KRUGER’S GOLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2114, 24 June 1907, Page 1

KRUGER’S GOLD.

- i The Alfred Nobel, once the yacht of the famous philanthropist ami illvoivtor, lias now departed tor boutxi African waters (says a London papei) where she is to begin a series of salvage operations, wliicli have attracted ■much attention, because one ol the i first cargoes to be salved is that or the Dorothea. At the beginning of the Boer War President Kruger is supposed to have despatched £bOO,OUU to Europe. It is said to have been =, stolen en route —even before it left South Africa—and placed on board . the Dorothea, bound for the Argentine. The Dorothea was wrecked. Captain Gardiner, who is in charge , of: the Alfred Nobel expedition, has located the wreck by means of callopt icon,” a very ingenious and jpQ\\ ~ ci ful instrument for •‘perusing the sea bottom from a slops sale, I hose concerned ill the expedition believe that the treasure is still in the wreck. Great expedition will not be shown, for divers can work upon it only 'during June and July in an ordinary year. The adventurers, however, protest against the idea that they go forth as mere treasure seekers on a romantic quest for a particular hoard sunk in the sea. They are, they maintain. engaged in a business transaction perfectly- understood upon our own coast. They are pioneers for the South African Salvage Association, which has much more in view than the gold in the hold of the Dorothea. At least six millions is supposed to bo recoverable from the depths around the South African coast, ~ , . Captain Gardiner was a midshipman on boi\i'd t'Ho Ooudor under Lord. Charles Beresford at the bombardment of Alexandria. He was wounded and invalided home, and left the Koval Navv. During the B.oer War lie served as a soldier, and with the rank of lieutenant acted as despatch rider to Lord Kobcrts. Whatever treasure, is raised will bear a tax, and the Cape, Government have given a kind of undertaking that if Captain Gardiner once attacks a sunken ship iio “opposition”, permits will be granted. Among tlie wrecked vessels which may engage the attention of the Alfred Nobel expedition may bo mentioned the troopship Meresfon, sunk in Saldaiijia in IS’ fathoms, and still 'resting qn ifio rucks. She is supposed tq contain £1,000,000 ill gold. There is the Thermopylae, wrecked in .1898 hear the Green Paint flash- • light, and lying six or seven fathoms deep, with copper, tin, half a ton of silver ore, and an unknown number of silver bars. Nearly £50,000 worth i is expected to be 1 brought up. If slu ; proves to be a success, the Alfred No- , b'fel will be tlie herald of a fleet of - salvage ships oil the South African - coast. She carries three divers with her.