The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-11-05
FISHING FOR FoRrUNG.
The Sunken Millions on the Venezuela
Coast.

An expedition will start from New York
next month, having for its object the
of long hidden store OF wealth.
For more than sixty years the waves of
the Spanish main have concealed in one
spot oyer $6.000,O00 in gold and silver
coiU, rich jewels, ingots of bullion, and
massive plate of the precious metals, the
rich freight once of the Spanish man-of-
war, the San Pedro Alcantara. Several
attempts have been made for the recovery
of this treasure, but the sums recovered
have been small Now, it is believed, the
time has came when patience, skill, aud
the appliances for submarine exploration
invented in late years will reap their rich
reward In 1915 the three-deck- mau-of-
war San Pedro AlcaDtara was dispatched
from Spain as the convoy of PROVISION laden
vessels destined for the feet engaged in
subjugating to the Spanish rule the states
On the Spanish main. Thirteen hundred
men were on board and 10 the treasure
chests we're 100000 in silver. When the
San Pedro Alcantara reached Laguayra,
Venezuela fierce revolution was in pro-
gress, aud the Spanish citizens of Carscas.
believing their property unsafe, transferred
their gold aud jewels to the man ofwar
The gold alone amounted to over $1,000
900, aud the value of the Jewels was epor-
nous. The churches of Venezuela also
secured their treasures on board the ship
From Laguayra the EmaD of-war went up
the coast to the Island of Margerita, where
the troops debarked and achieved signal
victory over the Venezuelan forces The
revolted towns Of Asuucion, Pomoatar, Por
Lalar, and Norte were plundered aud re-
duced to ashes, after their wealth had been
carried on board the vessel. Unfortunate
iy, the exultation of the soldiers and sail
ors over their successes found expression
in huge revel on board Casks of wine
ard stronger beverages we're broken, and
it is matter for doubt it there was one So
Der man oG the vessel on the night when
an alarm of fire was given. The flames
happened to reach cask o. brandy, which
burst, spreading the confagration rapidly.
The fire was soon dartlng up through the
hatches and tapping the sails. Boats were
lowered without difficulty, but they could
| only hold a snail portion of the numbers
on board. Men fought to reach them. and
battled in the water to clutch their sides.
| Nobody thought of saving the treasure
| Meanwhile the fire made its way aft to the
| powder magazine, and terrible explosion
occurred aud the air was filled with frag
ments of the ship aud mangled corpse 5
The after half of the San Pedro Alcantars
had been blown to pieces and the forward
half quickly sank. One thousand mel
| perished in the fire and the ocean. Tn,
Spanish treasure chests, the riches of the
people of Caracas, the boarded wealth o
the priests and the plunder from the Ven
eZuelan towns, we're buried In the sea- Il
1916 Capt Goodrich. of NeWburyport
Mass, with the aid of a wooden diving bell
succeeded in securing about $4,000 In sill
yer. In 1916 a company was organized il
Baltimore for the purpose of seeking th
lost treasure Various other parties recoV
cred considerable amounts of gold and sill
yer. among them Capt Nicholas Town, il
1856, the sum of$2S,0 and Capt. Whip
pie, 10 1858. $4,000. In April last Capt
|. H. Folingsby went from San Francisc
to Venezuela To obtain governmental per
mission to search for the lost millions. II
was successful In etfectiDg a contract wit
the government whereby in consideration
of the payment of per cent. on all sum
he may recover he is granted the exclusiv
right to drag, dredge, and dive for th
sunken treasure for the period of six years
Capt. Folingsby arrived in New York i
/ July last and has since been quietly pei
fectine the organization of an expeditio
, for the exploration of all the ocean be
over which the treasure might have bee
scattered. He has had extensive exper
ence as diver, and having been in th
, employ OF the Baltimore company for min
months in 1856 iu their search,
thoroughly familiar with the ground. II
believes that the strong boxes which hel
the gold, jewels. and church plate, wer
z not burst by the explosion, but simpl
s tossed away to greater distance tha
seekers have hitherto deemed it wort
] while to go froEc the wreck. There are q
!, rocks or other obstacles to interfere Wit
1 the working of dredges, and the weather
a such in that cline that the exploration
can be prosecuted during the entire yea
He thinks. however, that he can 90 ovC
all the ground 10 eighJ months. II
: dredges aud drags are Of The must prove
}. patterns, fitted with sp cial appliance
such as chain nettings to lei sand secap
: but to hold everything else With the
} be expects to search five hundred squat
t feet of ground per diem. Little more tbs
4 $500. 600 has been recovered from Il
!. wreck and 100000 would cover all tb
y has thus far been tound by all expedition
$ He has, then, as an incentive to lextrao
l. dinary exertions, the hope of finding
Is least $4,000,000 or $5.OO0.000. His a
. rangements are being rapidly complet,
and be hopes to be able to set sail for b
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