Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-11-08
SEARCH FOR TREASURE
Ship Went Down After Collision With
Another Some Time Ago.


Search for sunken treasure amount
ing to 100000 and which has been
at the bottom of the ocean eleven
years in the wreck of the Ward Line
Steamship Merida is vigorously going
on at point 60 miles cast of the Nir-
Gnia capes where the Merida went
down after collision with the United
Fruit Ccmpany's Steamer Admiral
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 to the
surface of the ocean the gold, silver
and precious stones which had to be
abandoned when the vessel sunk.
The search for the treasure ships
wreck is being made for the Steamer
Ripple, a disreputable looking craft.
Looks don't amount to nue.! so far as
salvage vessels go. however and aboard
the Ripple is 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, al
of them able to work at depths con-
siderably in excess the 200 feet, in
which the Merida is supposed to lie.
The search for the Merida's treasure
is being financed by group of prGmi-
nent New Workers. The Ripple left
New York on August 80, and has been
steadily dragging the bottom at point
approximate sixty miles east of Cape
Charles, where the Merida is supposed
to have roundered.
When the Ripple commenced the
sweeping of the bottom at the position
given by Captain George w. Nord-
strom, chief officer.of the Merida when
she sank, a siX-mi,c row OF buoys.
spaced a mile apart, was placed so that
the same ground would not be twice
gone over. Finally the drag line grew
taut. Captain Nordstrom, who is
aboard the Ripple, believed that the
obstruction encountered is a pile OF the
Merida's lifeboats and liferafts which
were dropped over from the Steam
ship Hamilton after she had taken the
passengers aboard. The Hamilton's
position at that time is estimated at
from a quarter Of a mile to mile
frCm the spot where the Merida rests.
Those aboard the steamer feel conf
dent that, once located, the wreck can
easily be stripped of its treasure.
Among the three divers is Frank j.
Crilley, who holds the worlds record
for dc pth, 306 feet made while he was
assisting in attempts to rescue the
crew of the submarine F-5, sunk of
Honolulu some years ago. Fred Neil
son, who went down 2S6 feet when en-
Gagged upon the same task, is also
aboard The third member of the div
ing trio is Frank Kramer, well known
up and down the coast
The Merida's treasure consists OF
large quantity Of silver, about $5G0,Go0
in god and q quantity Of precious
stones. She was sunk in May 1910
when bound from Mexico, via Havana,
FOR New York by the Steamer Admiral
Farragut. The collision occurred about
midnight, in q fog, the Merida * main
ing afloat for six hours. The Admiral
Tarragut was badly damaged but re-
maincd afioat. All passengers of the
Merida were saved by ships which
answered her SOS messages.
The vessel had 400 tons of coppir +
in her hold, carried as ballast. SAe IS
believed to he resting on an even keel
or the hard sand bottom which obtains
in the vicinity.
The Ripple expedition is sccord TO
attempt the finding Of the Merida.
About four years ago number OF
New York capitalists fit,ed up a
steamer and dragged for some days
for the wreck II was believed at enc
time that she had been located hu'
bad weather prevented further opera
lions.