The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-06-17
TREASURES OF THE DEEP.
Successful Attempt to Recover VAL
uables Sunk Two Centuries Since.

uableS SunkTWO centuries S1nCe' Z
From tie Pal Nal Ga:ette, Ndy19 r.rr -r
The attempt to recover the treasure
sunk in VigO Bay more than 100 years
ago is turning out successful. After nine
teen DAYS search made with diving bells,
fifteen galleons are reported to have been
found lying at depth Of few hundred
feet, and on knocking n hole into the sldc
of the Almirantc, some -ignots, plate and
valuable arms were found by the divers,
However, further researches have been
suspended for the moment, until the Gus.
tom House authorities shall have conceded
Il safe place to deposit the treasure. The
Almir1ntc and her consorts were sent TO
the bottom during the war OF Spanish
succession, and have remained immersed
in the port of poverty.strlcken nation
during the whole time OF the Bourbon oc-
cupation. Hardly had Queen Isabella
been driven from the throne than n Span
ish banker, long settled in Paris, made
overtures to the Government at
Madrid, and on condition Of handing
over nearly half the treasure In
case Of success, NJ. Periere re,
ceived permission to look for the sunker
ingots. AS the galleons had been lying at
the bottom since the year 1902, some time
was necessarily required TO free them from
large accumulation Of sand, but letters
from Spain say that this part Of the task
has been accomplished. A BrenClIOccount
of the Yigo affair says that Count Cha
teau. Renault was ordered TO escort the
Indian fleet returning from Vera Cruz,
WHEN it was chased by $50 Dutch and
English vessels. Chateau IIenault wished
to run into French port, but the Spanish
Admiral, Don Manuel dc Velasco, obsti-
nately refused. Hence the Vigo disaster,
which surpassed that Of the Hague eigh.
teen French vessels and twcntyrelght
galleons, laden with wealth, were taken
or destroyed, and there was hardly time,
through the energy Of the French Cap.
tain. 10 send few millions ashore. Lord
Mahon, whose version IS somewhat differ
ent, dwells at some length on the circum-
stances attending this affair He says that
our fleet was on its way back to England
when the Duke Of Ormond received
intelligence that the treasure ships
had gone into Vigo to avoid him.
| The cargo WIS bAlu w SOALSIsS
Of $3OOO6OO, besides much valuable
merchandise. The English and Dutch
Admirals and Generals resolved on an ac-
ton, The Spaniards might have saved
their treasure by landing 1t, but there was
a fundamental law against galleons uE'
loading anywhere but at Cadiz, and the
Chamber Of Commerce refused, on appli-
cation being made to it, to bate one jot OF
its privilege. The matter had to DO re-
ferrcd to the Council Of India, and that
body deliberated Just day two long.
Chateau enault and Don Manuel threw
up a few feeble deEenceS at the mouth Of
the harbor, but tho English ships broke
the boom thrown across the entrance, and
Ormond and his soldiers stOrmed the
forts. The French burned their ships,
and made their escape ashore. The con-
Qucrors shared some millions Of dollars,
and some more millions were sunk. Ac-
Cording to Laiuente the doubloons got on
shore through Gallo energy were soon
CAPTURED, and -"immense riches IN gold,
silver, and precious merchandise ,dtsap-
pcared under the waves" We shall soon
know whit amount Of, wealth has been
lying idle In 60 ttnaccountable n manner
since 1902. .Tfr-. rrsT .yr,TyFg ss.7