TREASURE SEARCH IN THE NORTH SEA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10902, 20 October 1911, Page 2

TREASURE SEARCH IN THE NORTH SEA.

DIVERS NOW AT WORK ON 112 YEARS' OLD WRECK. In the North. Sea, between the islands of Vlieland and Terschelling, an expedition organised by the National Salvage Association is now at work with a view to the recovery of .treasure which was lost with the English frigate Lutine in 1799, while on passage from London to Hamburg. .'Jhe Lutine set sail.-from the Thames ifl .October, of; that year with an enormous amount of gold for the, English garrison on the Dutch island Texel, and gold and silver bars for Hamburg banking hquses, valued in all at £1,207,000, but she was wrecked- during a violent storm and only one of the crew was saved. : Repeated attempts have been made to find the precious metal, notably in 1800-1 and m 1859-61, and it is estimated that a little over £IOO,OOO worth has already been recovered. Early this year the steam dredger Lyons, in command of Captain Gardiner, was chartered for a further search. She is fitted with powerful suction pumps, capable of displacing nearly 2000 tons of sand an hour, and carries a crew of 45, as well as. ten experienced divers. Already the wreck lias been freed from the large sandbank which covered it, and is now accessible from all sides. Numerous articles have been brought- to the surface, including a large piece of copper, marked "W. Oct. 97" (War Department. 1797), uniform buttons, and gold and copper coins, while the jjowder and ball magazine near which, it is said, the bulk of the treasure was stored, has also been seen. The promoters of the scheme are sanguine that with their powerful engine", they will at last be able to secure what lias'baffled so many seekers. For years the bell of the Llitine has been rung at Lloyd's when announcements with regard to overdue and missing ships are made, and it is quite a | feature of the room iu which underwriters gather, -