Frozen Sd

[Parachrom]

The ice left the River where i have been searching now for over 30 years for the paymasters barge. Short version "in 1869 the paymaster left the town of perth aboard his royal barge to distribute coin of the realm to troops , outposts, and provisioners in the Rideau waterway system. He made the first provisioner as evidenced by written report but none others. Payment in those days were as follows. Officers Gold sovereigns, NCO silver regular troops script coin. All provisioners in gold. Approx 1200 pieces of gold sovereign and half that silver and thousands of script coins were on board this small boat. (approx 25 feet long).

A smallish steam style engine was used, the decks coated in creosote. I surmise either the paymaster and two other crew took off with the treasure or a coal clinker set the deck alight and it burned and sank.

Over 30 years now I have been scouring the river in seacrh of the actual barge itself.

Best time is during spring run off. The bottom is heavily sanded and silted,during the rest of the summer but the bed is clay. But at runoff time its clear to the clay bed

Went into dive yesterday, about a half mile from where i normally go in. The bottom was scoured clean, vis was approx 18 inches. I recovered some cast iron or what appears to be cast iron gearing pieces, and a plate which would cover a small pot belly type of stove or perhaps a boiler.

It was exceedingly cold, even with my Titanium suit , the icy cold fingers of the river (42 F)caused certain poarts of my older anatomy to shrink....brrrrrr

Over the years I have found the propeller (bronze , hand hammers and keyed), keyed drive shaft, not exactly an engineering marvel for sure.

I feel tbhis will be the year the river gives up its secrets and hopefullt the pay masters box with all its contents.

Its niot much of a treasure, but it is treadsure non the less. Time to disassemble the metal detector, clean it lube the o rings, condition the batteries and put it all together and test it . May is the month where vis comes up, water is a balmy 65 degrees fahrenheit.

So i bide my taime and wait till then I scavenge all the reading material i can find on the Land grants and troop mpovements during that time. Funny how when you think you have read it all, up comes another obscure piece that makes the puzzle even more complete. For example one newspaper report in that day shows a provisioner being able to see smoke out on the horizon towards Emsley. This would possibly put the barge on the river near Port Elmsley where it may have burnt to the water line and sank taking all hands???

Thats a big ass stretch of river, slowly but surely i think i am getting closer.\

Almost forgot sinc e this is a rolexs forum I must speak a few words about my Watch. The Sea Dweller which acompnied me kept excellent time, and unlike this writter did not suffer from shrinkage . I am always marvelled by the sight of this watch on my wrist when I dive. Its is just so much more beautiful when it is in the water where it is supposed to be.

Total dive time was a bit over 65 minutes depth between 35 ft to 15 feet, current was running hard at approx 4 knots, and was from the surface to about two feet off the bottom. Funny you swim normally on the bottom, raise yourself up a bit and take off like a jet downstream.

I did recover as I turned over a small rock a copper token it was clearly marked "1863 Nova Scotia half penny token. " How it got there, who had it last, what were they doing there, this just fires the mind.

Treasure is Pleasure "Bob Marx"

[Lion]

Interesting story, wish you luck in your endeavors!!!

[Bisquitlips]

I am a old treasure hunter from years ago, but have never dived for it.

I have panned for gold and searched for known hidden jars of 20 dollar gold pieces with metal detectors.

What a great hobby and very rewarding in many ways.

Good luck on your search Bob! Great writing!

[TheVTCGuy]

Parachrom... you should PM me... When I was young, (MANY MANY years ago), I too dove for treasure, as a professional diver in the great lakes and after college, off the coast of CA. I'm sure we could swap some stoires. Gold always eluded me but I brought up many artifacts from the past that are "treausre" to me nonetheless. I've since settled down to a "normal" life, but often fantasize about going back to being an explorer, searching the depths for the past. So, I understand what drives you, the challenge and reward of exploration. I wish you the best my friend! May the mother load be right under your mask the next time you submerge! If you ever need a dive partner, maybe I'll give up this "normal" existance for one more shot at discovery underwater...

Picture of me from the late 70s...