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SANTO
CRISTO de SAN ROMAN 1715
"The Cabin Wreck"
Lat.27° 49.48' N Long. 80° 25.48'W
It would seem that the 'Capitana" of General Ubilla's Nueva
Espana Flota, or silver plate fleet, was destined for problems from the moment it left
Cadiz, Spain in 1713 bound for the new world. Just before leaving port a wealthy nobleman
from Barcelona, and his entourage, came aboard as passengers. One hundred fourteen barrels
of water had to he left behind to make room for all their belongings Shortly after
clearing the harbor and out of sight of land, it was discovered that 134 stowaways had
somehow managed to find a place to hide on board the 471 ton, 50 cannon Senora de la
Regla. It was a thirsty galleon that reached Puerto Rico 50 days later.
Then, while anchored in the exposed Vera Cruz harbor loading the
treasures on board, a violent storm struck the area on March 28, 1715. The Capitana was
blown from her moorings and broached on a reef. Only after quick action by the crew in
chopping down her main masts to keep the ship from rolling from side to side and holing
her hull was the ship reanchored and kept afloat. Finally the fleet was loaded with
treasure and the Regla manifest recorded the following registered treasure: |
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