Evening star., 1925-07-07
MEX|CANS WATCH
TREASURE HUNTERS
Wealthy Families Ready to
Buy HeirIooms Lost in
Merida Sinking.
Special Dispatch TO The Star and the North
American Newspaper Alliance

Special Dispatch 70 The Star and the North
American Newspaper Alliance.
MENICO CITY, July MANY
. p.olnInent Mexican families, both here
and abroad. are following with keen
interest the progress of the New York
treasure hunt" expedition which is
trying to salvage the gold and silver
cargo of the sunken steamship Merida
The liner was wrecked in collision IA
years ago on its way from Mexico to
New York, and its passenger list in
cluded many of the most prominent
Mexican names. Moreover, most of
these MeXicans were fleeing from
home for political reasons, and were
carrying with them their most val
liable family treasures, including at
least million dollars worth of gems
and jeWelry.
Among the passengers was the en-.
tire Madero family, in fight from the
revolution, which had resulted in the
assassination of Francisco Madero.
This family was regarded as one Of
E the wealthiest in Mexico. and their
loss in the sinking of the Merida was
perhaps the heaviest of any passen-
gers.
None of these passeng gers has any
legal claim TO the treasures which the
divers will bring up. Under the law
of the sea any rights they had in
their property have long since been
outlawed. But there is no doubt that
many of them will endeavor to re-
purchase certain family treasures
from the New York syndicate.
Sunk I'm 1911.
The Merida was sunk on May u,
1911. when II was rammed in a dense
fog by the Admiral Farragut of the
Enited Fruit line. The latter ship
was not seriously injured, and there
was no loss of life aboard either YES
sci. The Merida remained afioat for
several hours, and all the passengers
were taken off and transferred to
other ships, arriving at nearby Amer
lean ports a few hours later.
Litigation in the American courts
followed and an award of S107 900
was made to the owners of the Merida
and paid by the owners of the Farra-
gut.
Owing to the rapid settling of the
Merida. the passengers were taken off
as quickly as possible. leaving behind
all their personal belongings and
valuables. locked in the pursers two
large safes. These safes will be
brought up intact by the New York
salvagers. Other valuable cargo Is in
the vessels strongroom, including
about $3,00O,00O in gold and silver
bullion.
The spot where the ship was lost,
40 miles from Hog Island, is one of
the toughest in the Atlantic. The
waters are in ceaseless movement, be-
cause of the outpouring of the waters
of the Chesa peake and the backwash
of the Gulf Stream. The bottom
where the ship rests is sandy, and
conflicting currents cause the sand to
form ridges that often become high
enough to bury vessel. This fact
has apparently defeated the many pre-
vious attempts to locate the wreck.
Famous Ruby Collection.
Among the Madero jewels, in the
purser's safe. is a collection which is
historic in two hemispheres-the
crown jewels of Emperor Maxinnilian.
including the famous rubies which the
mad Empress Charlotte saved after
Macmillan was executed. This rs said
to be the finest collection Of ruhies in
the world. The Madero family plate
and their art collections are also well
known to connoisseurs.
Forty-five wealthy Mexicans had de-
posted valuables in the purser's safes,
according to the records of the ship,
among them the Bishop of Yucatan,
Carlos Zettina, leather millionaire:
MISS 6Oll6, nelT6SS OF d great fortune
in Southern Mexico. and four Mexican
bankers who were carrying large ship
ments of money and securities to New
York. The wife of a rich Cuban
planter offered the purser of the Me-
rida S25, 900 if he would return to the
sinking ship and rescue her jewels
from the locked safe. There was no
opportunity, as the ship settled stern
first on an even keel and sank shortly
afterward.
Prominent Nexicans believe that
the cargo of the Merida will prove to
be worth nearly $4,000, 900. 1t includes
% tons of gold and silver matt" or
half-refined ore, gold bullion in bars
worth nearly million dollars and
eight kegs of American $40 gold
pieces in addition to the contents of
the two safes. The general cargo in
cludes mahogany, which is not af-
fected by salt water; 1900 barrels of
BaccarGy rum from Cuba and an
enormous ballast of copper ore.
Copyright. 1925. by North American News
paper Alliance. All rights reserved.)