New-York tribune., 1905-06-26
A DUKES QUEST.
Search for Wrechc of the Treasure
Ship of the Spanish armada.

King Edwards brother-in-law. the Duke OF
Argyll. has resumed his ATTEMPTS to recover the
immense treasure which lies in Tobermory Bay, on
the coast of Argyllshire. buried beneath the sand
in the wreck Of one of the finest ships OF the
Spanish armada known the Admiral Of Flor
ence This vessel, built and fitted out by Tuscany,
carried not only one OF the commanding admirals
OF the Spanish feet, but also the greater amount
OF the treasure Of the armada 1t may be remem-
bered that after the latter routed and broken by
Drake and Howard off Calais one hundred and fifty
vessels determined to find their way back to Spain
by the Portland Firth and down the west coast
OF the Iebrides and OF Ireland. Fifty-four ships,
shattered and scurvy stricken, did eventually man
age 10 reach home The remainder were lost on
the wild western shores of the British Isles. The
Admiral of Florence put into Tobermory for food
and water, whereupon the MacLean of Quart, one
of the chieftains boarded her and claimed her for
King James Of Scotland. The Spanish admirals
answer was lighted match to the magazine, and
the Spaniard with her and the Scottish chief
tain with his retainers were all blown to atoms.
There the wreck lay for many long year un
disturbed, until entirely buried by the sand and
rock For the laws of treasure trove and concern
ing the rights to wreckage very strict through
out the British Isles. especially in Scotland and
for time a fierce contest ragged between the
crown and the ancestors Of the present Duke OF
Argyll concerning the possession Of the gold known
TO be on board the sunken Spanish flagship. King
James II of England, both while still Duke of
York and Lord High Admiral of the Realm and
afterward, when he had succeeded to the throne.
laid claim in the courts to this unfound treasure
trove. but was defeated. Then the Lords Of
Argyll of the day set work to recover the
specie, and employed with a diving bell for
the task. It not however, until the early part
Of the eighteenth century that bronze can
non of exquisite workmanship were recovered, ana
also some gold doubloons But thereupon the Null
Islanders became wrought up by supersdtious fears
of misfortune following the disturbance Of the
buried treasure and drove the searchers away, and
the work abandoned
From that time the wreck was LETT un-
touched until after the succession OF the present
duke to his fathers ho1ors and estates. Fond OF
historical researches he had devoted much time to
the study of all documents bearing upon the mat
ter. and, finding that the amount OF gold known 10
have been board the ship when blown up ran
into the millions of ducats, he determined to re-
srrne the search with all modern appliances He
has intrusted a Captain Burns of Glasgow, with
the work and the latter has had for considerable
time past a steam lighter. named the Seahght, ana
several barges moored the spot where the
wreck is known TO lie buried, all doubts as to the
locality having been dispelled by the quantity Of
relics in the shape of skulls. warped iron work.
ar cent timbers stone and iron cannon balls which
have been recovered since the work was taken up
last spring.
The dukes right TO the great treasure. when
covered will be beyond all question. For he has in
his possession a patent, signed by King Charles
on February ). 1871 by which that monarch, in his
capacity as sovereign of England and Scotland
granted 10 the MARQUIS of Argyll of that day the
wreck of the Admiral of Florence. and Of every
thing on board and pertaining to the wreck, stipu-
lating however that he should pay to the
Duke of Lennox and Of Richmond hundreoth
part of the treasure trove after the deducuon OF
ali EXPENSES 1t is doubtful whether this hundredth
part of the treasure could be claimed by the Duke
of Richmond and of Lennox Of to-day, for his
peerages are of an altogether different creation,
dating from the reign of Charles II and the earlier
1,,,l,edon7 of Richmond and Lennox has become
extinct in the male line. being represented on the
distaf side by the present Earl Darnley.