Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-04
TREASURE. DIVER
ESCAPES TRAGEDY
Line Fouled When Safe of
Sunken Ship Egypt Is
Almost in Grasp.

BY Radio to The Star.
ABOARD SALVAGE SHIP OFF
CAPE FINISTERRE, France, Wednes-
day, September 4.-The italian divers
made their first attempts yesterday to
rescue the treasure which lies in the
sunken steamship Egypt, 400 feet be-
low the surface of the Atlantic. Access
to the bullion room is not yet possible,
but the safe in the captains room with
money and valuable papers, would have
been in their grasp If 1t had not been
for hair-raising adventure of one Of
the divers.
They are beginning to feel quite at
home aboard the Egypt. They have
made sure of their exact position and
corrected their first impressions accord
ingly The Egypt lies northeast to
southeast, with her bows pointing on
the same southwest course she was fol-
lowing before the collision in 1922.
What was at first taken for the forepart
of the ship turns out to be her stern.
Forecastle Found Intact.
The divers have explored the fore
castle and found it intact, with an
chors and other fittings in their places
The Egypt sank stern first, not bow
first, and her stern is wrecked.
Having triumphantly hauled up a
hydraulic crane which now lies on the
Artiglio's deck, the divers turned their
attention to more valuable booty. The
captains cabin is in an accessible posi-
ton on the boat deck and contains the
safe in which, presumably, some of the
6unken treasure can be found. The
divers decided to begin by getting up
this safe if possible.
To do this they had to get into the
captains cabin and the only way in was
through - roof of the deck house,
which Is very robust, especially after
eight under water. The Artiglio
removd = the simple process of tear
ing it grapnel
to make~n visible, was lowered and tii-
rected by divers was caught under the
edge of the cabin roof. The Artigl.o took
the strain on her derrick and neeled
over Is degrees. There was a slight
vibration and the structure gave way,
the Artiglio rolled heavily and the roof
of the captains cabin disappeared over
the Egypt's side into blacker depths
below.
Safe Offered Resistance.
Young Alberto Bargellini, who located
the wreck Monday promptly spotted
the safe and the grapnel was lowered
1t made about 20 shots at the safe and
caught it several times. but the safe
was fixed to the walls and would not
move.
AT last the grapnel was obliged to
give up the safe for a moment and
came to the surface with a mouthful-
about 10 feet by 8-of the Egypt's boat
deck instead.
Bargellini went down again later to
try for the safe. This time the Atlantic
saw 1T to remind this impudent ex-
plorer it Is not to be played with and
Bargellini came to the surface a
chastened man.
The divers turret-Shaped observation
shell has in its hollow base plate
anchor fastened to a light cable on a
drum. With this the diver can, if he
likes, anchor himself to the bottom,
hoat up to the end of the small cable
and be undisturbed by movements
which may be the rising and falling of
a swell If he ever lets the anchor 90
altogether, as he can, he will come to
the surface by his own fiotation, and
this is his only hope if the main cable
breaks.
Bargellini's anchor came adrift from
its cable and dropped clear. The shell
began to rise at once. Bargellini saw
loop in the cable fall past his window
and though the ship had let down too
much. He shouted to it to heaye taut.
The Artiglio heaved and the cable came
up fat and twisted. since the diver was
already rising.
Gianni on deck, snatched the tele-