The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-18
SUNKEN
Rich CArgOes Recovered and Others That
Defy the Wreckers.


From Shipping HIstrGtsd.
The comparative ease with which funds
can always be poured to prosecute the search
after hypothetical sunken or buried treas
ures il the best evidence which could be adj
duced OF the optimism Of the world at large
as regards the feasibility Of bringing 10
light again the fabulous wealth which lies
within the bosom OF the earth. II the tradi-
ton IL TO be believed, the sunken ~galleons 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 viSo to Cadiz lie numerous treasure
ships sunk by the prowess Of the English
seafghters. Much has been recovered from
Vigo Bay. but the plate ships sunk by Blake
near Cadiz haYe so far challenged the skill Of
the wreckers. The two vessels which Crom-
wells Admiral captured were wealthy ships
aud enriched the English Mint. in spite OF a
Leakage" to the extent OF about three-Quar-
ters of a million sterling.
II also forms part Of the same tradition
that Santa Cruz Bay in the Canary Islands
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 aioat. In the year l77 alone
the English ships captured ga prizes. among
which the Vestal. a Spanish ship, alone yielded
E14O 900; the Hecta. another spanish ship,
$500 700. and the Concordia, 100000. In
l745 three Spanish vessels returning from
Peru. having been captured by some three
privateersmen, the owners OF the latter
received as their share the sum Of EToO. 900
and every common seaman ESQ. Another
spanish galleon was taken by a British man
of-war with a million sterling in bullion on
board. In 1857 IL took thirty-eight wagons
to carry from Portsmouth, to London the
gold and jewels found in two Spanish g~alleons
huge galleons captured in vigo Bay yielded
no less than 1000 900. while the great gal
leon captured by Arson In l7ta contained
The most remarkable capture. was that Of
the hS ,b ae m G1IaS on 0sdi5, on ,i May .I ~ F i1S3:
rite. After all charges had been deducted
prize money was distributed as follows: To the
the Captain of the Active, Gee, O5S IS. 3D.:
to each OF the three commissioned officers,
ei5.Oo4 las. lid TO each OF the eight warrant
petty officers. 1900 los. iOd.; 70 each Of the
100 seamen and marines, E4S5 So, Id; total
t hSsiE FsSo shsre; es Az ~ eS "a So ID 20 IN snS . SSP' OF tS Ss
two commissioned officers, tl2,074 los. Sd.
to each OF the seven. warrant onicers. G4,32A
a. sO2 Os. I'd. to each Of the 100 seamen and
marines, e4s4 2s. i'd; total Favorite's share.
To come nearer home, Il is stated the whole
eastern seaboard Of Central America teens
with buried treasure. some ashore and much
compeers are all reputed 70 have hidden III
gotten wealth. both by land and sea, and
many, are the expeditions which have en-
the modern expeditions which enlisted CAPT.
tai 70 hunt these pirates treasures belonged
by adventurers who aspired only 10 make
an easy living for some time at the expense
ofRthe credulous. but there are records ex-
tant OF expeditions OF this nature which re-
suited in considerable profit. One Of these
was carried on more than 200 years ago by a
England carpenter. who had heard Of a
treasure ship sunk on Hlspaniola. 1t is said
in the more or less authentic story of Capt.
Kidd that not a few old pirates and buc-
cancers were retired comfortably in this par
OF the country. respected citizens and adored
by the children.
1t il certain that kidd was held In high
| regard In New York il was indeed his excel
lent reputation which induced the Govern
Catcher TO his Majesty. Therefore II may be
considered 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 II appears,
that he managed to visit HispaniOla, whence
he proceeded to London. Once there the car
p%enter's son mingled with very high flown
personaRes, among whom the Duke Of Abe
marie, who not only subscribed himself to the
DNObOnNh NhNh IA PNAHhuNNA ~ ullb VI
his friends TO advance GlOO each. This, IL
will be, noted. bears a strong resemblance
TO the history Of the Coils Diamond Syndicate.
His Grace OF Albemarle also secured the APP
pointment OF Governor of Jamaica. in order to
be near the scene OF operations, and give as
his noble pocket. At all events. Phipps
raised money enough to charter a vessel and
sailed. The information upon which he was
working must have been very precise, for
the story goes that the wreck, then about
Atty years old, was found among the growing
coral and seaweeds of the reefs. Divers were
sent down who located big guns and at the
same time the sought after treasure.
After paying expenses. Phlpps managed
GEO. 600 went TO the Duke of Albemarle as his
share and 10000 was returned for every
and anSp yo onnIe' ph ias e ers%s T %SieS Seems aiOi i@o
m~easurably dlsproportionate. But IL is not
unlikely that. following the custom Of the
sum to which PhipOs was supposed 20 have
certainly had" in proper fashion. i only
writer to whom the story is due wrote before
the facts were fully known; That his Britain
suits Of the expedition is apparent from the
ppoH young Phippsi The KING made him q
England colonies. which are @aid never 10
have had a better down TO the time they
found il more fitting to govern themselves
without the benevolent aid OF the Defender
of the Faith.
The foregoing shows the openings in store
now for the successful searchers OF buried
or sunken treasures. Certain IL Ia that the
chances OF success are far greater to-day than
they were then, thanks to the mechanical
appliances which can be protitahly utilized
nowadays as contrasted with the crude meth
DDS Of 200 years ago. However. the Duke Of
Argyll appears to have had less success with
I the treasure hunting operations on his estate
at Tobermory than the other Deer who no
prottably patronized young Phipps. 1t is
announced that the divers employed by the
Scottish Duke have suspended the operations
for the season. but are confident that next
year they will raise from the deem the treas
ures carried by the Spanish galleon DuQue
de Florencia.
Fish q Lucky Omen.