The Nation - News from July 31, 1987

Divers combing a sunken luxury liner in hopes of finding gold brought up crystal perfume decanters, some women’s clothing and a 1903 nickel, a mission spokeswoman said. The salvage mission had previously recovered china, ashtrays, a vase and wine bottles from the Republic, which sank off Nantucket Island in 1909 after colliding with another ship. Divers have not found any gold coins--$1.6 billion in today’s prices--believed on board the liner, but mission leader Martin Bayerle remains confident he will strike gold, mission spokeswoman Debbie Klein said.