The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-20
SUNKEN TREASURE.
Rich Cargoes Recovered
and Others That Defy
the wreckers. -,- -s-
From shipping Illustrated.
Observation-Disclosures

Ine comparative ease with which
funds can always be procured to
prosecute the search after hypothet-
ical sunken or buried treasures Is the
best evidence which could be adduced
of the optimism of the world at large
as regards the feasibility of bringing
to light again the fabulous wealth
which lies within the bosom of the
earth. II the tradition Is to be be-
lieved. the sunken galleops of the
Spanish Armada must have literally
strewn the western shores of Great
Britain with stores of gold and silver,
either In coin or plate.
From Vigo to Cadiz lie numerous
treasure ships sunk by the prowess
of the English seafighters. Much
has been recovered from Vigo Bay,
but the plate ships sunk by Blake
near Cadiz have so far challenged
the skill of the wreckers. The two
vessels which Cromwell's Admiral
captured were wealthy ships and en-
riched the English Mint, In spite of a
leakage" to the extent of about
three-quarters of million sterling.
1t also forms part of the same ira
dition that Santa Cruz Bay is strewn
with the treasure carried by the fleet
of some ten Spanish plate ships which
Blake compelled to seek shelter in
the bay and which he subsequently
sank. To form an accurate idea of
the wealth there must lie sunken in
the Spanish treasure ships one need
but to refer to the wealth found in
those captured afloat. In the year
1747 alone the English ships cap
tured 644 prizes, among which the
Vestal, Spanish ship. alone yielded
E14O,OO0; the Hecta, another Span
ish ship, 100000, and the Con-
cordia, 100000. In 1745 three
Spanish vessels returning from Peru,
having been captured by some three
prlvateersmen, the owners of the lat
ter received as their share the sum
of 100000 and every common sea-
man $3.50. Another Spanish galleon
was taken by a British man-of-war
with a million sterling in bullion on
board. In 1857 it took thirty-eight
wagons to carry from Portsmouth to
London the gold and jewels found
in two Spanish galleons returning
from Mexico. In 1902 the fifteen
huge galleons captured In Vigo Bay
yielded no less than G2,O0O,00O,
while the great galleon captured by
Anson in 1743 contained treasure
worth e500.O00
The most remarkable capture was
that OF the Hermione, off Cadiz, on
May IT, 1862, by the English men-of-
war Active and Favorite. After all
charges had been deducted prize
money was distributed as follows:
To the Admiral and Commodore,
f64.963 Ss9d.; to the captain of the
Active, f66,053 IS. Cd; to each of
the three commissioned officers, s13.-
O04 las. Id; to each of the eight
warrant officers, f4336 3s. I'd; to-
each of the twenty petty officers,
e1S06 los. 10d.; to each of the $50
seamen and marines, SASS SIS. 4d.;
total Active's share, f24S,66S Ss.;
to the captain of the Favorite, e64,-
S72 13s. 3D.. to each of the two COM
missloned officers, e12,974 los. 3D.;
to each of the seven warrant officers,
f4324 los. I'D; to each of the six
teen petty officers, G1S92 0s. 4d.; to
each of the 100 seamen and marines,
&4S4 rs. 4d.; total Fayorites share,
&203,179 rs. 1Od
To come nearer home, it is stated
the whole eastern seaboard of Central
America teens with buried treasure,
some ashore and much upon the sea
bed. Captain Kidd and his merry
compeers are all reputed to have hid
den Ill gotten wealth, both by land
and sea, and many are the expedi-
tions which have engaged In its at
tempted recovery. Most of the mod
ern expeditions which enlisted capital
to hunt these pirates treasures be-
longed to the fake order. They
were promoted by adventures who
aspired only to make an easy living
for some time at the expense of the
credulous. but there are records ex-
tant of expeditions of this nature
which resulted in considerab BILE profit.
One of these was carried on more
than 200 years ago by youth named
william Phipps, son of New Eng
land carpenter, who had heard of a
treasure ship sunk off Hispaniola. 1t
Is said in the more or less authentic
story of Captain Kidd that not a few
old pirates and buccaneers were re-
tired comfortably in this part of the
country, respected citizens and adored
by the children.
1t is certain that Kidd was held In
high regard in New York; 1t was in
deed his excellent reputation which
induced the Government to give him
a commission as Pirate Catcher to his
Majesty. Therefore it may be con-
sidered quite probable that young
Phipps, who was then a shepherd.
heard of the prize from one of these
veterans. 1t is not known by which
means. though certain it appears.
that he managed to visit Hispaniola,
whence he proceeded to London.
Once there the carpenters son min
gled with very high flown personages,
among whom the Duke of Albemarle.
who not only subscribed himself to
the proposed venture, but persuaded
a number of his friends to advance
e1O0 each, This, it will be noted,
bears strong resemblance to the his
tory of the Coils Diamond Syndicate.
His Grace of AIhan1arla olon eoo,.oa