Undersea Gold

The high price of gold and the march of science have combined to make treasure hunting a practical as well as a romantic pursuit. Last week famed Master Locksmith Charles Courtney, who rifled the safes of the sunken Egypt 400 ft. undersea (TIME, June 2, July 18), was back in Man- hattan with a sensational version of the salvaging of H. M. S. Hampshire in the North Sea. The Hampshire, victim of a German mine, went down with Earl Kitchener and some $10,000,000 in gold aboard in 1916.

Although British officials last month denied even the report that the cruiser had been located, Locksmith Courtney said that he had descended to the wreck in a new kind of duralumin diving suit which .combines flexibility with pressure resistance, had opened one safe from which was recovered -L-15,000 in gold. Another dive, he related, had provided an experience he would not care to repeat. He and a companion were caught alongside the jagged wreckage by a strong tide. He was helpless in the dark green water for 40 min. Undertow bashed him against sharp steel, so dented his duralumin suit that twelve stitches had to be taken in his side when he was rescued an hour later. His hand was mangled. His hair had turned white.

Last week a U. S. Coast Guard destroyer steamed out beyond the Virginia Capes to police another exciting treasure hunt. Goal was the Merida, sunk in 210 ft. of water in 1911 with bullion and jewels in her vaults. In the Salvor, backed by Vincent Astor & friends, Captain Harry L. Bowdoin set out to catch the prize. Aboard he carried stout metal cylinders with movable legs and arms attached, which were to enable his divers to work comfortably at great depths. The weighty apparatus (1,400 Ib. at the surface) is also equipped with searchlights. Also aboard, Captain Bowdoin carried small arms and machine-guns, prepared for naval battle with high-jackers or covetous rivals. Just what happened at the wreck scene the Coast Guard did not report, but presently a Captain John Hall of the Theresa & Dan and Jnord, also trying to salvage the Merida, ran in to Norfolk, roaring that Captain Bowdoin had cut his anchor chain.

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