Recover]/ of Treasure from the wreck of the Thetis. 369 



their distance and the heights on which they grew, and of which the 

 wood was, from its quality, unsuitable to the purpose. His only re- 

 source, therefore, was to make it of the fragments of spars saved from 

 the wreck. With great exertions, a circumstantial account of which 

 is given in the paper, the work was at length accomplished ; and the 

 result fully equalled the anticipations which had been formed of its 

 utility in affording a stable point of support for the operations with 

 the diving bell. Previously to the erection of a derrick, however, much 

 had been done by working the diving-bell from a boat, and a consider- 

 able quantity of stores and treasure raised. At one time the anxiety 

 of the author to forward the undertaking, and avail himself of favour- 

 able weather, induced him to try the experiment of working by torch- 

 light, which succeeded to a certain extent ; but after a few trials the 

 danger was found to be excessive, and the fatigue to the divers so 

 great as to oblige him to desist. 



After the derrick had been for some time in operation, a tremen- 

 dous sea arose, the shock of which, for want of sufficient materials 

 to support ir, effected its destruction ; and a substitute was then re- 

 sorted to by the setting up of a suspension cable diagonally from the 

 cliffs, which, after great difficulties, was at length effected. 



A great portion of the narrative is occupied with the details of the 

 various proceedings, and of the serious impediments which were suc- 

 cessively overcome by the zeal, perseverance and extraordinary exer- 

 tions of the officers and crew, under the orders of Captain Dickinson, 

 subjected as they were, for so long a period, to the greatest privations 

 and hardships, arising from the laborious nature of the work, the un- 

 healthiness of the climate, the attacks of the chigger, producing distress- 

 ing ulcers in the feet, the annoyance from drifting sand, which pene- 

 trated into every place, the exposure to constant wet in huts which 

 could not be made to exclude either wind or rain, and the perils arising 

 from the boisterous gales and tremendous swell of the sea, which the 

 whole ship's company, but more particularly the men in the diving- 

 bell, had to encounter ; forming a combination of difficulties which 

 the author is convinced could have been surmounted by none but Bri- 

 tish seamen. 



After having succeeded so far in the undertaking, and made, at 

 various times, shipments for England of treasure amounting to about 

 three fourths of the whole which had been on board the Thetis when 

 she sunk, orders were received by the author, on the 6th of March, 

 to resign the charge of the enterprise to the Hon. Capt. De Roos, of 

 His Majesty's brig Algerine; on the receipt of which he immediately 

 ordered a survey to be taken of the stores, and on the 9th descended 

 in the bell, surveyed the bottom of the Cove, ascertained the position 

 of the remaining stores and a considerable quantity of treasure ; and 

 after having communicated the whole of the results to Captain de Roos, 

 instructed him, his officers and ship's company in the way of working 

 the bell, as well as in the different modes of removing rocks, recovering 

 stores and treasure, and the use of the whole of the machinery, and 

 furnished him with every necessary information for his guidance, he 

 lent twenty of his men to the Algerine for their assistance, resigned 

 Third Series. Vol. I, No. 'i:\. Mat/ 1884. 3 B 



