Who needs Bernard Romans when you have the Boston News-Letter ?

[Jolly Mon]

Kip Wagner would have it oh, so easy in today's digital age. It is actually pretty amazing that the 1715 Fleet was not "discovered" until the 1950's.

Click to enlarge. The newspaper is the "Boston News-Letter" from Aug 27th 1716.

 

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[signumops]

Great piece! Thanks for posting that.

 

[Jolly Mon]

Great piece! Thanks for posting that.

There are several articles available in older US newspapers about the 1733 fleet as well.
I am going to try and start digging into some European papers ...it makes one wonder if some earlier fleet disasters might have been documented in the media of the day.

 

[Bum Luck]

Thanks for an interesting post!

 

[signumops]

I typed it out and gave it a good read, to wit:

(Restl, ?) Novemb. 10. A French ship called the St. Francis arrived here the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] instant from the Havana, with advice, that on the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] of August a sloop arrived there with the particulars of the unfortunate loss of the Spanish Flotilla, under the command of Admiral Don Juan de Ubilla, and 6 other ships commanded by the Sieur de Cheves, of which he has brought the following account.

The 24[SUP]th[/SUP] of July the said flotilla, consisting of 8 ships, the 6 galleons of Cheves, and the Gryphin, sailed out of the Havana and at four of the clock were out of the harbour, steering their course to the mouth of the channel of Bahama; but the wind being not very favourable, they found it more difficult than usually, and when they came to the said channel, they found that they were too near the coast of Florida, and not above 40 miles from the coast; and being overtaken there with a dreadful hurricane from the north-east, they found it impossible to get to sea nor carry their sails, and having cut down all their masts, they were at last obliged, the 31[SUP]st[/SUP], to run ashore, whereby all of (‘em) were staved to pieces. The passengers c., board those ships thought only of saving their lives, but the seamen broke open the chests in hopes to save themselves ashore with the money, but this occasioned their loss. The ship called the Flying Hart was the only one that escaped. The Admiral having sent an account of this misfortune to the Havana, the Governor sent immediately thither all the ships that were in the harbour, in order to fish up the gold and silver, of which they had already saved a great part, and especially from the ship called the Urca de Luna; and they hope to save the greatest part of the rest because the sea is not very deep where the ships stranded, which is on the coast of Florida, within 50 leagues of the Cape St. Augustine, and 20 from the Cape Canaveral, but the rest of their cargo, consisting of cochineal, sugar and other valuable goods, is altogether lost. The ship St. Francis, which brought this dismal account, has a very rich cargo, and 350000 Pieces of Eight. That ship has brought advice that out of the capitana 210 persons were drowned, and amongst them the General, a Captain, the Marquis de la Puebla, 2 Jesuits and several passengers of note; out of the Patache there were 25 men drowned, and amongst them 5 persons of quality. There were 400 men lost out of the ships of Cheves, and amongst them his son; out of the Admiral 120, and amongst them 4 persons of distinction, and out of the Urca 31 seamen. The captain of the St. Francis will make us believe that the fleet had on board 16 or 17 millions of Pieces of Eight, 16 or 18000 quintals of chochineal, 600000 pounds of indigo, 50000 quintals of tobacco, 100 chests of (Banilles ?), with several other goods.


Couple of words I could not decipher, but the gist of it is that, depending upon how your read it, there might have been 15 vessels including the Grifon. There is a reference to the Flying Hart, which is a new one on me... never heard that before. The bit about the seamen filling their pockets with cobs from the chests they opened before swimming for shore only goes to point out that cobs can be found just about anywhere that a body could float. Who knows, maybe this paper was the "National Enquirer" of the day, and we can not take much of the report as believable. What's the deal with the St. Francis carrying 350000 Pieces of Eight... a little moper dopery at Havana maybe? Maybe she stopped by Florida on the way to Boston and picked up a little contraband? Maybe not, we'll never know.

 

[Jolly Mon]

What is shocking is the overall accuracy of the piece---pretty amazing if you ask me. It is 20 English leagues from the Cape to Ft. Pierce and 52 leagues from St. Augustine to Ft. Pierce. They had the fleet location spot on.

