Science And Salvage On Niagara Wreck

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1947, Page 4

Science And Salvage On Niagara Wreck

PLANS for the salvage of the remaining 35 bars of gold still remaining in the wreck of the Niagara were explained by the world famous diver Mr John Johnstone in an interview at Whangarei this morning.

Mr Johnstone proposes to combine r the salvage work, in which a new and specially-designed diving bell will be used, with scientific investigations of the ocean bed. Marine botanists and members of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research may accompany him on this venture which [• will probably take place at the end of this year. Thirty-five bars of gold, each con- I taining more than 4000 ounces and val- ’ ucd at more than £4230 apiece, lie in the wreckage of the liner. The new diving bell is to he equipped with a grab operated from within i the chamber. With this he intends to | recover as much of the remaining gold as is possible. "The purpose of my visit is chiefly 1 to renew old acquaintances and to | spend a short holiday here, but, at 1 iho bade of my mind is the plan to 1 visit tho olu wreck with a view to re- | covering the remainder of the gold and . to prove that salvage can be carried * out at depths of up to 1000 ft,” said Mr i: Johnstone. At 1000 ft under the ocean the limit of visibility was reached, he said, quoting the American scientist, Drs" William Beebe as being of this opinion. > “We do know of the depth at which _ the Niagara lies and we know that it is possible to see andj find our way l about on the wreck. I PROFIT BY EXPERIENCE “With the experience gained on the j 1941 expedition, the new bell is designed to overcome the difficulties met with last time. “The heart-breaking trial and error r period paid dividends, but much f ground had to be covered before sue- j cess was ours,” said Mr Johnstone. t “With the new bell and additional l equipment it will be possible to light j up the depths and manoeuvre around the wreck even to pick up a stray . gold bar which we know to be there, i c “Much has to bo gone into before! this stage can be reached and the chief j ] difficulty is to secure a suitable vessel. . “However, i think this can be overcome. Apart from the spectacular side l of the venture, is the valuable scien- r tific data which can be gathered from probing the depths and seeing first- r hand the haunts of deep sea fish and , marine life. , During the 12 months we were there on the first salvage venture, growth j on the wreck had increased from about an inch to 15in. j “After five years it is safe to say , that the wreck is now covered to a depth of five or six feet. ( “In mind I, have the wreck of the Joliette. near New Caledonia, which , lay for 30 years before I demolished j it. "The scientific data destroyed was lamentable. By pressing a button f which set up a charge of explosive, , marine specimens on which scientists had spent years accumulating information, were destroyed. "Here, at our own front door, we l have in our hands the chance to probe '< the depths j and study first hand marine life and growth,” said Mr Johnstone. k Commenting on the problem of obtaining a vessel, he said that income 1 tax returns on the recovered gold would repay the cost of a vessel’s ; charter rate and he hoped to come to some arrangement with the New - c Zealand Government regarding the t use of a vessel. i

American Says