"Forty billion" at the bottom of Vigo Bay. War of Admiral Rook, or the Birth of a Legend

One of the most mysterious stories with Spanish treasures transported from the New World is connected with Vigo Bay, located on the northwestern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Another famous science fiction writer Jules Verne in the novel "20 Thousand Leagues on the Water" wrote that the treasures of the Spanish galleons resting at the bottom of Vigo Bay were an inexhaustible source of wealth for Captain Nemo. However, for several centuries, scientists and treasure hunters around the world have been arguing where exactly these legendary treasures are located.

Early 18th century became a serious test for the Spanish monarchy Using the absence of legitimate heirs from the Spanish king Charles II, the French king Louis XIV laid claim to the Spanish throne, nominating his grandson Philip V as a pretender. This immediately caused a negative reaction in England and Austria and became the beginning of one of the most protracted wars of the XVIII century - Wars of the Spanish Succession.

Full-scale hostilities, which unfolded both in Europe and in the vast expanses of Spanish colonial possessions, required huge funds, and the gold and silver mines in America remained the only reliable source of their income. Since the Spanish fleet alone could not ensure the safety of transporting valuable cargo across the Atlantic, French naval commanders came to the rescue.

In December 1701, the French admiral, squadron commander Count Chateau-Renaud was instructed to lead the Spanish Silver Fleet across the ocean under the command of Don Manuel Velasco.

In January 1702, the French squadron, leaving Brest, anchored off the coast of the island of Martinique, and then headed for Havana. Only in August, the two fleets joined and immediately headed towards the metropolis, where they eagerly awaited the arrival of a precious cargo.

When approaching the European shores, Chateau Reno received news that Cadiz was blocked by the Anglo-Dutch squadron of Sir George Rook, which was several times superior to the Franco-Spanish forces. Vigo remained the only free Spanish port, since Velasco categorically refused to lead the fleet to France, where the fate of the treasure seemed illusory to him. The fact that the Silver Fleet entered Vigo Bay was immediately reported to Admiral Rook, who decided to capture the valuables before they were unloaded and delivered to Seville.

Vigo Bay has a long entrance from the sea, stretching about eight miles to the northeast, gradually narrowing to a distance between the banks not exceeding 600 yards - this place is called Rande. Then the passage widens like a lake, rather shallow. The city of Vigo, which was a simple fishing village in 1702, is located on the south shore of the bay, and the city of Rodondela is on the southeast side of the bay.

Château Reno brought his ships and their convoy through the Randé, and in the narrowest part of the strait, forts and batteries were built, armed on the south side with 38, and on the north -17 guns. To make it difficult for the enemy to enter the bay, a boom was built from spare masts and spars fastened with ropes, connecting the two forts. Far beyond the crescent moon was the French fleet protecting the galleons.

The Ruka fleet on October 10 (22) began the assault on Vigo. While passing the strait, he was met by fire from the forts of Vigo, but without heavy losses, and anchored above the city in order to conduct reconnaissance and develop a plan of action. It was decided to first land enough ground troops to take possession of the batteries on the south side, and then break through the boom and, entering the inner bay, attack the French.

The next day, about 11 o'clock in the morning, the Duke of Ormonde landed 2 or 3 thousand men on a sandy shore two leagues from Vito and proceeded to the battery and fort located on the right side near Rodondela. Despite the numerical superiority of the Spaniards, the British took possession of a battery of 38 guns, and the Anglo-Dutch fleet, raising sails, rushed into the bay. Admiral Hopson, on his flagship Mary, at the head of the vanguard, broke through the boom. At the same time, the Association, under the command of Captain Bookman, boarded opposite the battery on the other side of the strait and began to shoot it from all guns.

Seeing the hopelessness of the situation, the Spaniards began to burn the galleons so that they would not go to the enemy. Flames lit up the waters of the bay. The sailors in a panic abandoned their ships and swam to the shore. Only a few ships in the bay were not engulfed in flames. They went to the British as trophies. About 200 French and Spaniards were taken prisoner, including a French vice admiral with several captains and a lieutenant general of the Spanish fleet.

