The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-22
THE TREASURE SNIP DE BRAAE
How Much Cold was Really Lost in Hert
The story OF the Wreck.

1
The story OF the Wreck.
LEyEs. Dell June 21.-The statement print
ed In TnE Sun tho other day to the effect tha'
the Merritt WreckinE Company was going &c
| begin q search for the treasure ship De BraaR
was mighty interesting reading TO the people
| OF this town. because everybody hero has heard
tho atory of the De Braak, and because the
wealth OF the Merritt Company makes a thor
oaRh search for the treasure certain.
The story Of the loss OF the ship, rs told here,
runs something like this In the latter part OF
the year 1897 Capt. James Drew an Irlshman
| I-ho e,.d attained some celebrity as fighting
man in the British service. got number OF
| Portsmouth capitalists to fit out brig called
the De Braak for service as a privateer. A lot
| tor OF maroue was obtained from the Admiralty,
and with q crew OF thirty-elght men she sailed
from Portsmouth In January. 1903. She was
armed with twelve brass cannon. chiefly six
and nine FOUNDERS. She was commissioned to
| capture the property OF tho subjects OF Napo-
| leon and Of their allies. Among the allies ut that
| time were the Spanish, and Capt. Drew headed
| the De Braak for tho Spanish West Indies.
| His ship is said to have had unusually good
| luck. He reached the Spanish Main early in
| March, and during the next six or eight weeks
| fell In with and captured number OF Spanish
vessels. SO that the Do Braak became laden
| with plumber, and sailed away to discharge
| cargo and realize on tho investment.
On juno TO- 1893. the brig rounded Cape
| Henlopen and took on Pilot Andrew Allen
| who was to show hor the way into Lewos
Creek. which In those days was a considerable
stream affording an excellent harbor. The
pilot found every one in high spirits over the
success Of tho cruise. and, incidentally. over
the prospect of getting fresh meat and other
supplies from the people OF Lewes-a prospect
which but few OF them realized. It was most
beautiful day. with the waters Of the bay dane
ing under breeze that enabled the brig to
carry everything. from topgallant studdinR
sails to a triangular spritsa under the bow
sprit, and she was Just fonming along when q
as Big as schoonors topsaii. Such Such clouds oE
S fssS RS A ss s Sf tS S9S
end vas little cloud Ike that to to-, scare him
Pilot Allen got we'll up to windward to prepare
I The little Black cloud came sailing along like
Henlopen eagle after q fshhawk. for 1t was
carrying ,lg destruction under tts ylnRs-a ,regu-
the water and Capt Drew saw It lashine 0 t6e
bay into froth he mado haste to man the clew-
lines and downhauls. but he was too late The
De Braak was knocked on her beam ends while
yet the men were listening to the call to shorten
sail. and down she sank; with all the plunder
she Spanish M MnGn nEh'ihe and 000asheo on
s. he boId c spt Drew roy, and twelve men per,
lSueu anu cautious IllOL Alien alu the rest
In the barrooms aud began to tell what loads
rask Hna R w SsaeS d9Tn II the De
varied, and has continued TO vary unto this
puts the amount at less thnn siO,O6o00O re Te-
fSrFn s ea 9b the Th9 to
are few doubters, however, and these think
that Z she had enough gold on board to have
paid her GREY 81 .g99 each she was pretty we'll
had q million OF treasure or yaluables OF any
kind. They say that the most famous treasure
one commanded by Juan de Anton and taken
by Sir Francis Drake In the Golden Hind. She
chests Of ryaIs Of plate and eighty pounds ase of
gold. besides diamonds anG other gems, There
was prize (, worth n talking about for history
less, it was worth but 100000 Spanish dollars.
The douhters say that the De Braak was only
could. therefore. have CAPTURED only small yes
sells. She did doubtless. get some money from
cruising aEoutthe spanish Main IN war time did
not so ballasted with gold nor did they carry
for dSf 9S NEE chief sr
that even the t pirate Kidd did not Of disdain to
In s65 P Rot fHp set MP GER
tain ranges by which to locate the sunken De
some time. The same hope has animated other |
breasts from that time to TINS. In the surveys
lnat preCeueu tile building OF tho DleakWater, |
here, In 1927, number Of Jumps or mounds |
were found on the bottom somewhere near tho |
place where the brig sank. The lump which |
the best-i ormed pilots supposed TO be the |
real brig. was located right under what Is now |
the westerly end OF tho hreakw water.
However, there Is another lump Just outside |
that is also supposed to contain the old hulk, |
although as the sands shift the beach cOmbers |
look with anxious care at every time stained |
timber that is uncovered. hoping that it may |
be part OF the treasure ship.
In 1887 Philadelphia company headed b. |
DR.. ). pancoaSt mnde the most iIiGent search |
ever made for the De Braak. A diver brought |
uD specimens OF various mounds near the |
breRkwater, and these were subjected to chem
ical analysis until in what is supposed to DO |
tho mound n lead that PANIED out copper was
ship. because tho De Braak was coppered to
the bonds, and SO tho sand over hor must DO
permented with copper; Tho fact that other |
ships sunk about tho breakwater have also
been coppered was no: considered rs a matter
OF much importance by tho treasure seek
ers. The search ceased with a row between
stockholders in the company.
Tho people Of Lewes are NJ very glad however
that an efficient search will now be made. for
IT. attracts attention to the ancient village. and
1t adds to the demand for products which
lewes dealers are always ready to sell at tho
highest market price.