The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-10-30
SUNREN TREASURES.
searching the Bottom Of the Sea LOT
The buried Millions which Hcht
Down 18th ihc san Pedro Alcan-
tara In IsI5-KOmance OF the iIoss
of the Mighty spanish Three-Deck-
or, and the Numerous Efforts Made
IN Recover Her Gold and Jewel


Nsw York, Oct. 2S-Ano mother attempt
X about To be made, according tn tbeItntcS.
10 recover some OF the tempting IreigbI
which went down with the San Pedro
Alcantara in 1915. This treasure hunt
ING expedition is now berg organized
IN this city, and is expected 10 start from
here IN November.
The story has many times been told
now, in the year mentioned, during the
reign Of Fernando VII, of Spain, the
mighty three-deck man-ot-war San
Pedro Alcantsra WAS dispatched from
Spain AS the convoy OF number oil pro-
vision. laden vessels destined for tho sup
ply of the fleet then in the Caribbean
sea engaged in sunjugating TO the Span
sh rule the States on the Spanish main.
Thirteen hundred men, recruits Tor the
navy and the land forces, were on board,
and IN the tressure-Chests were S3,O0O,-
100 in silver.
Arriving at Lsguayrn, Venezuela, u
revolution WIS in progress, and the So
called Spanish citizens of Caracas trans
'crred their gold and gems To tho man
al-war the former amounting to over
million OF dollars, and the jewels belng
of reat value The churches ot Ven
.zuela added their treasures heavy
chests filled with gold and silver altar
plate. &c. TIE rcvoted towns OF Asun-
con, Pompstsr, Parlsmsr and Norte, on
ne island OF Msrgsrito were then plum
inred by order OF the Commander OF the
man OF war. md reduced TO ashes. After
their wcalti nd boon carried on board
Inc vessel, III axultat,on of tho soldiers
,nd sailors On board found expression in
evcl. A fire was discovered, the boats
we're inadequate, HI explosion followed
md the enormous amount of treasure
g,ant to the bottom OF the sea, and n
thousand human souls with 1t,
In 1916, Captain Goodrich, OF New
,Uryport, Mass, visited the scene OF the
rreck, one mile from the Island OF
Cuayns, and succeeded IN securing HOuut
$4,000 in silver. In 1915 "A company
aus organized in Baltimore u seok the
, .usL treasure. Owing To the lack Of pro-
, per diving apparatus tina. attempt prov
ID a failure. The company, II Few months
lter, sent cut another expedition. In
months about $40, 900 IN silver CON
Ms recovered. Then the major portion
IF the divers and crew, having sUrrePtl-
uiuusly possessed themselves OF such por-
mons of the treasure ~ they could -eCrete,
,lu,e boat, and laden with the silver,
ct sail Tor Laguayra, but they were AT
%, ted by Mr.. Royal Phelps, then acting
Consul At that port. The remainder OF
rue party returned to Baltimore.
In the subsequent year the company
,.uL the Same brig back To resume opera
lions, with anew set OF divers. The com.
rany's sgeRt insisted upon tho divers he
~. searched after each descent. They
would not suOmt to that indIgnlty, SO
ue brig Francis Emma had 20 return
dome again without anything nj all hav
lug been accomplished. In 1919 some
timer parties sent the American bark
Emily Banuon to tho wreck, and her
rev recovered several thousand dollars
"a silver. L. 1856 Capt. NIcho rs Town
covered SIS 600 In 1858 Capt. Whip
ole found $4,000. a lew years later
rerch WAS made by treasure seeking
.ompsny formed in Providence but their
Nplprg,lous were uusuuc,ss al.
Oo April last Captain |, II. Folingsby
vent from San Francisco ,r Ncnpzuos
- obtain governmental permission u
.arch Tor the lost millions OF san Pedro
l'cartSrs,, all previous pcrnItS To- thSl
lly,t hnvIag expired by limitation. lie
~, successful in eil"rlInw contract
.ltn the Venezuelan government where
10y. IN consideration 90 the payment OF
i've per cent on all Sums he may recover
.r Is granted the exc u.IyC right to drag,
'rrdge and dive for the Suukcu treasure
:,r the period of six years. Armed Win
"a. contract, Captain FoIingShy arrived
10 New York IN the latter part II July,
aEd has since been quietly perrcCtiug here
'Ho organization of an expedition Tor the
thorough and exhaustive exploration OF
nll the ocean bed over which the treasure
might have been scattered by the cXplo-
son which destroyed the San Pedro Al
csntara lie has had extensive eNpcr-
lcnce Ms diver, aud, having been IN the
employ OF the Baltimore Company Tor
uInc month, IN 1856 in their searches,
:, thoroughly familiar with tn" ground
ou winch hc is 10 work.
It is ms buhot that the strong boxes
when held gold, Jewels and church plate
we're not burst bv the explosion, but
simply tossed away toH Creeter distance
Innn the seekers have hitherto deemed 1t
worth while to 20 from tie wreck. In
'ai the successful explorations hitherto
made uo gold WIS found, but SIMPLY