Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-10-18
LOST TREASURE
ATTRACTS HUNTERS
OF THE DEEP SEA
Third Attempt To Explore Hold Of
Sunken Merida For Jewels
And Money
EXPEDITION FINANCED BY
NEW YORK CAPITALISTS

The following interesting account
was clipped from the Accomac News;
it shows that the spirit of Capt. Kidd
still lives and is inviting hunters now
as then for treasure trove:
"There is nothing so alluring as
tales of lost treasure and most men
never grow too old to hunt for it; nor
too wise. Improved diving apparatus
has worked wonders in salvaging con-
siderable specie and valuables lost
during the World War and now a
number of New Workers. will have a
try at one of the boards which the At
lantic holds. This is the cargo of gold
and silver which was lost 13 years
ago when the steamship Merida Of the
Ward line was rammed and sunk off
the Virginia capes.
If the latest expedition materializ-
es, according to the Virginian-P Pilot,
it will be the third attempt made by
treasure hunters to explore the hold
of the sunken vessel. The two pre-
vious attempts proved unsuccessful,
although there were men employed to
explore the bottom Of the ocean, at
the point where the Merida went down
who are considered the best divers
on the American coast.
The Merida was sunk on the night
of May IL, 1911. She was bound from
Havana to New York. 1t was fog
gy night and the Merida was proceed
ing cautiously along the coast, when
the dark prov of the Admiral Farra-
gut pierced the mist and struck the
Ward Liner vessel terrific blow a.
midship. The Merida was knocked
off her keel by the blow, but she re-
covered, settled down and began to
sink rapidly. The Farragut sent life
boats to pick up the crew and passen-
gers. There was no loss of life.
The Merida loaded at Havana sew
erai million dollars worth of gold and
silver and it was also said, but never
substantiated that in her safe were the
famous Macmillan rubies, which at
one time belonged to the Empress
Marie Charlotte, mad widow of the
Inflated ruler of Mexico.
The news of the sinking of the
Merida with her cargo of wealth at
A~.S, 4aI nff
treasure hunters sprang up all over
the United States, Spain and France.
Several persons claimed they could
invent a continuance that would locate
he treasure on the sunken vessel as
.asy as magnet could pick up a
piece of steel out of box of pig iron.
At least two expeditions were fitted
out to recover the sunken treasure,
but neither was successful. They cost
the promoters a pile of money, in
wages and crews on the treasure
hunting craft and for employing div
ITO explore the bottom of the sea,
WI be the ship went down.
Thu most business-like epedition
was financed by Major c. r. Hilton,
a wealthy New Yorker. He got 9TH
ers interested in the scheme and they
fitted out the steamer Beckwith, which
was formerly used as a fish boat
There were 16 men in the Beckwith's
crew, including several divers. One
of the divers was X .Everts, of Nor
folk. He is said to have come nearer
locating the Merida than any other
man who has attempted to perform
the feat.
Everts explored the bottom of the
ocean about twice week for three
months. He could not find the sunk.
en- ship, but found bits of wrecks OF
other vessels and also encountered
numerous denizens of the deep, in.
GLIDING sharks and ugly monsters
with eyes that looked as big as sau-
GERS.
He told a Virginian-Pilot man thai
the Merida was not in the position
where she was reported to have beer
sunk. He said it is possible that the
vessel went down at the point given
but could have been carried man!
miles in any direction by underse,
currents. The most practical way o.
locating the boat, shipping men say
would be to ascertain the exac
weather conditions the night she wen
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