The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-14
jects of Spain and the troops back to
their native land.


Don Pedro. The flames spread very
rapidly, and were soon seen streaming
from the portfolios forward and aft
The fire speedily reached the deck and
and rendered the attempt to launch
the boats Intellectual As the guns
were all loaded none of the other YES
sells dared to approach, and while the
air was filed with the screams of the
women and children, the ships after
magazine exploded. The whole stern
of the San Pedro was blown into the
air and the vessel sank in ten fathoms
of water, with about eight hundred
persons on board, not one of whom
were saved.
An expedition was fitted out in
France in 1845, which went to Cum
ana with the common diving bell, to
recover the lost valuables. The mach
inery would not work, and the French
man went crazy from the failure of his
undertaking. In 1850 Capt. Courthway
sailed from Boston for the wreck, and
after several months work secured
about $72, 600 in money and plate. A
diamond cross was recovered which
sold in this city for $4,000. The en-
terprise was so badly managed, how
ever, that the expedition was at length
abandoned The brig Monagas was
fitted out at Boston in 1859 and pro-
ceeded to Cumana. After having
spent the greater part of two years
over the wreck the vessel sailed for
home, having on board about $40, 600.
She was stranded on Cohasset Shoals,
thn than
selves, she proved total wreck.
A contract was granted in 1927,
through the exertions of Cap. Scandella,
to the Neptune Submarine company
of New York, by the Venezuelan govern
ment to work the wreck. The brig
Queen of the South was bought, and
part of the apparatus was shipped, but
as the company were then engaged on
the wreck of the Scotland, off the high
lands, the operations were not conduct
ed with sufficient dispatch, and the
time allowed by the contract expired
Capt. Scandella, in 1897, went to the
scene of the wreck, in the schooner
Mary Gage, which the Neptune Sub
marine company had fitted out for the
purpose of raising some of the vessels
p
Thomas. He was told that, few
weeks previous to his arrival, stray
wrecker from the Trinidad had been al
work on the wreck, and had found a
golden crown, set with precious stones,
which had formerly belonged to a
statue Of the Virgin in the Cathedral.
1t was valued at $4,000. A contract
was granted on January Nth, 1870, tC
two adventurers who claimed to hail
from San Francisco. They came to
this city, and, after repeated attempts
to dispose of their claim, abandoned
the project.
A contract was granted to the Amer
lean Submarine company on November
18th, 1870, by the Venezuelan govern
ment. The terms are considered very
favorable The company agrees to pay
O royalty of seven per cent. and tc
maintain fiscal agent on board. They
are allowed to import their machinery
free of all port or national duties
The brig Nellie Gay was purchased and
she is now taking in coal at the Ho
boken docks for the purpose ofworline
the machinery to be put on board al
!, Providence. She is handsome-look
ing hermaphrodite brig of about two
J hundred tons burden. She was bull
at Millbridge, Me-, in 1866, and ratet
last April, A IL. The cabin is af
and is 36 feet long, furnishing ample
J accommodations for the officers an(
drivers. The 'midship section is clear
and is intended for the engines anC
boilers, which will be placed in posi-
: ton when she reaches Cumana. TIL,
forecastle is fitted up for the reception
of the crew, and has berths for Is men
The officers of the vessel are, Charlie
Scandella, Captain; Geo. w. Fuller
l Superintendent of the EXPEDITION; w
M. Greene, Financial Agent William
Higgins, first mate; divers, 3 engi
neers, and seamep. Her machiner,
will be of the most improved order
: and will consist of steam dredging
diving apparatus, and air pumps. Sh
will also have on board steam tender
, 35 feet long. Altogether the expedi
ton will cost about $50, 1000. After re
ceiving her machinery she will return
) to New York to clear for the Venezu
: elan coast, to take on board the fsca
: agent before going to the scene of op
: eratsons. The divers expect to be a
, work by the last of May.
8 While the expedition is at Cumana
Y Capt. Scandella intends to obtain tn,
e privilege of working the pearl bank
! in that bay. These have been yer,
I valuable in times past, and a numbe
E of pearls have been found there wortl
$1,000 each. Divers in the wreck O
the San Pedro have found great guam
titles of human bones and iewelry, Il
a private collection in Boston there i
Q a large piece of coral, from near tn
, scene of the wreck, in which are EN-
beded number of silver dollars
The coral has grown around the piece
of money, and they now form part @
Q the mass.
H. Wa.~Aa ni-l4a A..A-4a l.. ~