THE SEARCH FOR THE CATTERTHUN GOLD.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8508, 30 June 1896, Page 3

THE SEARCH FOR THE CATTERTHUN GOLD.

« The fates meteorologically are (says the* Sydney Morning Herald) hostile to the Catterthun gold-seekers. Weeks ago the salvage steamers Mermain and Sophia Ann set out fully equipped with capable divers to pull up" tho precious metal that lies 25 fathoms deep eff Seal Rocks, only to meet with gales and such storms as drove them from the scene. The men returned to Sydney full of hope, of confidence, indeed, that eventually the 10,000 sovereigns would again see ihe light of day, and as much more treasure as they could fossick oub. Ib seems that amongst the passengers lost m the Catterthun waa a, Chinese merchant, who elected to carry with him m gold L2OOO m preference to a bank draft. He occupied one of the staterooms m tho deckhouse amidships, and when the' ship was sinking he was seen to rush oub of his berth, bub was nob seen afterwards. Whether he got back and shut himself m hia room, as -did the Chinese lady who occupied the stateroom on tho opposite side of the deckhouse is nob known ; but it is thought that ho jumped into the sea, leaving his treasure m his cabin. That he would take his money with him is unlikely under the ol**** cumstanees, if tho evidence of some of the Chinese survivors may be accepted as sound m theory, oneof themhavingstated at the Catterthun inquiry that any man who 'had gold about him ab a time of shipwreck was sure to be drowned, and that he (the ' witness), w'io had a belt round his waisb containing his hard savings, cub it adrift when ho jumped into the sea, otherwise "Joss" would never save him.