During the battle, a French fireship fell on Admiral Hopson's ship, and the ship would probably have burned down, but the fireship suddenly flew into the air. The flagship received a lot of damage, and more than 10 people died. The losses of other ships were insignificant. On the shore, 2 officers were killed and 4 wounded, among the lower ranks there were 40 killed and the same number of wounded.

The British pursued the retreating enemy by land all day. The view of the bay after the battle was simply terrible: burning wrecks of ships, a lot of wreckage and the ruins of fortifications on the shore.

The biggest difficulty is the number of dead and captured ships. The English historian and admiral Philip Colomb wrote in his book Naval Warfare that all French and Spanish ships were either burned or sunk. Six French ships and 5 galleons were taken, 8 French ships were burned and 4 sunk, 4 galleons were captured.

According to Admiral Rooke's report, the Franco-Spanish fleet suffered the following losses:

Battleships:

"Le Fort", 76 guns, burned down.

"Le Prompt", 76 guns, captured aground.

Le Assur, 66 guns, captured and sent to England as a prize

Le Esperance, 70 guns, captured, but washed ashore and burned.

"Le Bourbon", 68 guns, captured, was sent to Holland as a prize.

"Aa Seren", 60 guns, captured, but washed ashore and burned.

Le Solid, 56 guns, burned.

Le Fermet, 72 guns, captured in a boarding action, was sent to England as a prize

Le Prudent, 62 guns, burned.

Le Oriflamme, 64 guns, burned.

"Le Moder", 56 guns, boarded and sent to England as a prize

Le Superb, 70 guns, captured, but washed ashore and burned.

"Le Dauphine", 46 guns, burned down.

Le Volontir, 46 guns, captured but washed ashore.

Le Triton, 42 guns, captured in a boarding action, sent to England as a prize

Le Entreprement, 22 guns, burned.

"Le Chequita", 8 guns, burned.

Le Favory, burned.

3 corvettes, burned.

Of the 17 Spanish galleons, 4 were boarded, 2 were captured by the British, 5 were captured by the Dutch, the remaining six sank.

From the prisoners it became known that the royal share of silver, amounting to about 3 million pounds in the prices of those years, was unloaded ashore from the galleons and sent inland. There were only 40 small chests of cochineal on the shore.

On October 24, English divers examined the wreckage of sunken ships and were able to get some valuables, but after shelling by local residents, they were forced to curtail all work.

In the hands of the winners fell 20 million pesos and a huge amount of goods of a similar value, which did not have time to unload before that. 4 million in silver was lost along with sunken ships, as well as 10 million worth of goods. Two million pesos in silver, as well as goods worth five million pesos, were subsequently recovered from the bottom.

Admiral Showwell was left by Sir George Rook in Vigo to repair the captured ships and destroy everything that could not be taken. All this was done according to the instructions.

When the fleet was leaving for England, a storm broke out, and one of the galleons, running into a rock, sank. The rest of the ships, including the captured prizes, reached England safely, albeit badly battered.

Thus, as a result of a successful naval operation, the Anglo-Dutch fleet managed not only to utterly defeat the Franco-Spanish fleet, having received very valuable prizes in their hands, but also to inflict a significant financial blow on Spain. Most of the treasure transported by the fleet fell into the hands of the British, with the exception of the royal share sent to Seville before the battle. As a result, it turns out that a significant part of the sunken treasures simply does not exist. However, rumors that galleons with millions of pesos lie at the bottom of the bay did their job. It was these legendary millions that became the object of hunting for underwater treasure hunters over the following centuries.

In July 1738, a French shipping expedition led by Alexander Hubert arrived in Vigo Bay. After careful measurements, the places where six sunken ships lay were determined. The choice fell on the galleon, which was at a depth of only six meters at low tide. The ship was raised with the help of lines, wooden pontoons, spiers and twenty-two thick hemp ropes. Finally, after two years of labor, in February 1742, he was brought so close to the shore that at low tide the hold turned out to be dry. It was a Spanish galleon "Toho" with a displacement of about 1200 tons. But, apart from 600 tons of stone ballast, twelve cast-iron cannons, several hundred cannonballs and a dozen bags of rusty nails, nothing was found on it. As a result, having spent more than two million francs on the expedition, the French left Vigo Bay with nothing.

