ELINGAMITE TREASURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13648, 16 January 1908, Page 5

ELINGAMITE TREASURE.

RETURN OF THE CLAYMORE. EXPEDITION ABANDONED. THE DEATH OF DIVER CLARKE. Thk steamer Claymore, which has been engaged in an effort to obtain the balance of the specie which went clown in the Elmgamitc when ftho was wrecked off the Three Kings, five years ago, returned to Auckland last night, after an absence of 31 days. leaving Auckland on December 14, the Claymore, having on board Captain D. MeKe»c, Messrs. Clarke • and Leigh (divers) and several others, made straight for the Three Kings, and the divers, after several attempts managed to obtain about £700. As the weather became unfavourable, and prevented the divers from working, the steamer put into Tom Bowline's Bay, where she sheltered for several days. A further visit was made to the Kings, but the weather still continuing bad, the Claymore put into Mangonui where she remained until after the New Year holidays. She then returned to the Kings, but the diver* were only able to work for .about a day and a-half, obtaining about £200 more of the specie. The last work done was on Sunday last, when Mr. Clarke went down three times, and on coming up the last time, he reported himself as fit and well. He was taken on board the Claymore, and shortly afterwards complained of a cramp in the arm, and in his feet. Mr. Leigh, the other diver, then made a descent to the wreck, and on regaining the boat he and the others of the party returned to the Claymore. Mr. Clarke was thin found to be feeling the effects of compressed air on the lungs, but this was relieved by means of a hot bag, and he seemed to be merely suffering from the usual inconveniences which are common to the diver's calling. The weather looking dangerous, it was decided to return to Mangonui, and the Claymore left the Three Kings at 9.15 p.m. on Sunday. Between 10.30 and 10.45 p.m., with no indications whatever of collapse, Mr. Clarke suddenly expired. THE INQUEST. The Claymore arrived at Mangonui on Monday morning, and the death of Mr. Clarke having been notified to the police, an inquest was held before Mr. R. M. Houston, M.P., acting as Coroner, and a jury of six, the inquest being held in the cabin of the Claymore.

Evidence was given by Captain D. McKenzie, who was in charge of the diving party when Clarke went down for the last time, Mr. E. Harper (the signalman), Mr. T. Wallan (timekeeper), and Mr. Robinson (for the underwriters) all of whom testified that every care was taken, and that there had been no carelessness on the part of anyone. Dr. Forbes stated that the deceased had died from "pulmonary embolism," in other words, from the formation and enlargement of a clot of blood on the brain, which eventually caused death. The doctor stated tliafc he did not think that the remaining under water had anything to do with the death of deceased, as from his condition, death might ihawe taken place at any time. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, stating also that the death was purely accidental, and that no one on board of the Claymore was in any way to blame for the sad occurrence. The deceased was buried on Tuesday in St. Andrew's Church cemetery. THE SYNDICATE'S DECISION. The Claymore left Mangonui on Tuesday, and called in at Omaha, yesterday afternoon, reaching Auckland last night. The members of the present syndicate have decided to abandon any further attempts to secure the balance of the specie. They have recovered about £3300 out of the £17,000 which was on board of the Elingamite. What has been recovered was scattered all over the vicinity of the wreck, and the balance is stated to be in such a position inside the hull of the. steamer that it can only be secured by blasting operations.