NEW TREASURE HUNT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3256, 29 June 1911, Page 2

NEW TREASURE HUNT.

EXPLORING A SUNKEN FRICATE. DIVER’S THRILLING ADVENTURE. The syndicate that was recently formed to explore the wreck of the British frigate Lutine which was sunk off the Dutch coast 112 years ago, in the hope of recovering some of the treasure that went down with the ship, has started operations. Various other syndicates have recovered about £250,000 in specie, but there is,still nearly £1,000,000 waiting te be found.

The specially-designed suction pump that is at work has removed some thousands of tons of sand from the wreck, arid the stern of the old warship is now exposed. The. divers employed have had one or two thrilling adventures. On the first day on which Diver Merritt went over the weather suddenly roughened, and after a while the man’s signals ceased. It w'as, of course, concluded that he had got into difficulties,. and another diver was hastily descending to his rescue when Merritt came te the surface feet uppermost. ‘He was quickly hauled aboard the barge, and upon his helmet being removed he was found to be in tlie last stage of exhaustion. Us it was afterwards ascertained, when he had recovered- sufficiently to describe his adventurb, Merritt bad -experienced one of those perils by Which a diver is always threatened. His lifeline has become entangled, and in this desperate extremity, lie had cut himself adrift, the air remaining in his diving dress giving him sufficient buoyancy to bring him to the surface. NOTABLE SALVAGE ENTERPRISE. OVER A MILLION OF SUNKEN TREASURE. It was recently reported that an English company had- -been formed to attempt the recovery of the £1,100,000 said to be on the British- frigate Lutine, which was wrecked off Holland while carrying bullion, from Yarmouth to Hamburg. A special salvage steamer, equipped with modern and powerful appliances, under the direction of 'Captain O. A. P. -Gardinfcr, was to be employed in addition to 10 divers and 45 seamen experienced in salvage work. Disaster befel- the Lutine off the island- of Vlieland, and she has been located between Vlieland and Terschelling. She lies under a layer of sand about 30ft deep. It is expected, how,ever, that the powerful pumps of the Lyons will be able not only to remove this covering, but to create a hollow in the sea- bed surrounding the Lutine, and exposing to the divers the whole of tlie hull.

The outcome of the operations will be watched with interest. Numerous attempts have been made from time. to time to recover the. precious cargo of tlie Lutine, notiably at the commencement of last century, and again between 1856 and 1 1860'.. Tlie Lutine was originally a French frigate of 32 guns, and was subsequently captured by Admiral Duncan. In- one of the salvage enterprises the ship’s bell and rudder were recovered, and from the latter was constructed an arm-chair, which is now in tlie library at Lloyd’s. The old frigate’s bell also is at Lloyd’s.