The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-27
Recovery OF Lost Treasures.

The kennebec Journal gives The following account oil
the success OF an expedition lately fitted out from Gar
diner Maine for the recovery of treasures from an an
cient wreck on The coast OF Venezuela:
The money for which this search was Instituted was
lost an the Spanish ship San Pedro, of 81 guns on the
coast OF Venezuela IN The year 1914 Ii during the
revolutionary trouble there, when the provinces were in
revolt against the Spanish government. Al the time OF
her loss the ship lay about fifteen miles iron the island
OF Marguerite and about five from the smaller island OF
Coche. and had on board specie 10 the amount OF
eral millions OF Spanish dollars and d)ubloons The
vessel destroyed by fire, originating in the spirit
room and supposed 10 have been by emissary Of
the insurgents, who had introduced himself board.
The specIe stored the magazine and n The
plosion nhch ensued scattered OF the s'ern of
he sblp Ike shot iron gun Many OF the crew per-
Attempts have been m ad. from time 10 lime 10 recover
the speeie but wi,bou, much Las, fall some
enterprsng citizens Of Gardiner fitted out the schooner
amafne Tor The purpose OF prosecuting the search with
V'gor She was provided with everything deemed me-
cessary 10 insure success-jvng bells submarine armor
ar pumps, and steam engine deck work the pumps
1 be crew and officers numbered .ieen
Having obtained permit from the existing govern
men, 10 engage in ihe search conditioned that per cent
age OF money recovered should go into the government
treasury they proceeded 10 the spot and oper
atoms. The wreck was fortunately found with but liz,
lie difficulty, lying in sxy feet OF water and in spo
quite favorable for ooeatons but the explosion OF The
ships magazine bad scattered the coins that no con-
siderable quantity OF them remained together Beside
they were buried TO the depth of inches in the sand
winch had 10 be scooped and parsed through coarse
mining with the additional disadvantage OF working in
confined space OF diving bell IN ten fahoms of water
Two persons made the descent at a Time and being
supplied constantly with fresh air. could remain down
several hours without inconvenience When The space
embraced in The circumference OF the bell ad been work
ed out II moved TO another place aud in this
they examined the bolton all around the wreck in ali
probably an acre OF ground. The money was found
sTewn pretty equally over the bottom generally bent and
burned by The force OF the explosion and in soue in.
stances driven into the timber OF the shin We were
shown cannon sho, TO which adhered mass OF shells
and iron rust, having couple OF dollars Embedded in IL
Ma ny interesting relics and curosies were brought
home, zone OF which we examined. large pulley or
block, OF mahogany. three feet long, having lignum vS
sbeaves, had wiihsiood the worms we'll hui por,sd
pretty numerous colony OF shell fish piece OF tarred
rigging looked very fresh There were couple of mus.
ketr, with Their antique Spanish locks eaten up with
rust leather dirk sheath, the blade mere thread of
copper bolts and all the movable apparatus of shp-of
war Anu there were, alas sad relics OF humani-
y-ihe bones OF men who perished in the ship can.
non now board the schooner has the bones OF mans
forearm imbedded in the rust,
they were commencing 10 work upon the sh p itself
Intending to make thorough search, when the existing
war compelled them to abandon the enterprise and re-
turn home: Information had been given that a seizure
oil their gains was intended furnish funds to one of
the contendIng parties
or the amount obtained by The expedition we canno,
speak BY authority. We guess II is very considerable
Well credited report says the boxes that came ashore
were welgh,y, and no, 10 be moved without effort we
ave OF The dollars in bag. kindly shown US by Messrs
badstrset. AT their store Two OF the coins repose in our
vest pocket and Are TO be by our friends who NAV
desire the a'ght thereof They blackened by the ac
ton OF the sa water, and reduced in weight abou, 40
per cent vi the gold, only single douboon found