The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-16

Enormous Sums of Gold and silver
Hidden by the Waters.
Memphis Commercial-Appeal.

Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
The success which has attended the spec
ulators who bought the wreck of the
Standard Oil Company's treasure ship of
the New Jersey coast recalls some little
known recoveries OF treasure trove on sea
and land.
There Is, for example, the exploit OF a
lietle group OF English spectators, who, I'm
1857. formed a syndicate to search for the
richly laden Spanish gaIleon wrecked In
deep water near Hispanola. Vast quanti-
ties Of bullion were rescued from their
ocean vaults, and adventures who risked
$500 received the handsome return OF $4,000.
The crowns share of the find was only
$4,000, but the Governor OF Jamaica nord
Albemarle) Melted the huge sum OF $4,000.
This astonishing success OF thai expedition
led to the undertaking Of countless similar
enterprises. most Of which were total fall
ures, and none of them had any appreciable
result.
Not many years ago a syndicate attempt
ed to discover the army chest lost by Ma
poleon at the battle Of Abcukir Bay, Egypt.
Parts OF the sunken vessel were found, but
the chest and its wealth remain at the
bottom of the bay.
Among the treasure unearthed on land
was the Hildesheim. found in a trench IN
1850. The priceless articles. which are now
lodged in the Berlin Museum. include solid
silver plates, pots and stewpans OF exqui-
site design and workmanship. a complete
dinner service. numerous cups, goblets and
dishes. all OF silver and Of beautiful Gre
clan work, ornamented with wreaths and
attachments OF fine gold. The great Rus
sian find surpassed in value and interest
even that OF Hildesheim. The superb arti-
cles now deposited I'm the Winter Palace
include the famous Nikopol vase. Of which
NJ. Theirs once declared that TO gain pos
session OF IL would justify war being made
on the Muscoyite empire.
One Of the most interesting of chance
discoveries was the. u~nearthing In 1&S OF
the eleven crowns of the Gothic kings who
ruled in Spain during the seventh century.
Some countrymen near Toledo observed
fragments Of jewel and gold work which
had been washed out OF the earth by heavy
rains. Gathering their finds I'm a heap, the
peasants divided them into equal shares
A local shop keeper quietly bought each
disposed OF the pieced-together monarchical
headpieces to the Musee cluny at a hand
some profit
To the treasure seeker the sea presents
a boundless sphere of adventurous opera
tons. Countless millions in bullion lie hid
den in its depths, and much OF IL in places
by no means inaccessible. Probably most
Of the sunken treasure A. easily reachable
IL only its exact location was determined.
There Is at least 100000 somewhere In
vigo bay. which sum: In gold and silver.
was thrown overheard from or sank with
the French = Spanish g~slleons In l102.
During the engagement there the English
admiral surprised the citadel at night and
forced an entrance TO the bay. in which lay
OF the fort. Nearly 100000 in money
and merchandise was seized By the English
Dutch forces. but about thirteen vessels
were burned or sunk by the French ad-
miral, so that their booty might not be
captured by the enemy. Numerous have
been the attempts made TO reach the buried
| wealth, but the immense stores OF treasure
| have remained undisturbed for two hum
dred years.