The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1921-10-04
SEARCH IS ON !. VI
FOR SUNKEN
TREASURE SHIP

NORFOLK, Va, Oct. <.---Search
for sunken treasure amounting to
| S3,000,000 and which has been at
the bottom Of the ocean eleven years
In the wreck Of the Ward Line steam
ship Merida is vigorously going on
at point 60 miles east Of the Virgin
Ia capes where the Merida went
down after a collision with the Unit
cd Fruit Company'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 from the steam
or Ripple, q disreputable looking
craft. Looks don't amount to much
as far as salvage vessels 20. how
ever. and aboafd 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 tho best-known div
ers Of the country, all Of them able
to work at depths considerably in
excess Of the 200 feet, in which the
Merida is supposed to lie. T. >s''
The search for the Merida's trea-
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 bottom
at a point approximately eixty miles
east Of Cape Charles, where the Mer-
Ida is supposed to have foundered.
When the Ripple commenced the
sweeping Of the bottom at the posi-
tion given by Captain George W.
chief officer OF the Mer-
da when she sank, a six-mile row
'f buoys. spaced mile apart. was
placed so that the same ground
would not be twice gone over. Fin
lily the drag line grew taut. Captain
Nordstrom. who Is aboard the Ripple.
believed that the obstruction encoun-
:ered 10 pile Of the Merida's life
,oats and lifsrafss which were drop
'ed over from the steamship Hamil-
on after she had taken the passen-
'ers aboard. The Hamiltou's position
L that time 10 estimated at from a
Iuarter Of mile to mile from the
pot where the Merida rests.
Those aboard the steamer feel
onfident that. once located. the
Treck can easily be stripped OF its
Among the three divers is
rank J. Crilley. who holds the
'orld's record for depth, 500 feet.
lade while he was assisting in at
'mpts TO rescue the crew OF the sub :
arine F-b, sunk off Honolulu some
ssrs ago. Fred Nelson. who went
own 2sS feet when engaged upon
10 same task, is also aboard. The
'ird member Of the diving trio is
rank Kramer. well known up and
'wn the coast. ' p - In
Tho Merids's treasure consiats OF vi
large quantity OF silver. about e
100000 In gold and . quantity Of Evi
ecious stones. She was sunk In h,
~. 1910. when bound from Mexico.
, Havana. for New York. BY the N
samer Admiral Farrasut. The col. m
Ion occurred about midnight. In q Al
3. the Merida remaining afloat for m
hours. Tho Admiral Farrsgut was Ius
dly damaged but remained afloat In
] passengers OF the Merida were ia
we'd by ships which answered her n,
IS messages.
Tho vessel had 400 tons of COP an
r In her hold. carried as ballast. m
Q is believed to be resting on an A,
en- keel on the hard sand bottom nj,
lich obtains In the vicinity. IN
The Ripple expedition is second AZ
attempt the finding OF the Merida. bv
out four years ago a number OF M,
W York capitalists fitted up
amer and dragged for some days m,
the wreck. II was believed at one m,
ie that she had been located but =.
weather prevented further opera an
MS. ~
exl