The Washington times., 1922-10-01

wind and tides has covered her
with silt and gravel, and the most
powerful pumps feasible in the cir.
cumstances are being employed 10
clear the craft Of sand and debris.
Explosives are used to blast the
plate girders OF the liner. Opera
tons can only be carried on in
calm weather and this stipulation
has set back the work materially,
yet the value OF the gold and cargo
aboard is so great that the gov
ernment considers the time and
labor we'll spent If in the end the
hulk is emptied of its contents.
THE DEPTH LIMIT.
The depth at which the Lauren.
tic lies is close to the limit, at
which divers can work. A special
chamber has been prepared in the
salving vessel for treating cases of
bends and 'caisson disease" due to
pressure OF air and water which
the divers contract in the depths.
Absolutely no information is
given out regarding the progress
of the work officially. 1t has been
stated unofficially that approx
mately $4,000 900 has been salved
this year from the vessel, but the
gold that remains in the liner is a
secret which the treasury depart
ment is keeping a close secret, and
80 successful has the secret been
kept that only the vaguest conjec-
lures are heard.
The total loss has been variously
estimated at from $25,000,000 to
$40. 900 900, but whether this in.
cludes the value of the ship or only
the amount of gold and imperish-
Ibles aboard is only conjectural
An official of the admiralty
stated recently that the treasury
had kept the knowledge of the
vessels value to itself for two years
and that every man of the wreck
ing party is specifically sworn to
secrecy. The successful silence of
all concerned in the expedition is
not the least remarkable phase of
the undertaking.
THE GROSVENOR'S GOLD.
But the most remarkable Of all
expeditions in the British Empire
to make the sea give up treasure
is the enterprise to salve the old
East India Company's ship, Gros-
venor, which was wrecked almost
a century and half ago, off Pom
doland, South Africa.
This is on the eastern coast of
the Cape of Good Hope. south of
Durham. The vessel carried gold
and precious stones to the value of
$40, 900 900 or more when she went
down, and it is Of course this
treasure that the hunters are seek
ing.
Unlike the salvors of the AL
mirante de Florence and the Laur-
,n.i &c, the expedition making for the
Grosvenor are working directly
from the land toward the site OF
the vessel.
A tunnel is in course of construC.
ton about three miles from Point
Grosvenor from the beach, $50
feet back OF the high water mark.
An inclined shaft, 127 feet long,
has been completed and this car
ries the workers n considerable dis
tanCe below the floor of the sea.
The treasure hunters began
operations last November after be.
ing organized by a Mr., Webster,
Of Johannesburg. He deposited
$1,000 wi h the Union Of South
Africa government as guarantee
OF good faith and bond that the 10
per cent claimed by the union on
all treasure trove would be paid
There are about 150 feet more
OF tunneling TO be done before the
wreck, which is covered with ten
or fifteen feet of sand, Is reached.
This is expected to be achieved
within the next two months,
THE LAST VOYAGE.
Documents at the office OF the
East India Company show that
bullion and precious stones were
stored in the strong room OF the
Grosvenor when the ship left Cey.
lon in 1882. Rubies, omeralds, dia.
monds and gold and silver hars
are listed.
1t was on June - OF that year