The Boston News-Letter was the first newspaper in British North America. Apparently, it was subsidized by the British government as there were so few people in the colonies at the time. From what I have read, it was anything but a "tabloid".

I take the "Flying Hart" to be the "Griffon"...just a snafu in the translation.

 

[signumops]

Maybe the last remark was 100 chests of Vanilla (?)
I think the writer summed up 8 ships including the Grifon, Ubilla's capitana, and the 6 vessels under Chavez. On the other hand, Clausen says 11 boats, Mendel Petersen says 12 boats. Now we have possibly 15... don't think so, but it would be a hoot if it was a fact!

These reports, just after-the-fact, are always interesting, if unofficial.

Also, a French boat could have had treasure assigned at that time, as they were buddies with the Spanish during the War of Secession (spelling?).

 

[Au_Dreamers]

and...

Opposite this River perished the Admiral commanding the Plate Fleet 1715, the rest of the Fleet 14 in number...

 

[Jolly Mon]

and...

Opposite this River perished the Admiral commanding the Plate Fleet 1715, the rest of the Fleet 14 in number...

I have often wondered about Romans' source...

 

[mad4wrecks]

You should read the wikipedia account of Bernard Romans. Fascinating. He also shipwrecked twice in Florida. Those would be some neat historical wrecks to find. As a cartographer, he probably had access to other charts & maps that mentioned the 1715 fleet.

 

[Trembull]

Cartographer:
Romans, Bernard (1720-1778?)



Old Florida Maps - <?= $current_title ?>


http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g3931p+ar16220b))


http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00095971/00001

 

[Jolly Mon]

Wow, Romans had quite a life---I had no idea. I actually may try to read "A Concise History..." from cover to cover. I downloaded it from Google Books some time ago. Thanks for tipping us off, mad4wrecks.

Thanks for the great links, Trembull.

 

[Bum Luck]

There were a lot of men that made maps in those days, but Romans was clearly at the top of those, but in ability and experience. He packed a lot into 43 years.

I'd give a lot to have worked with him.

 

[Jolly Mon]

It appears Le Griffon was referred to as the "Flying Hart" in this clipping as well...perhaps some information was gleaned from the same source by both papers...although clearly not all...

 

[ivan salis]

salmon in writing to the king of span --Sept 20 ,1715 ....of the fleet.... 9 vessels8 are wrecked and 2 galleons are "missing" but thought to sank in deep water as "parts of a large vessel or vessel was found on the north coast of St. Augustine -- 9 =2 = 11 Spanish ships --plus the 1 French vessel griffon == 12 in total..

note 8 vessels were basically together in a small area as a "group" ...which was all 5 vessels of Ubilla's fleet --and both of the major treasure vessels of Echevervz's fleet plus the "small dutch prize vessel "-- the 3 other vessels of Echevez's fleet broke away and took a more northerly course (this is according o the account of Ubilla's pilot major in Havana ..when being deposed) ..these would be the Conception... the French prize vessel (El Ciervo) and the tobacco hauling Nao San Miguel ..the Conception is thought to sank somewhere about the cape area --due to the fact that 4 survivors were found at the cape after floating on a hatch cover for 2 days .--

 

[Bum Luck]

salmon in writing to the king of span --Sept 20 ,1715 ....of the fleet.... 9 vessels8 are wrecked and 2 galleons are "missing" but thought to sank in deep water as "parts of a large vessel or vessel was found on the north coast of St. Augustine -- 9 =2 = 11 Spanish ships --plus the 1 French vessel griffon == 12 in total..

note 8 vessels were basically together in a small area as a "group" ...which was all 5 vessels of Ubilla's fleet --and both of the major treasure vessels of Echevervz's fleet plus the "small dutch prize vessel "-- the 3 other vessels of Echevez's fleet broke away and took a more northerly course (this is according o the account of Ubilla's pilot major in Havana ..when being deposed) ..these would be the Conception... the French prize vessel (El Ciervo) and the tobacco hauling Nao San Miguel ..the Conception is thought to sank somewhere about the cape area --due to the fact that 4 survivors were found at the cape after floating on a hatch cover for 2 days .--

Good post, Ivan. Hadn't heard that before.

