GENERAL GRANT TREASURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1915, Page 9 (Supplement)

GENERAL GRANT TREASURE.

SALVAGING EXPEDITION RETURNS. HANDSHAKES WITH DEATH. (Special to Wellington Times)'. Bluff, September 28. Unheralded and unknown, an adventu. rous expedition temporarily returned to Bluff yesterday from an exhaustive search for the gold of the ill-fated ship General Grant, wrecked on the rockbound desolate Auckland Islands exactly half a century ago. Captain P. V. Catling purchased the cutter Enterprise in Bluff a few months ago, ostensibly to undertake a fishing cruise, and nothing further was heard of the vessel or her crew of three until her unheralded return for stores and further outfit. For three months the party thoroughly explored the whole of Auckland Islands coastline, every nook and cranny, and in the course of this hazardous and foolhardy task they experienced adventures enough to fill a book. The actual examination of the coastline was carried out in a cockleshell centreboard canoe, specially constructed with air-tight compartments, and unsinkable —a method which none but very adventurous and thoroughly capable seamen would ever have dared risk. Not once, but oil numerous occasions the party had hairbreadth escapes -which give some little indication of the great weather nnd tidal conditions which beset navigation in those storm-swept southerly waters. Fortunately the Enterprise proved herself a splendid sea boat, and she succeeded in returning to New Zealand, so to speak, to report progress. Captain Catling was accompanied by John Olsen, A.8., and Paul Suveran, an ex-French man-o'-war's-man. All had had long and varied experiences at sea. They have succeeded in carrying out the most thorough and complete charting ever attempted at the Auckland Islands, and they return shortly to carry out diving in earnest in what they are satisfied is the actual site of the wreck. Captain Catling has no song to sing about fabulous treasure. He is thoroughly in earnest in his effort to salvage the General Grant's specie, and he knows the difficulties to be encountered; but he has such faith in his ability to raise it that he' has already expended over £ 1000 in equipment. The Enterprise is fitted out . with the most up-to-date and complete equipment south of the line, including special compressed cylinders which will supply air to the diver for two hours at a moderate depth without pumping, a two-valve diver's helmet, specially made to Captain Catling's specifications, floating air tubing, a 500-candle-power electric lamp for submarine work, and a special apparatus which effectively discloses the sea bottom to a great depth. A SQUALLY BAPTISM. The Enterprise cleared Bluff on June S, but was held up by dirty weather off Stewart Island for fourteen days. On one occasion one of the party (Suveran) | was swept overboard by the main-sheet, to which he clung, and was fortunately, rescued a few minutes later. On the trip down to the Aucklands the cutter proved herself a splendid sea boat, and took the tremendous seas like a cork, laughing at seas that would make steamers ten times her size wallow and ship green water. The Aucklands were sighted on June 23, and the Enterprise beat Uj eastward between Bristow Rock and Enderby Island to make Port Ross, but the seas were too heavy, and the craft put about, clearing North-West Cape and Disappointment Island and layingto off Cape Bristow. Owing to heavy weather and a 10-knot tide running through Carnley Harbor she ran around under the lee of Adams Island. Tremendous seas were running, and the little craft had a rough handling while trying to beat into Fly Harbor, and finally had to give it up and run back to the western entrance, where she got through against a swirl of tide which swung her around and straight for the rocks. Only the instantaneous jambing out of the tiller to port and a sudden squall filling the main sail saved the situation, the splendid little cutter shaking herself free from ths eddy and making Western Harbor safely. Anchor was dropped with many sighs of relief after an extremely unpleasant introduction to the notoriously stormy shores of the Auckland Islands. The specially constructed unsinkable canoe was stove in on the deck, but was repaired and- rendere'd serviceable again. BEFOGGED AND BE,STORMED. On the 27th, while trying to make Port Boss from outside the dangerous reefs that stretch several miles out to sea, the Enterprise, sailing up the east coast, was caught in a fog and carried bv a strong current past Enderby Island and along the northern coast. Next day the cliffs were picked up, and these proved to be the west coast, with furious breakers right ahead, proving that the current had carried the boat right across from east to west, and north of Enderby Islam!. Great dilftcu.ty was experienced in besting back against the powerful current, and the Enterprise was again in a thick fog without making Port Boss. She was in a very dangerous position, as the fog was so thick that it was impossible to see beyond 100 yards, and there were terrible breakers running on the north shore of Enderby Island. To make matters worse, the compass was evidently deviated a point or more by some 'local attraction, the Aucklands being noted for lodestone and other magnetic" attractions which annoy mariners. The engine (an 8-h.p. Viking) had to be kept going the whole time, and if it had failed it would have been all up with everything. Steering by the breakers, Captain Cat. ling got right round North-east Cape, but the deviation of the compass ren'icred further sailing dangerous, and the vessel was hove-to. The fog suddenly rose at i) a.m. on tile 28th, and disclosed that the craft was midway between Ocean Island and Ewing Island (east of the entrance to Port Boss). The sun breaking through lit up the face of the Government provision depot, and the log (Vrotained the following significant entry: "Thank God, we are safe in harbor. What terrible islands these arc for fogs and currents, and only one current charted. They are most dangerous. We all turned in dog-tired and dead beat." SEALS AND RABBITS. The depot was found intact. Enderby Island was simply infested with rabbits, and after shooting a supply the adventurers made for Laurie harbor (at the head of Port Ross) for water and fireWood. Sea lions were found in the long grass at the head of the harbor in large numbers. One of them went for the party,' and as they did not like to do him any harm they left him proudly in charge of the whole field. Another' big fellow disputed their claim to the watering place, and came at them openmouthed, with the result that they bom.

