The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-07
SPANISH TREASURE.
Company Organized to Recover the Treas
Sunk in VigO Bay.

Philadelphia Inquirer.
A number of capitalists of this city, Camden
and elsewhere, including Mr.. Tasker, of the firm
of Morris, Tasker & Co., Silas George, E. A.
Corbin, and other prominent Philadelphians, or
gained company, some time since, known as
the international Submarine Company, which
has on hand project which recalls tbs time
when, three centuries ago, Spain drew immense
revenues which were her chief dependence,
from American possessions. This scheme is the
raising of certain Spanish galleons sank in Vlgo
bay, on the coast of Spain, in 1902.
In that year, according to various historians
a fleet of these galleons composed. as near as
can be ascertaned, of twenty three vessels,
averaging from 400 to 600 tons each, and laden
with treasure, left the Spanish American coast
bound for Cadiz, and conveyed by the French
and Spanish fleets, France and Spain being then
in alliance and at war with England and Hol
land, which were allied upon the other side
The English government, having been advised
OF this large shipment of treasure, dispatched
an Angl Dutch fleet to watch the coast of
Spain with a view to intercepting the galeons
which were bound for Cadiz, which port had the
exclusive right of receiving imports of treasure
and merchandise from the New World. The
Spanish government succeed in commenting
to the Franco Spanish fleet the intention
to intercept them, and consequently the gaeon5
with their convoy, made for the harbor of Vlgo
where they arrived on September %. 1902. They
went directly to the inner bay, both because it
was more secure from any attack which might
be made and because it afforded facilities for
landing the treasure, which latter operation was
commenced at once but stopped almost soon
as begun by the authorities of Cadiz making
complaint that their exclusive right, as port of
entry for this treasure, was being violated.
Before the dispute which this occasoned could
be settled the Anglo-Dutch fleet, with large land
force on board, appeared off the harbor. landed
its forces, invested the hastily formed fortifca
tons which had been thrown up, disabled the
Franco Spanish feet forced boom of logs, etc.
which had been built across the inner bay, and
made for the galeons.
The Spaniards, however, seeing the impetuous
onslaught of the English and Dutch, had antici-
pated the capture of their treasure, and to pre-
vent it from falling into the hands of the enemy.
had set themselves to work to sink and burn the
galleons with the treasure board. The Anglo
Dutch fleet succeeded in capturing nine of them,
four of which fell into the hands of the English
and the remaining five to the Dutch, who, how
ever, were obliged to abandon two of their
prizes, which were burning they being unable
to extinguish the flames. One of those taken by
the English, which was known as the Monmouth
prize, from having been taken by the English
vessel Monmouth, ana conceded to be one of the
richest prizes of the fleet, was sunk by strik-
ing a rock near the mouth of the bay while
being brought out, thus leaving seventeen gal
Icons, sunk with their treasures in the Vigo bay,
where, it is claimed, they have remained until
the present dav.
The estimated value of the treasure on board
the fleet OF galleons when it entered Vigo bay is
$50, 600. coo. Of this ST. 000, 900 is said to have
been landed before the authorities of Cadiz in
terfered, and $4,000 O0O it is thought, is the ex-
IRENE value of that captured, leaving as the es-
tlmated value of treasure now at the bottom of
Vigo bay, $37 000, 900.
The company above referred to, after having
made certain examination in regard to the mat
ter, obtained from the Spanish government the
concession of the right to raise these galleons
and their treasure, and. undeterred by one
or two futile attempts to secure it
which have previously been made a
short time since sent an agent to Vigo bay to
make examination and report in regard to the
pract1canil1ty OF their scheme, which was deemed
feasible because of recent improvements in sub
marine armor and apparatus
After having made careful examination, this
agent has Just telegraphed to his employers that
he has located ten of the sunken galleOns, and
considers that it will be comparatively easy
matter to secure them and their contents and it
is understood that the work will be forwarded at
an early day. two stockholders alone having
guaranteed to advance sufficient money to meet
the expenses of the enterpl7e