Divers find water-logged treasure
July 23, 1997
Web posted at: 2:32 p.m. EDT (1832 GMT)
From CNN Correspondent Jeff Flock
BAYFIELD, Wisconsin (CNN) -- Some of the finest wood in the world
sits on the bottom of Lake Superior. Red birch, grey elm, oak and maple
all sank during transportation to logging mills more than 100 years ago.
Join CNN Chicago as we show you the intricate retrieval operation off
the shores of northern Wisconsin. CNN cameras are on shore, on barges
and underwater so you can see every angle, every aspect of how these
valuable logs are brought to the surface. This wood, perfectly preserved
in the cold waters, is then made into the world's rarest musical
instruments and finest furniture.
A L S O :
A water-logged image gallery
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From 8am ET live report: See how these ancient logs are lifted out of
the cold waters of Lake Superior, using air bags filled with oxygen. Our
guest this hour is "treasure hunter" Scott Mitchen. Mitchen is
owner of the Superior Water-Logged Company operating here in Wisconsin,
Canada and Brazil.
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From 9am ET live report: Learn the
secret of locating these valuable logs. Sophisticated
side scan sonar is used to map what's on the lake
bottom. Scott Mitchen takes us underwater.
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10am ET: A short, but interesting, history lesson: How did those logs
get to the bottom of Lake Superior in the first place? At the turn of
the century, northern Wisconsin was the top timber producing state. Huge
loads of logs were hauled from logging camps to the lake and some sank
in the process. To give you an idea how many logs we are talking about:
in a single winter in the 1890s, 10,000 men logged the area and cut
more than 500 million feet. We'll see how the logs are brought to the
surface. We also talk with Wisconsin state Rep. Barb Linton.
She sponsored the legislation allowing the deep water harvesting.
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From 12pm ET live report: Our crews and cameras move to the big
stuff: cranes located on barges in the lake. You'll see how the logs are
actually pulled out of the water. Our guest is Arnie Nelson-- the man
who owns these cranes. We'll show you what happens to the logs once they
are out. They have to be milled and dried.
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From 2pm ET live report: Wondering what the finished products look
like? This hour showed you the musical instruments and fine
furniture made from the wood harvested here. Craftsmen all over the
world are paying top dollar for it. Country star Johnny Cash even had a
guitar made from this wood!
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430p ET on CNN: Hold your breath! We are going underwater. See how divers
attach hooks to the logs so they can be pulled to the surface easily.
Reporter Jeff Flock is on the surface, talking to divers 10 to 60 feet
below him about the work they are doing.
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