barded him with stone. One big rock got him right on the back, and lie did not stop until he gained the cover of the bush. Five of them followed the boat and tried to chew a lump out of one of the oars. They chased the boat in great style, evidently thinking the boat was running away from them. The faster the boat went tie faster went the seals, diving and swimming like porpoises. The whole colony showed great curiosity, and evidently no sealers have [ disturbed them for a long time, for they showed no fear whatever. EXPLORATIO NHAZARDS. On Ju 1 y 10 the work of exploring the coast in search of the General Grant and her treasure commenced in earnest. A thorough search was mapped oat to set at rest the various theories from survivors, and other theories, which included the whole of the western cliff-like shores from Black's Head in the north to South Cape in the extreme south of Adams Island. They cleared Laurie Harbor in a dead calm, and reached the Column Rocks, at the extreme nor'-west corner of the main island, by dark. They had fossicked their way down as far as Beehive Rocks, roughly, halfway down the west coast, hoping to get as far as Bristow Point next morning. Unfortunately, a light baffling wind sprang up from the sou'-west, with a heavy swell rolling in and setting the craft stern first towards he rode Siore, These were, as it happened, exactly the same conditions which resulted in the loss of the General Ga'ant herself, but the Enterprise was able, with her engine going, to push out to sea. That settled the exploration for the time being, particularly when the weather came up dirty, with an ever-increasing heavy swell. A NARROW SQUEAK. It was decided to beat up for Ca'rnley Harbor (the western portion of the strait separating Adams Island from the main island), but they got badly set down off Cape lovitt and the Enterprise got a terrible thrashing against tile heavy squalls of tremendous seas which rolled in. So close did they get set that they had to shake out the first reef and smash her into it under all sail. This cleared them. On getting a view of the western entrance to the strait, Captain Catling decided to risk the passage into (kiniey Harbor. The .Enterprise simply flew before the wind right in. Once in the entrance it was a case of flying right through or smash, ag there was no possible return against the wind and tide. The stern of the cutter got swung round, and, coming down a big swell, her keel just touched a sunken rock, but providentially she grazed the obstruction and did no damage, so lightly did she touch. They made Western Harbor, and found such good shelter that they were able t 0 hoist the sails and dry them, despite the terrific gale whirling up Carnley Harbor. The seas were tremen. dous in the passage, on account of the increasing sea meeting the outgoing tide, and the much-buffeted explorers were greatly impressed by their marvellous escape. Again the log contained a significant entry:— "Every time we got out" of harbor here we seem to have narrow escapes that one might well describe as handshakes with death." CANOEING AMONGST CLIFFS. From July 11 until the 19th the Enterprise was held up in Western Harbor. It was then decided to resume the expedition. On making for the open water the craft got a severe tossing up in a eery heavy sea and eddy off Monumental Island, but she got safely out. They coasted close along shore, past the I immense cliffs all along the western coast right up to the Column Rocks, where the sea has made a great arch through the two great columns, which arc from 220 ft to 250 ft high. Captain Catling made a very careful search inshore for likely spots answering the descriptions given by the survivors of the General Grant. He used his canoe for this hazardous work, penetrating the cliffs in a bight for about 250 yards. This inlet is almost rectangular in shape, with high, perpendicular walls on every side. At the far end were two small caves on the right and a large one on the left. From external appearances it ansrevved the description very well, but there was a reef right across the' mouth of it, so that it could not be the place they were searching for. They had found only one other spot answering the description, and they decided to visit it right away. Unfortunately, another ''roarer" set in, with heavy fog. WATERFALLS. They were glad to make Camp Cove and anchor in Fly Harbor, which proved to be the next day's sanctuary from a storm. Although the entrance is kelpy this is one of the finest harbors of the Auckland Islands, with a first-rate anchorage. At the head of the harbor ia a waterfall that comes down a height of 250 ft from a flat rock and another from a height of 650 ft to 700 ft, emptying into the head of the harbor Captain Catling took photographs