Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-08-24
TO LOCATE THE GOLD.
Another Expedition in Search
of the Treasure Ship
DE Israak.
BACKED BY AMPLE FUNDS
New York Capitalists Interested
in Another Effort to Recover
Millions Lost IL Century
ago of the Hcnlopcn.


ago of the Hcnlopcn.
For the past few years much has
been written about the sunken treasures
of the Atlantic and especially about
the millions which lie in the hold of the
old treasure ship DE Braak sunk off
Cape Henlopen. 1t will be remember
ed by large number of people re>id-
ing in the neighborhood of Ocean CITY
that many Spanish silver quarters have
been washed ashore on the beach few
miles above Ocean City, one of which
we now have in our possession, and
which was ut one time part oi the
cargo ola Spanish treasur-ship fleeing
from Spain with the crowns treasures
10 keep them out of the hands of SPANS
enemies. This ship foundercd near
Ocean City about the year lS12.ll. The
coins all bear dates corresponding to
these years and some thirty years ago
il was not an unusual occurrence for
the surtmen 70 find large quantities Of
these coins after storm and at the
same time parts Of the treasure boxes
bearing the royal stampof Spain upon
them. We have never heard OF anv
expeditions being formed to search for
this sunken treasure but several expi-
ditions have at different times been
fitted gu. 10 search for the gold which
went down a century or more ago in
the de Braak which !oundered near
Lewes, Delaware The PHILADELPHIA
Record contains this account of the
latest expedition fitted out to recover
the treasure:
The tug Mehrer steamed down the
Delaware Saturday morning, having
on board % members Of an expedition
recently organized in New York TO
search for the wreck Of the British war
ship DE Braak, which went down
century ago near Cape lIenlopen, and,
according 10 report, carried with her
to the bottom Of the sea S2,000.0 900 in
gold. This is not the first expedition
that has sought the long-lost treasure,
but the capitalists now interested in the
search seem 10 think that they have
more definite information as to where
the ship went down, and the trip lie.
CUR Yesterday is simply one Of obScr-
vation They have, however, ample
capital, and are working with some Sc
crecy, refusing even 10 divulge the
names of the parties interested
An outline map of Cape Heulopen
and the adjacent coast will be care.
fully prepared BY the men on board
the Mehrer, a complete set oil survey.
ing instruments forming the principal
part Of their equipage. This map will
be carefully compared with old charts
and historical data now in possession
OF the promoters Of the enterprise, and
il the comparisons are satisfactory,
work will he at once started. 4 boat
completely equipped with the most
modern submarine machinery will be
sent to the locality, and another effort
made To locate the wreck and recover
the treasure
There is 10 doubt that there was a
ship De Braak, and that she foundered
near Cape Henlopen. for the bodies Of
Captain Drew and several Of his crew
who went down with the ship were
washed ashore and given burial in the
little graveyard At Lewes. Delaware.
y monument was erected over the /
grave of Captain Drew, and the ancient
shaft is still a conspicuous object in the
quaint burial ground
The exact spot where the De Braak
went down is not known accurately. /
The ship, history vaguely says, was
returning 10 England with gold col
lected from Central American Govern
ments. Stress OF weather forced Cap
tain Drew 10 try and reach shelter
in Delaware Bay. The wind drove
the s,aneh ship on shoal near Cape
Henlopcn. and she was dashed 10
pieces. Very few if any of her crew
survived, but for many years the story
Of her cargo OF bullion has been
credited, aud many vain attempts have /
been made 10 locate the treasure.
Divers have worked all along the |
coast during the summer months, but
all have been forced to abandon the |
search because Of the heavy sea, that
roll in at that point of the coast.
The recent discovery in London Of
chart complied over century ago and
now in possession OF the Maratime E.x-
change. shows that Cape lIenlopen was
ut the time of the De Braak disaster
located at the mouth Of Indian River,
several miles further down the coast
than the present location This fact
may possibly account for the i'll luck /
of previous searches made for the I
wreck. The capitalists interested in
the present expedition have however,
taken this matter into consideration. 7
and will spare neither time nor money
i'll prosecuting the search
ENNIDnEII