Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-11-03
FISHING FOR FORTUNE.
Sunken Millions on the Venezuela
Coast Agaia the Subject Of
Investigation.
Another Expedition Nearly Ready
to Undertake the Recovery
OF the Wealth.
New Yo,k Special to Chicago Times /

New Yo.k Special to Chicago Times
An expedition will start from this
city next month, having forts object
the acquisition Of long-hidden
store of wealth. For more than
sixty years the waves of the Span
ish main have concealed in one spot
over $6,0O0,0OO in gold and silver
coin, 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 be-
lieved, the time has come when pa
tience, skill and the appliances for
submarine exploration invented in
late years will reap their rich re.
ward. In 1915 the three-decked
man-of-war San Pedro Alcantara
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. Thir-
teen hundred men were on board
and in the treasure chests were
100000 in silver. When the San
Pedro Alcantara reached Laguayra,
Venezuela, fierce revolution was
in progress, and the Spanish citi-
zens Of Caracas, believing their
property unsafe, transferred their
gold and jewels to the man-of-war.
The gold alone amounted to over
100000, and the value of the
Jewels was enormous. The churches
of Venezuela also secured their
treasures ON the ship. From La
guayra the man-of-war went up the
coast to the island of Margarita,
where the troops debarked and
achieved signal victory over the
Venezuelan forces. The revolted
towns of Asuncion, Pompatar,
Por Lalar and Norte were plum
dered and reduced to ashes, after
their wealth had been carried on
board the vessel. Unfortunately,
the exultation of the soldiers and
sailors over their successes found
expression in a huge reyel on board.
Casks of wine and stronger beyer-
ages were broken, and it is matter
for doubt if there was one sober man
on the vessel on the night when an
alarm Of fire was given. The flames
happened to reach cask of brandy,
which burst, spreading the conAa-
grafton rapidly. The fire was soon
darting up through the matches and
tapping the sails. Boats were low
cred without difficulty, but they
could only hold a small portion OF
tne numbers on board. Men fought
to reach them and battled in the
water to clutch their sides. No.
body thought of saving the treas
ure. Meanwhile the fire made its
way aft to the powder magazine,
and terrible explosion occurred,
and the air was filed with frag.
ments of the ship and mangled
corpses. The after half of the San
Pedro Alcantara had been blown
to pieces and the forward half
quickly sank. One thousand men
perished in the fire and the ocean.
The Spanish treasure chests, the
riches Of the people of Caracas, the
boarded wealth Of the priests and
the plunder of the Venezuelan
towns, were buried in the sea, In
1916, Captain Goodrich, of New
buryport, Massachusetts,, with the
aid Of a wooden diving bell, sue
ceeded in securing about $4,000 in
c,lv.- l., TOtE - .e.......... 49,.