SALVAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1924, Page 1

SALVAGE.

“Tlic Wonders of 'Salvage,” by Air David Masters, is aptly named, for these true stories make one marvel at what can ho achieved by seamanship, resource and perseverance. Many of them, relate to sunken treasure. Thus, some years ago, a diver was working on the coast in the north of Ireland, and was in the habit of spending his evenings in the inn, yarning with the fishermen of the place. One old fellow told him that according to local tradition, a Spanish galleon belonging to the great Armada had gone down hard by. After some trouble the diver succeeded in finding the hulk, and recovered a quantity of Spanish doubloons. There is another tale of the Armada, which up to the present, has not had finite so happy a conclusion. In 1588, so runs the legend .the galleon Florenencia, laden with bullion and jewels, put into Tobermory Hay, in the Isle of Mull, and there she foundered. There is some doubt about the truth of the report, for the Spanish insist that she returned home after the disastrous expedition. On the other hand Spanish guns and weapons have been retrieved from the bottom of the bay. The Duke of Argyll, at any rate is satisfied that the Florencia is there, and has spent a fortune in hunting for her, though hitherto without result. Even if she is there, she is probably buried deep in the silt. Another rich prize that is still Co he won is the 11.M.5. l.utine. In 171)0 this vessel was bound for the Texcl with the pay for the British troops, and also with a quantity of specie for Continental consignees. Its total value was Cl ,000,000. .She was overwhelmed by a storm off the Dutch coast, and smile. Since then repeated attempts have been made to salve the gold, and, indeed, large sums have been recovered at various times. But always the work has had to be cut short. In a gale the Entitle would disappear, swallowed by the treacherous shifting sand. It was impossible to locate the wreck until, perhaps years later another storm uncovered her. At present her whereabouts is unknown. It is her bell by the way, which hangs in Lloyd’s, and is struck to announce losses. Easily the most lucrative teat of salvage in history was the recovery of the specie from the Eaurenlic. This vessel was torpedoed off the coast of Donegal, in I til 7, when hound for America carrying gold and silver ingots worth approximately CT,1)00,0(10. She sank in deep water, and to get. at these ingots which were behind bolt and bar in an almost impregnable strongroom, seemed impossible. But, for seven seasons, the Admiralty divers toiled indefatigably, and at the end of the summer of EE’:), four and three quarter million worth of specie had been brought up. During the war the Admiralty salvage section salved nearly 500 ships, which, with their cargoes, were worth C50,000,1)1)0. But. perhaps, the most notable individual achievement in salvage is to the credit of the Italians. Tn lOlti the finest battleship in the Italian Navy, the Econardo de \ indi, of ~E--000 tons, was blown up in laranto. As she sank she turned turtle, and rested bottom-up on the bed of the harbour, her funnels 1)0 feet deep in the mud Gradually her weight plunged her still further in the silt, until a great part „f her hull was engulfed. To salve her seemed unite impracticable, lor even 1 she could be estimated from the mild ll,:, I bold her ill its tenacious grip, and raised to the surface, bow could she ri'ditcd But Italian pride was touehand the miracle was accomplished.