Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
Here is an excerpt from a document referred to online as Exhibit 99. The excerpt is a translation of a report written by Don Miguel de Lima y Melo on the 15th of October, 1715.
All of the cargos of the other ships were all lost, less a few leather bags off my ship, but this was little because by the day following the disaster the hold of my ship was completely full of water with over a codo and a half (27 inches) over the main hatchway. This was caused because we were unable to cut the rigging on the leeward side of the ship to dislodge the foremast. By the movements of the sea, caused by the mast still being erect, the bottom part of the ship opened and if this hadn’t happened I would have been able to recover all of the cargo on my ship.
However, for the first eleven hours following the ship wrecking, the ship was strong as it had been before the disaster which is the ultimate proof of its great strength.. I have been fortunate in bringing much of what was salvaged to the Havana, but the remainder is buried underground in my Real [camp] and I am hoping it could be picked up by the next schooners that arrive there. But sir, most of the cargo is badly damaged and wet due to the water entering my ship and in carrying the things from my wreck to the shore in a small boat… Only my small boat and another of the Capitana were the only launches which were left after the disaster...
There is some interesting and useful information. What was salvaged was buried for safe keeping until it could be dispatched. That would undoubtedly be back in the dunes. And I'm sure that at least some small amount would be dropped or missed.
Here is the link for more about that.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/85684/000102826906000019/ex99-2ahc8k.htm
Here is another excerpt that you might find interesting.
The Carmen carried a number of wealthy passengers on their way back to Spain. It is likely that these passengers carried items in their luggage not declared on the manifest (contraband). This is supported by the fact that several recovered items from the site are not listed on the manifest. For example items recovered include:
1) an emerald teardrop
2) a three-carat ruby stone
3) a gold finger ring with amethyst
2) a three-carat ruby stone
3) a gold finger ring with amethyst
4) 8 gold rings
5) 5 gold earrings
6) 2 gold brooches
7) 2 gold flower ornament holders
8) a gold hat pin
9) a gold hair piece
10) 2 gold crucifixes
11) 3 pairs of gold cuff-links
12) 3 gold pendants
13) 3 gold wire pieces
14) a gold grooming spoon
15) a silver candelabra
5) 5 gold earrings
6) 2 gold brooches
7) 2 gold flower ornament holders
8) a gold hat pin
9) a gold hair piece
10) 2 gold crucifixes
11) 3 pairs of gold cuff-links
12) 3 gold pendants
13) 3 gold wire pieces
14) a gold grooming spoon
15) a silver candelabra
And a partridge in a pear tree.
As you probably know, the Carmen is thought to be the wreck at Rio Mar.
---
You might also find this web site useful. It gives GPS coordinates for shipwrecks and all kinds of submerged junk along St. Lucie County. It is useful for diving or fishin but you might find it useful for identifying things you come across.
Here is the link
http://www.floridagofishing.com/reefs/ce-reefs-st-lucie-county.html
Similar web sites give data for the other counties.
Here is the link or Indian River County.
http://www.floridagofishing.com/reefs/ce-reefs-indian-river-county.html
---
Thursday and Friday the surf is supposed to be only one or two feet. The surf is supposed to be two to four feet Saturday. That could be interesting. We'll have to see how it develops.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
