THE GOTHENBURG WRECK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4381, 5 April 1875, Page 3

THE GOTHENBURG WRECK.

THE DIVEII’S NARRATIVE. Brisbane, March 15, Night. The following is the report of Hr. James Putwain, the diver, who has been working at the wreck of the steamship Gothenburg ; “I left Bowen on Sunday morning, the 7th inst., at six o’clock, in the Florence Irving, with a boat, diving apparatus, and a crew, for the purpose of trying to recover gold aud other valuables supposed to be lost in the Gothenburg. We were cast adrift from the Florence Irviug near the scene of the wreck at noon the same day, and the steamer proceeded on her voyage. “ The wreck was found lying with head H.E. and S.W., with a strong list to port, the stern in about ten fathoms of water, and the bows in about five fathoms, with her foremast and yards lying awash. “I found much difficulty in getting down, in consequence of the strong current and heavy wash on the reef, aud finding it was impracticable to go down from the boat, I rigged a temporary stage from the maintop, which was a few feet out of the water. Here I fitted up my diving apparatus, and then made my descent from the rigging to the captain’s cabin, but my air tube becoming entangled with the ship’s funnel I had great difficulty in clearing it, and at one time thought the consequences would have been very serious, owing to the attendant being unused to handling the apparatus. After some delay I succeeded in cleaving the tube, and was compelled to come to the surface to give fresh instructions. I then descended the second time, and took a short survey of the ship. I found her broken abaft the fore cabins, and the funnel partially down, but the deck is not started abaft of where she is broken. The captain’s cabin was broken away, except the roof aud combings. After a diligent search I got to the box supposed to contain the gold on the lee side of the combings of the captain’s cabin, aud at once slung it, and placed it in a convenient position for hoisting to the surface. I then endeavored to descend the cabin stairs, but only could go down a few steps ii consequence of not having sufficient length of tube; but here a melancholy sight presented itself, for at the port side of the vessel, and at the foot of the saloon stall's, I saw two females, one apparently having her aim around the other. I was anxious to get there to obtain, if possible, a portion of their hair, which was flowing loosely around them, or some other relic that might be identified by their friends, and serve them as a memento of their fearful and sudden loss, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful for reasons previously mentioned. Finding that at this time I could not do further good at the wreck, and after making the gold secure in the boat, I proceeded to Bowen and reported all the circumstances to the proper authorities, and deposited the gold in the Joint Stock Bank. I left Bowen next morning for the wreck, but found I could do nothing, the weather being too boisterous ; but while waiting alongside, we caught two sharks tw< Ive feet long.”