Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-25
The Treasure Beneath the spanish
Main

AAABs
For over hundred and fifty years,
ever since the galleons laden with Span
ish gold vanished in the dark waves of
the harbor of Vigo from the grasp of the
conquering Dutch and English fleets,
efforts to bring them again to the light
of day and make them disgorge their
gorgeous cargoes have been many and
fruitless. These riches thus took to
themselves fms and swan away, it will be
remembered in 1902, during the war OF
the Spanish succession. Spain was &C.
customed to draw all her sinews of war
from her possessions in South America,
and her drafts we're always duly honored,
but the value received was apt to get
into the pockets of the wrong parties.
The seas swGrmed with Dutch and Eng
lish privateers which made easy prey OF
the Spanish treasure ships, rendered
slow sailors by their unwieldy build.
Owing to these repeated anticipations of
the modern custom-house seizures Spain
from 1898 to 1902 imported no treasure,
but at last her necessities became so
great that she resolved to brave the
Dutch and English Jayne of those
days. Accordingly in the spring of
the latter year feet of twenty-three
galleons. laden with treasure which
had accumulated to a larger amount
than ever before through the inter-
val of non-importation, and conveyed
by twenty-three French line-of battle
| ships France being the ally Of SPAIN
and nearly the entire Spanish feet set
out from the Spanish South American
ports, bound for Cadiz, and evading the
! Anglo-Dutch feet sent to intercept them
arrived safely in the harbor of Vigo
| September I'D. The treasure ships
were brought within the lower bay, the
narrow channel leading to which was
| lined with forts, and to make assurance
doubly sure boom was thrown across
the entrance. Some technically due tc
Spanish etiquette caused a delay in
landing the treasure, which the enemys
feet took advantage of, and on the 2lst
/ of October, after q severe struggle, cut
through the boom and triumphantly en-
tered the supposed secure inner bay
| The Spaniards seeing their dreaded de-
| spoilers thus successful, abandoned all
| thoughts of resistance and only thought
of preventing the spoils from falling
into the hands of the victors. They i'm
mediately began to burn and scuttle the
treasure ships with such success that
only nine fell into the hands of the con-
ouerors. two of which had to be aban-
doned. and one-the richest prize of the
entire feet-taken by the English frigate
Monmouth struck rock when leaving
the harbor aud was lost. The English
and Dutch made off in triumph with
their six captures, and the remaining
seventeen galleons with their treasures
have remained at the bottom of the
harbor of Vigo to the present day. The
amount OF treasure on board the galleons
AT the outset is estimated at 5000, 900 of
| nieces Of eight, which is equivalent to
that number Of. dollars in gold, from
which Is TO be deducted the amount
landed. which is computed at 100000,
and the amount captured, which IS o.
600 900 more, leaving 37,000,0OO OF
pieces of eight, or $37, 900, 900, now sub
merged in the harbor of Vigo. During
the last century, before the diving-bell
had been invented, it was out OF the
question to attempt the recovery OF what
was thus, though lost to sight, dear to
the memory of the Spaniard. But In
1925 an Englishman named Dickson,
armed with concession from the Spar
ish government, made an unsuccessful
attempt TO rob Vigo's harbor Of the trea-
sure It had guarded so long. In 1853
another Englishman succeeded in ind
ing two Of the galleons, but not having
the capital to raise them abandoned the
undertaking. Ten years later, Colonel
Gowen, an American, who had distin-
| euished himself by raising the Russian
! feet of seventy vessels, with all their
armament and outfit, which had been
sunk in the harbor Of Sebastopol during
the Crimean war, was applied 10 by the
Spapish Concessionaire, and he having
satisfied himself Of the feasibility Of the
proieet. formed company in England
10 carry 1t out. The Spanish authorities
took advantage Of some technically to
transfer the concession to French COM
pany. which, however, was prevented
from pursuing the project very far by the
breaking out Of the Franco-Prussian
war. 1t succeeded, however, in recover
ing several bars Of gold and silver,
which, on being tested, fully sustain the
estimate made OF the value Of the entire
treasure, and Colonel Gowen succeeded
in purchasing the good viii OF the
French company, which be has trans
ferred to an American association,
which intends Immediately 10 enter upon
the finding Of the long-lost treasure.