SUBMARINE TREASURE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 33, 3 November 1919, Page 5

SUBMARINE TREASURE

A special correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle' writes:— . I have just, returned from the (living ouerations in Tobermory ilay, where a Svkes digger is cutting through the Ixiuldo!' clav and sand over the Spanish Armada, u'alleon which was sunk in 1<)88. A new feature of the operations is an effective hose, which, working at a pressure of about 1001b. a square inch, cuts uu antf clears away Die day-and mud between the trenches cut by the digger in tho tumulus containing the old galleon. revealing any solid material, which is immediately raised under the care of the diver. Already cinile an array of relics have been recovered; Several of them, of little intrinsic value, such a,s huge ballast stones, weighing half a ton, round stones, and sheet lead, are brought up duilv. and are of immense interest to the salvors, as their presence testifies to tl\o correctness of tho historical documents rpliwi upon for tho success of the undertaking. Colonel I'os.s and his staff are busy on their barge with these great ballast stones. They are scorching for inore plate, copper, and gold. The first find 1 was shown on board the salvage pontoon was a silver peso. or ''pi?cc of eight," just found that afternoon. It was the findinK of a Hold doubloon on the fluke of a shin's anchor that led to this search for treasure in ISO;"!. The. crew of tiie diving ship often wonder how they are getting so many rounded stone* of three and four inches diameter in the boukier clay and sand, but an extract from the Spanish State miners in the Castle of Simanear explains the frequency with which these are found as well as the quantity of lead-shea ting continually being taken up by the grab on board. "flenernl Orders lor the Armada by tile Duke of Medina Sidnnio, May 1, 1588" (page 2!);)).. "Every ship will carry on board loads of to be used durin.' a fight. These stones aro to be divided between the deck, tho poop, aim', the fighting tops." : J'he : other, given on the samo page, runs as follows:— "The artificial fire must be entrusted to the care of file most skilled men who understand how to manege it; otherwise the result may be great dnmage to ourselves." This accounts for so much lead and copper sheathing being fou id in tho course of the search. To protect them tho bitt Spanish galleons used sheet lead and copper to sheathe their wooccn decks airaiust the use of this artificial fire on the part of ibe English. Among oth'-r relics brought up during the past weeks are calcareous accretions .showinu' rusted muskets, daggers, swords, and axes, lead-piping, peivler, quantities of black African oak. much perforated bv teredo worms, and a variety of shells—ovsters, an inch or more in thickness. luil'c clams, and hermit crabs. Colonel Foss hopes :o exhibit Ibe ship alongside the old Victory, or the old Poiuan galley reconstructe<i' at Westmir.6tor.