NEW TREASURE HUNT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 7, 3 July 1911, Page 7

NEW TREASURE HUNT.

EXPLORIXG A SUXKKX FRIGATE. .Amsterdam, .lime 25. The syndicate that was recently formed to explore, the wreck of the British frigate Lutine. which .vas sunk oil' the Dutch coast 112 years ago. in I lie hope of recovering scmic of (he treasure that went down with the ship, has started operations. Various other syndicates have, recover, en about £250.000 in specie, hut there is still nearly £1,000,000 waiting to be found.

The specially designed suction-pump that is at, work has removed some thousands of tons of sand from the wreck, and the stem of the old warship is no\r exposed. The divers employed have had one or two thrilling adventures. On the first day on which Diver Meritt went over the weather suddenly roughened, and after a while the man's signal's ceased.

Jt was, of course, concluded that he had got into dilticulties, and another diver was hastily descending to his rescue when Merritt came to the surface feet, uppermost. ~ lie was quickly hauled aboard the barge, and upon his helmet being removed be was found to be in the last stage of exhaustion.

' As it was afterwards ascertained, when be had recovered sullieiently to describe his adventure, Merritt had experienced one of those perils by which a diver is always threatened. ' His life-line had became entangled, and in this desperate extremity he had cut himself adrift, the nid remaining in his diving dress giving his sullieient buoyancy to bring him to the surface. NOTABLE SALVAGE ENTER PR hSE. OVER A MILLION' OK SI'N'KEX TREASUiE. London, June 20. It has been reported that an English company has been formed to attempt the recovery of the .t'LIM 10.000 said to ltd on the British frigate Lutine, which was wrecked of I' Holland while carrying bullion from Yarmouth to Hamburg! A special salvage stealer, equipped with j modern and powerful''appliances, under the direction of Captain ('. A. Gardiner, is to be employed, in addition to 10 ! divers and -I.") seamen experienced in salvage work.

Disaster befel ||„. I.utino off llio island of Vliclaml. and she has been located between Vlii'liiml and Tershelling. She lies under ii layer of sand About ,'](lft ilecp. It is expected, however, that the powerful pumps <*f the Lyons will ho a hie not. only lo remove this covering, lint, to create a hollow in the sea r bed surrounding the Lutine and exposing to the divers the whole of the hull.

The outcome of the operations will he watched with interest. Xnmcroiis attempts have heen made from time to time to recover the precious cargo of the Lutine. notably at the commencement of last century, and again between KSofi and lSlifl. The Lutine was originally a French frigate (if :!2 guns, but was subsequently captured by Admiral Duncan. In/'ine of the salvage enterprises tne ship's hell ami rudder were recovered, and I'foni the latter 7 was constructed an arm-chair, which is now in the librarv ai Lloyd's. The old frigate's bell also is at Lloyd's.