Spanish Treasure on Southwest Florida beaches?

[cjprice]

Are there any stories, or articles about Spanish gold, and silver being found on the beaches of Southwest Florida after hurricanes. I'm relatively new to the area, and the hobby. Looking for stories around the Ft. myers, Sanibel Island area.

Thanks for any input you may have!!!

Chris
Cape Coral, FL

 

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[cjprice]

Do you mean Ponce De Leon Bay near Cape Sable in Monroe county..........


Chris

 

[jimfnc]

My info is from some research, and info from other treasure hunters, not from anything I found. I know there are hunters in the area, but seem to be beach hunters looking for today's jewelry. I now live in NC, but grew up in SW FL. Still visit and hunt a few times a year. SW FL certainly has seen lots of activity for centuries. My wife's ancesters were some of the 1st permanent (non indian) settlers of Sanibel, after the Civil War.
1. Check this site:http://www.floridadetecting.com/index.html for a contact.
2. I found several brief web references to a shipwreck off the north end of Naples (no exact location, but that locals found old Spanish coins for a few years...
3. Ignore all the local legends of pirates around Pine Island sound. They excite tourists and local restaurants promote the idea, especially Captiva Island. It is certainly possible some were in area at some times, but the local legends have been proven false.
4. Early Spanish ships did hug the coast when sailing from Mexico to Pensacola, then south through the keys... surely some were lost or were run aground. There are local references to crew members shipwrecked along the coast.
5. Ponce DeLeon did land a large army at Port charlotte and move on land north thru Florida. The Port charlotte area was used by Spanish for many years.
6. The area around Carl Johnson park (south of Ft Myers beach) and the small keys in San Carlos bay had Indian mounds (which you cannot hunt!) but there were rumors of treasure found in the 70's (i lived there, and some of the keys were literally bulldozed by some treasure hunters.
7. There was a trading post on the south tip of Cape Coral in early settler days. It shows on some of the early maps. Never checked if it's been found. Some historical references to an early massacre by the indians in very early days.

I would be interested if you find someone who's actually found something that old.
Some of the early maps that can be found online will show the early settlements and the shipping routes. Also - local divers clubs may know the position of local wrecks.
hth

 

[jimfnc]

this company says they found Dutch warship Eendracht run aground in 1624.
http://www.divefortreasure.com/
The article mentions both "mouth of Caloosahatchie River" and San Carlos Bay.
..
further research online- there have been several "Eendracht" ships. One quite famous, and definitely wrecked off Australia (East Indies) in 1620's.
There is mention of the "Eendracht" arriving in New Amsterdam (new york) in 1624 with settlers.
No other mention on internet (other than above website) listing Eendracht as wrecked on SW coast of Florida. Very strange....

 

[Darren in NC]

Hey Jim,

Where are you in NC? Do you do any diving? I'm just south of Raleigh and I'm always on the lookout for more local divers who also treasure hunt

Best to you,
Darren

 

[jimfnc]

Greensboro.. sorry I don't dive. It's a long ways to the coast. I have hunted a little more in Florida (where i lived for 40 years). Hope to try the Outer Banks or some coastal areas this fall, winter, but don't have many weekends free. Don't have an underwater detector (sold my Excal) but a SD2200D with waterproof coil.