Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23

some quiet, shallow haxD0r, Win
shining golden doubioons and silver pieces-o1-
eight txickIing from the oaken chests into the
sands2
or an English pirates brig. with cargo Of
pearls diamonds and gorgeous state jewels
once belonging to the Grand MoguI Of India
that nestles near the coast Of Madagascar?
Turkish adrnirals flagship with masses or
cold and silver plate and other booty, taken on
plundering expeditions along the Mediterranean
several centuries ago?
If YOU have the cash to finance trim little
expedition--that's the rub. unfortunately
might persuade M Pierre Baudy to start you
OF on trip that win give you the thrill OF
your life.
Wander up three flights in dusty old build
ing in the Rue dies COLONIES. in the Bourse
quarter Of Paris, and one Is suddenly zoomed
out Of humdrum dry-as-dust thoughts BY
tiny sign reading: Confidential Counselor for
Sunken Treasures" step farther and one
is inside suite Of offices packed with more
romance to the square inch than probably any
other place in Paris If not In the world 1t Is
the headquarters Of a cult Of adventurous men
OF all nationalities, bound together in q queer
fraternity by the fascination Of Offering gold
on the ocean floor. Stacks upon stacks OF data
about the ships that have plunged down TO
Davy Jones' locker with their priceless cargoesi
walls covered with maps and charts, al marked
with big red ks showing just where the treas
ure Hest Copies Of ancient French admiralty
reports about the swag hidden by buccaneers
along the Spanish Main.
Al BAUDY. . salvage man Of long experience.
W. has created q curious professionalism Of
digging M accurate information about the In
Vulnerable fortunes that lie buried under the
!. Seven Seas and advising people how TO 60 after
them.
AS a matter of fact, his principal business Is
the more prosaic one Of raising cargoes sunlCen
hRHkf
Frenchman has a streak of adventure some
where IN him. and from the sheer thrill Of
examining old documents concerning treasures
he has built up this unusual sideline. IT'S
more Of hobby with him than business,
for his clients are mostly old friends and ii he
accepts any share of future profits 1t IS not
with much hope Of ever cashing in on them.
He's too busy and too skeptical TO search for any
old doubloons himself; he simply supplies maps.
ali the information available and the technical
advice. He rarely deals with the general pub
lie at all. but old pals come to him from every
corner Of the world from time 10 time for adj
vice about some new adventure.
An impractical dreamer? Far from It! IA.
Daudy has Just finished job Of taking
43yO00.000 worth of French bank notes from
the steamship Cap-Lay in the Gulf Of Tonkin.
ON the Indo-Chinese Coast.
"n you're . poor man, don't go searching
for an old chest on the ocean bed" the treas
ure counselor smiIingly told me-
IT know it's more fascinating 10 scoop up
gold coins among the rotting timbers Of an
ancient galleon than to drop down 800 or 100
feet absolutely inclosed in q steel casing. and
to cut through the steel plates of a modern
liner with an electric torch. but the latter type
Of job Is far more profitable"
In spite OF this experts frank advice there
seems to be q steady call from persons fitting
up expeditions TO seek treasure trove, and TO
supply this demand M. Baudy has combed the
universe, and particularly French and British
naval records. for data.
If you are an old friend, you can walk In
and call for the records of almost any impor-
tant ship that went down during the last three
or four centuries, giving location valuables on
board and ether pertinent facts. For example
take the Belgian steamship Elisabethvilie tor
pedoed on Belle he on the French coast In
1917 with 1900 carats of diamonds from the
Belgian Congo on board