SUNKEN TREASURE SHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1928, Page 1

SUNKEN TREASURE SHIP

A HFLTC OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS.

Salvaging a ship which has lain at the bottom of the sea for over a century is not proving to he an easy task. A. livorue.su firm recently obtained per-mi"-iou from the port authorities to raise from the sea. off the coast of Fib a, the wreck of a ship sunk 129 years ago.

She was the Poiluce, and was on her way from Naples to Spain laden with valuables and treasures belonging to Ferdinand l\ . who was deposed" by Napoleon. The captain received orders to sail near Longotic, on the island of .Elba, as that region belonged to the kingdom of Naples, and help could ho obtained in secreting the cargo in case the journey to Spain was: obstructed. But the French heaid of the treasure ship, and a small fleet pursued the Poiluce. ordering the captain to surrender; hut lie preferred to scuttle his ship, which soon sank in n denth of '225 feet ol Atatoi.

When the King returned to Naples an effort was made to recover the t-roa sure, hut it was not successful. I"' () brigs with special hauling machinery, anchored over the wreck, ami by means of chains began hauling it up* The weight was so great that tlmre was great danger of the two brigs sinking, so the chains were loosened a.nd the wreck sank again to the bottom of the sea.

That tli(Mv stills remains somethin-' of the ship is shown hy the tale ol a fisherman, wlm in pulling up his net. brought up part of a mast. bu. 1,11 treasures.