A SUNKEN TREASURE SHIP AT NEW YORK.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 241, 11 February 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

A SUNKEN TREASURE SHIP AT NEW YORK.

Over a hundred years ago, tho British war ship Huzzar, having on board nearly 5,000,000 dollars in gold coin, was sunk in the waters of the East River, in what is now tho north-easterly part of New York City. Up to the present time tho raising of bho vessel and tho recovery of the treasure has bailed the cilbrta of capable men, though aided by the bosfc appliances 01 modern science and mechanics. It still remains a task for the genius of the invento r to devise a practical method of solving the problem. In his opinion in the case of Joseph C. Ilartfehorn against George W. Thomas, lately filed by Vice-Chancellor Bird, of New Jersey, he 1 ellrf this interesting story : — Tho British frigate Huzzar, sunk near thecityofNew York on 25th November, 1780, was a 32 gun ship, 206 feet in length, 52 feet 2 inches beam ; one of England's proudest ships. She had on board £580,000 in treasure for the purpose of paying the army and navy, they having been without pay for nearly throe years. The Mercury also sailed for tho same destination with £380,000 of British treasure on board. Her destination was also Now York. The Hussar lay at anchor off the Battery two days after her arrival, and during this time the treasure on board tho Mercury was transferred to the Hussar, tho city then being besieged by an army of "American rebels" and in great danger of capture. The Hussar was thnn ordered to sailforthwith to Newport, R.I. ,and on her way up tho East River to the Sound, she struck upon Pot Rack, nearly opposite the upper extremity of Randall's island. An effort was made to land her at Port Morris, When she got within less than 100 yards of tho shore, sho sank suddenly with all- on board, numbering about 150, leaving only the top-masts in view. There were many American prisoners on board, who, being chained below, went down with the ship, and tho loss of whose lives created a deep feeling of indignation among revolutionary patriots throughout the country. The shore whore the vessel went down and where she now lies has nearly perpendicular walls, and at medium tide the water is about 70 feet deep. The whole amount of money on board is estimated at $4,800,000. In 1794 the British Government employed two brigs and laboured two summers endeavouring to raise the ship by means of grapples, but without success. It is said they were ordered off by the American Government. In 1819 the work was again undertaken by a British company, endeavouring to operate upon the ship by means of a diving bell, the most effective submarine appliance known at that time, but owing to the great volume of tide it was compelled to abandon the enterprise. After this the British Government offered a large salvage to induce parties in the States to undertake thoraisingot the ship. Two or three companies were organised for that purpose in and about Philadelphia and Baltimore,and made the attempt, but without (■ uccess, owing to the great strength of tho tido at all times. In 1848 Captain Taylor invented what was called submarine armour, and he was so confident that his invention could successfully operate upon tho Hussar that he was induced to obtain personal knowledge at the Admiralty department in England in regard to the amount of treasure. Ho laboured in the undertaking until his death. He willed his invention to his friend, Charles B. Pratt of Worcester, Massachusetts, with his entire outfit, which he had been three years or more collecting, upon condition that Mr Pratt should prosecute the work until the treasure was finally obtained and that he should give one-sixth thereof to his wife and daughter. Mr Pratt accepted the terms, and was joined in the enterprise by others. The ship's decks were entirely removed ; twenty-six cannon large and small were taken up and sold > for §1,500, 4,000 cannon balls, large quantities of rotten cordage, many bushelsofgunflints.severalleather buckles with the name Hussar on them, which may be seen at the historical rooms in the city of Worcester ; many human bones and skulls, manacles and chains, glass, earthen and pewter ware, the ship's ell, and hundreds of articles usually on board of a war vessel, most of which are still in the custody of the company. Mr Pratt and his friends continued the work until 1866, when individual interests had been divided, subdivided and re-subdivided, and the fractions scattered far and near. With a great deal of trouble the several interests were collected and a company incorporated under the laws of New York, with a nominal capital corresponding with the amount of treasure the Hussar was supposed to contain, and divided into 48,000 shares of lOOdol, each, and krown as the Frigate Hussar Company. This company worked with more or less success after that time. An effort was made to get the submarine company which operated on the steamer Golden Gate, lost on the Pacific coast, with 1,000,000d015. in gold on board, Lo operate on the frigate Hussar, but it does not appear that that effort was successful. It is in evidence that from 1857 : to 1880 there were continuous efforts made by different interests to reach and raise ! the Hussar or to lift tho buried treasure from her hulk. Although he had commenced searching for the prize in 1879, in 1880 George W. Thomas, the defendant, being influenced by a stronger desire to exhume this treasure and by a strong conviction that it could be accomplislied, secured permission from the Government to proceed, and solicited aid from his friends for the purpose of carrying on the enterprise. Money was advanced to him by them. On the receipt of money he acknowledged it, and gave them a stipulation agreeing that he would, as soon as he recovered the treasure, "pay to said tho sum of dol., with no more delay than will be necessary to convert the same into lawful money of the United States." The complainant advanced to the defendant 5,000d01. in tho first instance, which was acknowledged by the signing of such a receipt. This was upon 16th February, 1882. On 2nd March, 1883, he advanced 5,000d01. more on like terms. In May of the same year he advanced 3,000d01. additional, which last sum tho complainant insists was upon the same represen (rations and for a like purpose, but which the defendant insists was loaned to him xjpon his own personal security, together with a chattel mortgage on the scow in use at the work, and without any reference to the enterprise of raising the buried treasure. Tho enterprise thus begun by Thomas was carried on until January, 1884, when his supporters became discouraged, sought to call him to account, and failing that, they formed a company for the purpose of carrying on the work themselves. They succeeded in having the Government annul all obligations between it and Thomas." His property was attached, and when the proceedings were settled, the chattel mortgage alluded to was enforced and all Jub appliances were sold. No part of the money advanced by the plaintiff has ever been repaid, except what was realised from the sale under the chattel mortgage. The bill in this"" case asks that the contract made by the defendant with the plaintiff and others be specifically performed ; that a receiver may be appointed to take charge of Thomas's property, and that the defendant account for all the moneys received- by

him to raise the sunken treasure. The Vice-Chancellor refuses every parb of tho application except the calling upon tho defendant to account. "It is just to say," says tho Vice-Ohancellor, " that I can discover nothing which tends to the conclusion that the defendant, Thomas, attempted in any sense to mislead. Thafe the accomplishment of the undertakingwas certain in his mind is very plain. Ho undoubtedly believed that ho would be successful, and he made every rea&onablo eflbrl to convey this conviction to the minds of those irom whom he sought pecuniary aid. It would nob perhaps be departing from tho tiuth to say that his oppressions were over confident, and that cautious men— men not given to speculation or fond of pursuing chimeras—would nob have entertained his propositions. Most probably such men would have spurned them, and would have found his convictions utterly baseless in the immense reward that was offered for the loan ; that ia, $37,500. Bub ib is nob the first time that a shining hook has been grasped to be followed by mortification and Joss. — " Scientific American."