SALVING A TREASURE SHIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19446, 4 November 1925, Page 8

SALVING A TREASURE SHIP

sensational occurrence. ' NARROW ESCAPE OF WORKERS. CAPE TOWN, Aug. 28. The attempt to salve the £3,000,000 worth of precious stones, gold and silver supposed to be lying in the lazarette of the East Indian Grosvenor, -wrecked on the East Pondoland coast of Africa 143 years ago, hlas been suspended, owing to an accident which, but for a miraculous stroke of luck, would have proved fatal to the lives the entire working party. The New Grosvenor Bullion Syndicate is continuing the task abandoned by the last company of trying to construct a tunnel under the sock to a spot beneath the wreck thought to be the Grosvenor. Mr. R. Athey, the managing engineer, after three months’ preparation, this week commenced pumping out water from the shaft of an old tunnel. Shortly after noon he had pumped 10,000 gallons out of the shaft, which gave a clear run down for 70ft. beneath the rock. Six natives, miners, were engaged at this depth lowering the pump, when suddenly a roar wtis heard in the horizontal tunnel running out to sea "300 ft. toward the wreck, and in three minutes the inrushing sea had completely filled the shaft. One native was caught beneath the pump, but the rush of water washed him clear and brought i him to the surface. The remaining i men rticed for lifo against the water , and escaped. Had the break in the tunnel occurred one hour later the entire party, including the engineer. Mr. F. H. Webb, of Durban, a miner, would have been caught, in the sump at the bottom of tho shaft without chance of escape. The operations have now ceased until it is decided by the directors of the syndicate whether to send down b diver or abandon the work on the old tunnel, which reaches within 50ft. of the wreck, or start a new tunnel. In an interview Mr. Athey expressed great confidence in spite of tho setback that if a new tunnel is commenced he can reach a point below the wreck in six months. Up to tho present the scheme to recover the sunken treasure has cost tho syndicate £4OOO. and is costing £l5O b month in working expenses.