, 1878-04-05

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Jamaica, changed the crew, and again
weighed anchor for Hispaniola. There
he was lucky enough to find an old Span.
lard who told him that the wreck was
somewhere about reef few leagues
north of Puerto de la Plata. Phips i'm
mediately went to the spot. But his
search for the wreck was long and un'
availing, the season was changing, and the
Rose Aigier now but half manned and in
unseaworthy condition, was unfit to
prowl around a dangerous reef in the
hurricane season. SO, without having ac-
complished the object of so much exer-
tion and anxiety, Phips was obliged to
return to England, batfled but not a
discouraged man.
Very naturally, it was impossible for
our adventurer to obtain another English
ship-of-war, although he received much
credit for the courage and skill shown in
controlling the mutlneers, and one would
conclude that the treasure of the old
Spanish galleon would after this have re.
mained at the bottom of the sea, the ex-
elusive possession of the sharks, the tur-
ties and the barracudas. But with rare
pertinacity Phips returned to the charge,
and at last persuaded the Duke of Abe
marie and several other wealthy noble
men to his views. They formed com
psny and obtained patent from King
James H., giving them the sole right to
all wrecked treasure they might find dur
ing a certain number of years. Then
they fitted out ship and tender, the lat
ter to cruise in coves and shoal water,
and Phips invented several rude contriv-
ances for dragging and diving, far infe-
rior to the means now used for such pur-
poses. Thus prepared, he sailed once
more for Hispaniola. There small,
stout beat was built, and with it and a
crew of Indian divers the tender was dis
patched to the reef where the wreck was
said to be.
The tender was anchored in good hold
ing-ground at a safe distance from the
reef, and the men then rowed slowly in
the boat around it, carefully examining
the depths below for signs of the wrecked
galleon. The waters in the West Indies
are very clear, and during calm objects
can be seen at considerable depth. The
rocks were of singular form, rising near
ly to the surface, but with sides 30 steep
that any vessel striking them would be
liable to 60 down many fathoms below
the reach of the most expert diver. The
only hope was that the wreck might have
lodged on some projecting ledge. But
the closest observation, long continued,
failed to reveal any sign of the object 80
eagerly sought, although the water was
perfectly calm.
At length, a curious sea-plant cropping
out of crevice in the sides of the reef
caught the eye of one of the crew, and
he sent down an Indian to bring it up.
When the diver returned to the surface
he reported that he had seen q number
of brass cannon lying tangled among the
sea-weed on ledge. That was enough.
Inspired with the greatest enthusiasm,
diver after diver plunged below to be the
first to discover the treasure, and ere long
one of them brought up an ingot of sil-
yer worth several hundred pounds. Trans
ported with success they left buoy to
mark the spot, and made all sail to carry
the glad tidings TO Phips. He would not
credit the tale until he had seen the ingot,
when he exclaimed, ''Thanks be to God,
we are all madel"
Every man was at once enlisted in the
service Of fishing for the treasure. The bull
lion was discovered first; after that, in
the bottom of the hold, the sea-miners
found the coin in bags, which had been
so long under water that they were en-
crusted with q stony she'll, hard as rock
This was broken with crowbars, reveal
ing gold, jewels, and "pieces of eight,
in glittering abundance. The last days
work brought to light twenty massive
silver ingots, and the whole amount re.
covered was somewhat over three hun
dred thousand pounds, sum equal in
the values of our time to FIVE million
of dollars.-St. Nicholas.