Daily Alta California, Volume 23, Number 7702, 24 April 1871 — OCEAN TREASURES. [ARTICLE]

OCEAN TREASURES.

A Grand Wrecking Expedition to Sail for the Spanish Main Governor Burnside Interested Story of the Loans of the San Pedro.

From the New York Tribune, March 27th. The brig Nellie Gay, Captain Bcandella, now moored at Hoboken, which will sail to-morrow for New-London and Providence to receive steam dredging apparatus, will start May Ist for the port of Cumana, Venezuela, to work upon the old wreck of the line-of-battle-ship .San Pedro de Alcantra, which sank in that harbor in 1815, with a very large amount of gold and silver on board. The AW/-i> Gay is sent by the American Submarine Company, of which General Ambrose E. Burnslde is President, and Wni. M. Bailey Vice-president. In the middle of February, 1815, there sailed from Cadiz, Spain, an expedition almost rivaling, with its 99 vessels, the famous Armada which more than 300 years before had set sail from the Tagus for the annihilation of the English navy. This fleet was intended for the complete subjugation of the young Republics of South America, which were then struggling to throw off the Spanish yoke. The flotilla consisted of the San Peilro de Alcantra, the Admiral's ship, carrying 71 guns; 3 frigates; 30 smaller gun vessels, with an armament of cannon ranging from 18 to 32-pounders, and 65 transports, together with 18,000 troops, and was under the command of Don Pablo .M • in Hi >. who had his headquarters on board the Don. Pedro de Alcantra. The flagship of the squadron, the Don Pedro, had on board the chest of the Paymaster, containing nearly $3,000,000 in Spanish doubloons. The fleet sailed under sealed orders. When i ii in ml Morillo arrived at the latitude of the Canary Islands the orders were opened, according to instructions, and he ascertained that he was to proceed direct to the coast of Venezuela. After experiencing some very stormy weather, in whioh, however, none of the vessels were lost, the flotilla came to anchor, April 3, 1815, at Puerto Santo, to the windward of Carupano, near the Island of Margarete, in Cumana Bay. JJA portion of the troops landed, and several unsuccessful attacks were made upon the Republicans, who had intrenched themselves near the city of Cumana. This is the oldeßt European city in South America, having been founded by Diego Castellon in 1522. It was entirely destroyed by an earthquake, October 21, 1766, but was rebuilt with considerable magnificence. It had at this time a population of 80,000 souls. The loyal Spaniards and nobility, finding that the King of Spain was becoming daily more unpopular, decided to take their families and household goods on board the San Pedro, where the' commander offered them every hospitality. The process of transferring the gold and silver plate and other valuables from the dwellings of the nobility alone occupied soma fifteen days. The troops were all withdrawn from the San Pedro, and it became the residence of the wealthy royalists, still, however, being occupied as the flag-ship of the squadron. After having suffered a number of severe defeats at the hands of the Republicans, the Spaniards concluded to pillage the magnificent Cathedral of the Conception, together with all the other churches of Cumana, and having transferred the valuables on board the San Pedro, to abandon the enterprise. This has been done, and on the following day all tho vessels were to set sail, taking the loyal subjects of Spain and the troops back to their native land.

On the eve of the departure, a fire was discovered in the spirit-room of the Don Pedro. The flames spread very rapidly and were soon seen streaming from the portholes forward and aft. The fire speedily reached the deck, and rendered the attempt to launch the boats ineffectual. As the guns were all loaded, none of the other vessels dared to approach, and while the air was filled with the screams of the women and children, the ship's after magazine exploded. The whole stern of the Don Pedro was blown into the air, and the vessel sank in ten fathoms of water, with about 800 persons on board, not one of whom was saved.

An expedition was fitted out in France in 1845, which went to Cumana with the common diving bell, to recover the lost valuables. The machinery would not work, and the Frenchman went crazy from the failure of his undertaking. In 1880, Captain Couthway sailed from Boston for the wreck, and, after several months' work, secured about $75,000 in money and plate. A diamond cross was recovered which sold in this city for $10,000. The enterprise was so badly managed, however, that the expedition was at length abandoned. The brig Monagat was fitted out at Boston in 1857, and proceeded to Cumaua. After having spent the greater part of two years over the wreck, the vessel sailed for home, having on board about $40,000. She was stranded on Cohassett Shoals, and, although all the crew saved themselves, she proved a total wreck.

A contract was granted in 1857, through the exertions of Captain Scaudella, to the Neptune Submarine* Company of N«w York, by tho Venezuelan Government, to work the wreck. The brig Queen of the South was bought, and part of the apparatus was shipped, but as tho Company were then engaged on the wreck of the -Scotland, off the Highlands, the operations were not conducted with sufficient dispatch, and the time allowed by contract expired. Captain Bcande.Ha, in 1867, went to the scene of the wreck, in the schooner Mary Oage, which the Neptune Submarine Company had fitted out for the purpose of raising soue of tin- vessels lost in the great tidal-wave at- St. Thomas. He was told that, a few weeks previous to bis arrival, a stray wrecker from the Island of Trinidad had been at work on the wreck, and had found a golden crown, sot with precious stones, which b»d formerly belonged to a statue of the Virgin in the Cathedral. It was valued at $12,000. A contract was granted on January 14, 1870, to two adventurers who claimed to hail from San Francisco. They came to this city, and, after repeated attempts to dispose of their claim, abandoned the project.

A. contract was . granted to the American Submarine Company on November 17, 1870, by the Venezuelan Government. The terms are considered very .fa.vojr«ih.l<' j Xhu \Gamjiany agrees Jto j»,y a royalty of gsven per . cunt, unit to maintain a Uk.ul agent on board. They are allowed to import their machinery free of all port or national ' duties. The brig Nellie Gay was purchased and she is now taking in coal at the Hobokon docks for the purpose of working tho machinery to be put on board at Providence. Bhe is a handsome-looking hermaphrodite brig of about 200 tons burden. She was built at Mlllbridge, Me., in 1866, and rated last April A 14. The cabin is aft and is 36 feet long, furnishing ample accommodations for the officers and divers. The. 'midship section is clear, and is intended for the engines and boilers, which will be placed in position when she reaches Cuinana. The forecastle is fitted lup for the reception of the crew, and has berths for fifteen men. The officers of the vessel are Charles Scandella, Captain; Georgo . .W. Fuller, - Superintendent of the expedition; W. M. Greene, Financial Agent; William Higgins,, first mate; three divers, three engineers, and eight' seamen. „ Her machinery will bo of the most improved order, and will consist of steam dredging, diving apparatus, and air pumps. She will 'also have on board a steam tender, thirtyfive feet long. Altogether, the expedition will cost about $50,000. After receiving her machinery she will return to New York to clear from the Venezuelan Consul at this port. She will then touch at Laguayra, on the Venezuelan coast, to take on board the fiscal agent ! before I going to the scehe of operations. The diverS expect to be at work by the last of May. „. ..r»: -i.»» "J<.'/.z •.-,.;.,•• ■„. ■;• While the expedition is at Cumana, Capt. Scandella . intends to obtain the privilege of working j the pearl banks in that bay... Theso have been very valuable in times . past, and , a number of pearls have been found there worth $1 ,000 each. \ Divers in the wreck of the San I'edro have found great . quantities of human bones and jewelry. In a private collection in Boston there is a large piece of coral, from near the; scene of the wrock, in which are .embedded ; a number of silver dollars. , The ; coral j has grown around the, pieces of nioney, and they now form" a part of the mast. :, i, B9 ; ;_.■; i. tl ,u. •,.;,, .;x.< ! - )ji;