 

[sphillips]

I typed it out and gave it a good read, to wit:

(Restl, ?) Novemb. 10. A French ship called the St. Francis arrived here the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] instant from the Havana, with advice, that on the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] of August a sloop arrived there with the particulars of the unfortunate loss of the Spanish Flotilla, under the command of Admiral Don Juan de Ubilla, and 6 other ships commanded by the Sieur de Cheves, of which he has brought the following account.



The 24[SUP]th[/SUP] of July the said flotilla, consisting of 8 ships, the 6 galleons of Cheves, and the Gryphin, sailed out of the Havana and at four of the clock were out of the harbour, steering their course to the mouth of the channel of Bahama; but the wind being not very favourable, they found it more difficult than usually, and when they came to the said channel, they found that they were too near the coast of Florida, and not above 40 miles from the coast; and being overtaken there with a dreadful hurricane from the north-east, they found it impossible to get to sea nor carry their sails, and having cut down all their masts, they were at last obliged, the 31[SUP]st[/SUP], to run ashore, whereby all of (‘em) were staved to pieces. The passengers c., board those ships thought only of saving their lives, but the seamen broke open the chests in hopes to save themselves ashore with the money, but this occasioned their loss. The ship called the Flying Hart was the only one that escaped. The Admiral having sent an account of this misfortune to the Havana, the Governor sent immediately thither all the ships that were in the harbour, in order to fish up the gold and silver, of which they had already saved a great part, and especially from the ship called the Urca de Luna; and they hope to save the greatest part of the rest because the sea is not very deep where the ships stranded, which is on the coast of Florida, within 50 leagues of the Cape St. Augustine, and 20 from the Cape Canaveral, but the rest of their cargo, consisting of cochineal, sugar and other valuable goods, is altogether lost. The ship St. Francis, which brought this dismal account, has a very rich cargo, and 350000 Pieces of Eight. That ship has brought advice that out of the capitana 210 persons were drowned, and amongst them the General, a Captain, the Marquis de la Puebla, 2 Jesuits and several passengers of note; out of the Patache there were 25 men drowned, and amongst them 5 persons of quality. There were 400 men lost out of the ships of Cheves, and amongst them his son; out of the Admiral 120, and amongst them 4 persons of distinction, and out of the Urca 31 seamen. The captain of the St. Francis will make us believe that the fleet had on board 16 or 17 millions of Pieces of Eight, 16 or 18000 quintals of chochineal, 600000 pounds of indigo, 50000 quintals of tobacco, 100 chests of (Banilles ?), with several other goods.


Couple of words I could not decipher, but the gist of it is that, depending upon how your read it, there might have been 15 vessels including the Grifon. There is a reference to the Flying Hart, which is a new one on me... never heard that before. The bit about the seamen filling their pockets with cobs from the chests they opened before swimming for shore only goes to point out that cobs can be found just about anywhere that a body could float. Who knows, maybe this paper was the "National Enquirer" of the day, and we can not take much of the report as believable. What's the deal with the St. Francis carrying 350000 Pieces of Eight... a little moper dopery at Havana maybe? Maybe she stopped by Florida on the way to Boston and picked up a little contraband? Maybe not, we'll never know.

Makes you wonder how much the story changed from the time the griffin made it to spain, until the news worked its way to boston. We all know how stories change as they are handed down from one person to the next.

 

[whydahdiver]

The Boston Newsletter reported the Whydah sinking on the front page with a proclamation by Governor Samuel Shute. I'll see if I can attach that page soon.

WD

 

[FISHEYE]

I have volume 1 and 2 of the history of the world printed in 1867 and there's a small paragraph mentioning the 1715 fleet wrecking.I forgot to bookmark it with a piece of paper so ill have to flip thru 3000 pages to find it again.These books have history dated from the days of jesus to 1867.

 

[ivan salis]

terri ----might be Vinellia