Imperial Valley press., 1936-12-13

cuSS this phase or IL, DuC among tnelr ifienoS
the story is generally believed.
Another rumor referred to the Rios treasure.
It was said that the vessel was driven into the
rocks purposely with intent to sink it in shallow
water, where it could be easily seized by divers
who knew the location. Investigations were
made but no satisfactory evidence was un-
earthed.
IT has not been for lack of effort that the Rios
| location remains mystery. The worlds cham
pion deep sea diver, Bill Reed, was recently
called upon to search the depths near Port Point
where engineers making test borings for the
Golden Gate Bridge struck metal with their
drill For few hours hope fared that the wreck
had been found. Repeated tests at spot almost
where the vessel had sunk seemed to indicate
large mass of metal.
Bill Reed came from work he doing
the Suisun Bridge, boarded Haviside Barge No.
A. and went down for observation. Reed was the
first diver to bring up bodies from the il-fated
submarine ST. he holds the worlds depth record
of 246 feet and was eminently qualified to locate
whatever was on the bottom. He found that the
casing inside of which the drill was dropped was
resting on rock - but found no sign of the Rio.
Succeeding trips in the rushing tide gave similar
results. A piece of iron - possibly from an
anchor or chain, had wedged between the cas-
ing and the drill in such manner that the drill
apparently was striking ships metal
THE Rio can't be located because of the fast
tide which comes in at six knots" says Reed.
1--WE know about where it is but can't do much
about it. It's pitch black down there, and If
anyone did get to it, he'd be pretty helpless
what with the tide and pressure. You need
diving equipment capable of being worked at
400 feet ard man who can stand up under 1t.
We haven't that combination available"
Reed knows an inventor in Sausalito who will
try to locate the Rio in what he calls sea
going tractor"-a long pipe-like steel structure,
with port hole at one end allowing for obser-
vation.
~EvERAL CURIOUS facts stand out.
y The Rio de JGneiro had made one of the
longest voyages to the Orient on record. She
left San Francisco for Hawaii on December a.
19OO-bound for Japan, China and Eastern ports.
She went through storm and violent weather
touching at Hiogo Yokohama, Hongkong. Bat
tling heavy seas and high winds. she had come
through without serious damage except to the
nerves of her passengers. Bad weather had fol-
lowed throughout her course, until she sighted
the Golden Gate, where fog shrouded her. Even
then, had she waited brief two hours before
steaming in, all would have been well.
Within a stones throw of San Francisco she
went down, her boiler burst with violent ex-
posion wrecking the superstructure-sank with
whistle screaming for help that came too late.
On Washington's birthday every February for
35 wears the sun has blazed across the Berkeley
hills, painted amber streaks on the waters of the
Golden Gate where the Rio de Janeiro sank in
tragedy Somewhere below the old ship rests.
treasure in her battered hull, three rcttng masts
and single smoke stack fallen-still evading the
search of persistent salvagers.
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