OCEAN TREASURES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 29, 12 August 1871, Page 8

OCEAN TREASURES.

THE BLOWING-UP OF THE SAN PEDRO AND LOSS OF 800 LIVES. On the first of next month the barque Nellie Gray will leave New York for Cum ana Bay, Venezuela, under the auspices of the American Submarine Company, for the purpose of working upon the old wreck of the Spanish line-of-battle ship San Pedro de Alcanatra, which blew up in the bay of Cumanain the year 1815. The story of the loss of this vessel is of the most disastrous character, and is as follows : —ln the middle of February, 1815, there sailed from Cadiz an expedition almost rivalling, with its 99 vessels, the famous Spanish Armada, which, more than 300 years ago left the Tagus for the annihilation of the British navy. The fleet was intended for the complete subjugation of the young republics of South America, which were then in revolt against their Spanish rulers. The fleet consisted of the San Pedro de Alcanatra, the admiral’s ship, of 74 guns, three frigates, thirty smaller gun-vessels, with an armament of cannon ranging from 18 to 32 pounders, and 05 transports with 18,000 troops. The flag-ship had on board chests containing 3,000,000 dollars in Spanish doubloons ; and all the vessels succeeded in safely reaching Cum ana Bay. A portion of the troops landed, and several unsuccessful engagements took place with the insurgents, who had intrenched themselves near the City of Cum ana, which then contained a population of about 30,000 people. The loyal Spaniards and nobility, finding that the King of Spain was becoming daily more unpopular, decided to take their families and valuables on board the San Pedro, where the commander offered them every hospitality. The process of transferring the gold and silver plate, &c, from the city to the ship occupied nearly 15 days. After having suffered a number of severe defeats at the hands of the Republicans, the Spaniards concluded to pillage the magnificent Cathedral of the Concepcion, together with all the other churches of Cumana, and after having transferred the, booty on board the flag-ship to abandon the enterprise. This was done, and on the following day all the vessels were to set sail, taking the loyal subjects and the troops hack to Spain. On the eve of the departure a fire was discovered in the spirit-room of the San Pedro. The flames spread very rapidly, and were quickly seen streaming from the portholes forward and aft. The fire soon reached the deck, and rendered all attempt to reach the boats ineffectual, and as the guns were all charged none of the other vessels dare approach. The flames speedily reached the magazine, and the whole stem of the ship was blown out, the vessel sinking in 10 fathoms of water, with about 800 persons onboard, all of whom were drowned. Since then different expeditions have been fitted out to endeavor to recover the specie and valuables. In 1845 a French company endeavored to get at the treasure, but failed ; but in 1850 Captain Couthway sailed from Boston for the wreck, and, after several months’ work, secured 70,000 dollars in money and plate, including a diamond cross worth 10,000 dollars. In 1857 the crew of the brig Monagas, of Boston, after spending two years on the wreck, managed to get 40,000 dollars. In 1807, Captain Soandella, who had been engaged in raising some of the vessels lost in the great tidal wave at St. Thomas, went to Cumana Bay in the schooner Mary Gage, and on arriving there he was informed that a stray wrecker from the Island of Trinidad had been at work on the wreck, and had found a golden crown set with precious stones, which had formerly belonged to the statue of the Virgin in the Cathedral of the Concepcion, and which was valued at 12,000 dols. Other divers also have, in the wreck of the San Pedro, found great quantities of human hones and jewellery. A large piece of coral, in which are embedded a number of Spanish dollars has also been found. The expedition which sails on the Ist of the next month, will have on board all the most improved diving apparatus, and will be superintended by some of the most experienced divers. The amount of gold coin, plate, jewellery and precious stones which still remains in the wreck of the San Pedro is said to be something fabulous, aud nearly all the

Spanish specie chests which were on board the San Pedro are believed to remain intact, as they were constructed of iron.