SAN ANTONIO
By Capt. Dan Berg
The 300 ton Portuguese merchant nao San Antonio, was owned by
Fernandino de Verar and under charter to the Spanish fleet. She was
enroute from Cartagena to Cadiz with a cargo, according to Marx's
book, SHIPWRECKS IN THE AMERICAS," of 5,000 hides, 1,200 quintals of
brazil wool, 6,000 pounds of indigo, 30,000 pounds of tobacco, 5,000
pounds of sarsaparilla, "and 5,000 pounds of gold and silver and was
armed with 12 cannons. The San Antonio was wrecked on the
west reefs of Bermuda on September 12, 1621. Only 120 of her crew
made it to shore. These survivors were soon beaten and tortured by
local wreckers and forced to tell of the treasure the San Antonio
had carried. Wreckers under the direction of Bermuda's Governor
Butler recovered her anchors, four swivel guns, 11 cannons and
almost all of her gold. Governor Butler left Bermuda on his own
vessel shortly after the salvage operation, before his term was
over. Suspicion has always been that he made off with the treasure.
In 1960, Teddy Tucker spotted something in a sand pocket while on a
fishing trip. He made a quick dive and found a cannon. Immediately
he knew he had found yet another shipwreck. Together with Peter
Stackpole and Robert Canton, he worked the 20 foot deep wreck site.
Together they recovered pieces of pottery, musket shot, coins, a
gold chain, navigational dividers, swords and an emerald mounted
ring.
The information listed
above was taken with permission from the Book:
BERMUDA SHIPWRECKS, ISBN # 0-9616167-4-1
A Vacationing Divers Guide to Bermudas Shipwrecks,
by Dan and Denise Berg, 6x9 softcover,73 pages.
Retail $14.95
From the first quarter of the 16th century, Bermuda became a
landmark for Spanish ships sailing back to Spain from the New World.
The desire to sight Bermuda to confirm their position often ended
their voyage as they wrecked on Bermuda's outer reefs. To this day
Bermuda's treacherous reefs have taken their toll on shipping. The
reefs have claimed vessels ranging from ocean lines to small fishing
boats. Bermuda Shipwrecks is the most comprehensive, accurate,
illustrated collection of information, photographs, sketches and
stories ever written about the legendary wrecks around Bermuda.
Bermuda Shipwrecks includes over 100 illustrations comprised of 61
sensational color photos, 17 rare b&w historical images, 19 stamps,
4 sketches plus one map. Bermuda Shipwrecks contains a wealth of
enlightening information that gives the readers a nostalgic glimpse
into the history and present condition of over 55 of Bermuda's most
popular Shipwrecks. |