of them. Captain Catling and Olsen climbed to the top of the ridge on Adams Island—a height of 2000ft—after a severe struggle, as the slops were exceedingly precipitous and the easier gradients heavily wooded with rata. The object was to examine the ciiffs from the land, but they were held up by dense bush, whieh proved quite impassable. On returning they examined the 7000 ft. waterfall from ths top. It was a mountaineering feat to get down to the shore again by means of precipitous shelves. It was a case of scrambling and clinging to branches and trunks of trees like monkeys; but they succeeded. For twelve days a hurricane kept the Enterprise in Fly Harbor with 20 fathoms of chain out. LANTERN ROCKS CAVERN. The Lantern ltocks to the sou'-west of Adams Island contain a bight whieh might possibly answer the description of the explorers' objective, and it has been suggested that this might li'itve been the site of the wreck. Then on August 4 the weather moderated, and the canoe, with mast and sail, was requisitioned to examine this locality. The canoe was again commissioned on August 6, when the south-western coast was explored thoroughly as far north as Cape Bristow, the skipper and his mate actually rowing seventeen miles altogether. Next day the thorough work of examination was continued, and the Enterprise sailed around to Cape Bristow, where the canoe resumed the search. They coasted close in, and examined the great bight near Beehive Rocks very carefully, and then further north to the place where the castaways of the Dundonald landed in 1007. They found a number of great caverns in the cliffs in this vicinity. Disappointment Island was also carefully circumnavigated on I the 9th.

f- CANOE SMASHED. When off Cape Lovitt the Enterprise got out of touch with the canoe and darkness set in without a reseue being effected. Finally, by means of lantern signals, they located each other, but unfortunately owing to the heavy swell the canoe had to be abandoned after all the gear had been removed. The loss of the canoe was a serious one, as all the exploration had to be carried out in an j open dinghy, lie dangerous work of: searching was not lightened by the change, nor was the tension on the nerves reduced. There ir- only about five miles of coastline to be sounded, which was very fortunate. OBSERVATION UNDER WATER. Gales, followed by thick fog, held everything up from August 28 to September 7, the party waiting patiently for a change. On the 7th the dinghy was loaded up with compass, grapnels, ropes, provisions, mast and sails, etc., to finish the job; but after rowing to Adams Rock, outside the western entrance, they had to return as another hurricane was springing up. It was well for them that they reached the entrance, because if they had been caught out in the open they could never have weathered the storm in an open boat. On the Uth the weather was good enough to venture out, and they sailed into the bight by the Lantern Rocks and sounded in each great cavern. With the aid of their special apparatus, they observed the bottom clearly down to 18 fathoms. The last of the unexplored places between Cape Lovitt and the western entrance was then carefully sounded and examined. GOOD PROSPECTS. That completed the most thorough ex. animation ever made of the west coast of the Auckland Islands. For three months the adventurous trio had explored and sounded every nook and corner of the islands, north, south, east and west, including Disappointment, 'Enderby, Ross and Adorns Islands. They have narrowed down the whole of the possible sites of the wreck to one spot, which clearly has all the characteristics that answer to the survivors' narratives and the experts who have already made an attempt to recover the treasure, OUT OF STORES. When they decided to leaver they had only enough benzine left to see them clear of the islands, and practically the whole of' the stores were cleaned out, with the exception of tinned meat which they had conserved by shooting rabbits and shags. To complete the job Captain Catling considers that a launch instead of a canoe or dinghy is desirable, as either of the latter is really too dangerous for work in those latitudes. With provisions for six months Captain Catling anticipates leaving in a few weeks to make a final big bid to recover the gold of the General Grant. He considers it better than a goldmine, because if the wreck is found the gold is theTe, whereas a man may have a goldmine but no gold. Captain Catling's daring expedition in the Enterprise is the first practical attempt sinee 1877 to locate the Gelieral Grant, and it is satisfactory to learn that he is so satisfied with the prospects that -he returns shortly in an endeavor to solve the mystery of the General Grant for once and for all. ' !