FORTUNE OF £24,000,000.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19472, 6 May 1925, Page 8

FORTUNE OF £24,000,000.

RICHEST SPOILS OF SPAIN. TREASURE IN VIGO BAY. The story of the 63 vessels of the Turkish fleet, sunk in Navariuo Bay, 97 years ago, with gold tmcl silver treasures worth £10,000,C00. looted from the Greeks, has recently been told. But the modem diyerndventuror has greater conquests awaiting him. In Vigo Bay, Northern Spain, lies a fortune of £24.000,000 in .gold, silver, and proc"’ons stones, sunk 222 years ago. Recovery of this vast fortune, says a London paper, may bo no more than an idle dream; but with up-to-date equipment, salvage work that wa.s onco impossible is now rog-arded as practicable. Vigo is a small seaport, prosperous in a modest way, but not one that would be thought from externa! appearance to have any claim to great riches. Yet, if the sandy bottom of a harbour can be said to form any part of a port, Vigo is one of the richest poits in the world. Beneath the quiet waters in the bay lies one oi the greatest fortunes that the old Empire of Spain ever brought out of its colonies in the Now World. In 1702 there sailed from Vera Cruz a “plate fleet” of Spain. In usual circumstances the sailing of this fleet, bearing the spoils of both “mining- and murder, was a yearly occurrence, but on this occasion the fleet carried three years’ accumulation of riches, a dispute as to a succession to the throne having caused delay. It was not without misgiving that the Spaniards entrusted- this treasure, estimated at £24,000,000, on the high seas. They were well acquainted with the marauding habits of certain English admirals, and Drake, though dead, yet lived, in the fear he had put into the hearts of the Spaniards. When the IT plate ships sailed with their rich cargo they were accompanied by 23 ships of the line. These wore tinder (he command of Count, de Chatoaiireiiard, and were lent hy Spain’s ally and ever-faithful friend, France. “A FLEET OF GOLD.” News of the sailing of this “fleet of gold” soon arrived iu London, where Queen Anne held her Court, and, with equal speed, certain admirals put to sea, determined to have another brush with Spain, and make a bid for the prize that would fall to force of arms. But luck vas against the English. The “plate fleet” sailed oTt, while the seas were being scoured in every direction but the right one. Councils were held daily on the richlyladeu ships, and discussions took place regarding the safest point in Europe to sail for. The French advocated making for their own country, where help might be obtained to protect the fleet, but the S|«aniards were suspicious, thinking that once the treasure got near French shores it might be “naturalised” and lost to them. They wore therefore determined to make for Vigo, where, in -due course, the fleet arrived safely. Difficulties and dangers were over—at least all thought—and but for one extraordinary piece of stupidity such would have been (he ease. Having arrived at Vigo, instead of Cadiz, as was their custom, the commanders of the “plate fleet-.” found themselves prevented from unloading their precious cargo by “rod tape" legulatiiins. The citizens of Cadiz held a charter .for the discharging of ships_from America, and were in no frame of mind to allow their poorer brethren of Vigo to earn honest pay by usurping their rights. A pretty dispute arose, which, after much wrangling, was deferred to Madiid foi settlement. ENGLISH FLEET DRAWS NEAR. Meanwhile the plate ships were lying peacefully at anchor, their cargoes still aboard them, and, what was of far greater importance, an English fleet, under the command of Sir George Hooke, was slowly drawing near. This admiral, with u certain Dutchman—friends for the time being - was returning from a disastrous attack on Cadiz, in which, for a change, the Spaniards hud eonto off best. It so happened that H.M.S. Pembroke put into Lagos for fresh water, and there, through the instrumentality of a talkative chaplain, news was heard concerning .the arrival of a rich “plate fleet” at Vigo. No sooner had the chaplain blurted out his Tale when the Pembroke weighed anchor, and wont in chase of Sir George Rooke. She caught him up. „ What a change the news she carried wrought in the minds of' the defeated sailors ! Dutch and English, the wounded and the sick, from high officer to lowly gunner, all burst into cheers when the nows went round. 'Treasure! Wealth such as Drake and Releigh never dreamed of! Their minds no morfe needed the cheering words of their commanders to keep (hem in the best of spirits. “To Vigo! To Vigo!” they cried. Word soon reached Vigo of the enemy’s approach. Immediately the forts were manned, militia called out, chains stretched across the harbour, and—crowning folly of all—portions of the treasure, already surreptitiously sent ashore, were loaded back on ilie ships. DESTRUCTION OF “PLATE" SHIP.” Against the formidable preparations of the Spaniards the English sailed gleefully; while Vice-Admiral Hopson was crashing into the chains and booms at the entrance of the bay, the Duke of Ormond was leading his Grenadiers against the forts. The attacks, both by land and sea. were successful, though not without heavy payment in the price of lives. The ships bore down on the anchored galleons, moored so close lo each other that they dare not fire their broadsides. Many were blown out of the water, ot iters wore, sot on tire, and those heaviest laden were carried by the, sword’s point. Boon the land forts had fallen, the galloons were blazing, ihe day was England’s. As soon as victory was assured all efforts were spent on putting out the flames on the burning craft, but it was not for. glory, but for gold, that the men had so valiantly fought. The tusk was no easy one. While the English were doing their utmost to put out the. fires, the Spaniards, realising mat nil was lost, were starting new ones, and Wowing up treasure ships that hitherto had escaped the attention of the victors. Bit George Rooko managed to get away with booty to the value of £2oo,ooo—no mean prize for a fleet returning front defeat. But the rest, of the treasure was sunk in the waters of the bay. RICHES UNRECOVERED. Many attempts have been made to recover the lost treasure. An Englishman, with the aid of a diving bell, recovered bars of silver lo the value of roughly £8C0: but the Spaniards stopped him from going on with his enterprise. In 1825 a Scotsman arrived on the scene. He was allowed to try his luck on condition that 90 per cent, of the wealth found was handed over to the Spanish Government. He raised a considerable portion of the treasure, and, having done so, marts the Spanish representatives present hopelessly drunk, and then sailed away. Near Perth there stands a house in which this cute Ircasuresecker spent the remainder of his days. , , From time to tune scores of plans have been “tried out” in order to rob, Vigo Bay of its riches, yet nothing but a few implements of war have ever been regained since, the wily Scotsman departed. Treasure valued at J 324.000.000 still lies in Vigo Bay.