but
bad weather prevented further opera
tions.