RECOVERY OF LOST TREASURE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1217, 27 January 1886, Page 5

RECOVERY OF LOST TREASURE.

The Spanish steamer Alfonso XII., owned by the Lopez line, of Cadiz, sank last February off Point Gando, Grand Canary, being at the time on a voyage from Cadiz to Havana. She had on board about £100,000 worth of Spanish gold five dollar pieces, shipped on behalf of the Spanish Government, and insured chiefly with English Companies. The Marine Insurance Company, of London, which was largely interested, was requested to undertake the conduct of tho salvage operations, and despatched on the 16th of May last Captain Stevens and three specially-selected divers with their tenders. The treasure room was in the run of the ship with three decks above it, at a depth of 25i fathoms, so that the task of salvage was an unprecedented one. The operations have been persevered in for six months, in the face of unforeseen difficulties and complications, and the divers have recovered one box, and it is expected that the remaining nine boxes will soon be safely landed on the deck of the salvage steamer Arabian, fine weather only being needed to complete a salvage which may be fairly regarded as one of the most difficult, if not the moat difficult, on record.