After them, the British appeared there. One of them, William Evans, was lucky enough to pick up silver bars valued at several hundred pounds. The amount, of course, was insignificant. The main thing was that his findings inspired hope. Perhaps he would have been able to discover other values, but Spain unexpectedly forbade representatives of the nation that sank Spanish ships to look for treasures in its territorial waters. Most likely, the Spaniards simply feared that in the end huge treasures would float away from their hands, and the descendants of those people who had already once tried to take them into their own hands would use them.

In 1748, the Portuguese Antonio Rivera managed to raise, it is believed, about two hundred thousand gold coins, which was a real record for subsequent treasure hunters in Vigo Bay. Further, for almost eighty years, no diving work was carried out in the bay, although local residents from time to time made fleeting sorties there - they dived to the skeletons of sunken ships, trying to find something in the muddy water.

In 1825, the brig Enterprise entered the bay. On board was a new design diving bell, which not only made it possible to stay under water longer, but, very importantly, gave the aquanaut a good view of the bottom. The captain of the brig, Dixon, had to work in it, while on deck the armed Spaniards were impatiently waiting for their share mining. A few days later the brig disappeared from the bay as suddenly as it appeared. There were rumors that with the help of the bell, the British were able to raise a significant amount of gold, after which, having drunk the guards, they raised the sails and fled.

In the late 50s of the XIX century, the Spanish government sold the right to search for treasures to the French businessman David Langland, who ceded it, of course not without benefit to himself, to the Parisian banker Sicard. Since the Parisian did not have enough money for the expedition, he, in turn, turned to the prosperous banker Hippolyte Magen for help. He carefully checked what Sicard told, according to the old Spanish archives, and also conducted an additional investigation in Paris. Apparently the results were positive because he agreed to fund the expedition. However, during its organization, an unexpected obstacle arose in the person of Captain Gowan, a well-known diving specialist in England at that time. It turned out that resourceful Langland managed to sell the right to raise values ​​to him as well. Moreover, Gowan has already managed to sell many shares of his company in London.

While the misunderstanding was settled, time passed. Finally, after a very lengthy preparation, Magen began to survey the sunken galleons. An old Spanish fisherman, who took part in the work of Captain Dixon's expedition, showed for a decent reward where five ships lay at the bottom. In order to obtain more accurate information and at the same time keep the secret, Magen ordered that the viewing glass of the helmet of the diver preparing for the descent be screwed up before the helmet of his comrade, who had climbed onto the deck, was removed. Thus, none of them could hear what the other divers were saying after the dive. It is not known whether this played any role, but ten ships were discovered in twelve days.

Soon, diving equipment began to arrive from France. It included an underwater electric lantern that weighed almost half a ton, and an underwater observation camera that could accommodate two people. The first find was an old cannon with a muzzle clogged with a cork, in which air was still preserved. The divers then recovered two hundred cannonballs, a copper vessel, a boarding axe, a dagger handle, a silver goblet, a pipe case, and a bag of Brazil nuts. All this lay among the remains of the galleon, which for some reason the locals called "Madera".

The beginning of the autumn storms forced the divers to stop work on this ship and go to the galleon "La Ligura", which sank in the depths of the bay. Here they were able to get to the ship's infirmary, where they found several copper basins and glass vessels. When the ship's hull was blown up, a compass and an iron bowl were added to the number of finds. But, alas, there was no gold and silver. Magen's funds were running out, and the whole enterprise was in danger of collapse. It was decided to try their luck on the Tampor galleon. We had to hurry, so the work was carried out even at night, since the electric lantern gave a fairly bright light underwater.

And here the first silver ingot was unexpectedly found. And soon there were 130 pounds of silver. In high spirits, Magen left for Paris. He managed to sell additional shares and raise a decent amount of money. From the bay of Vigo, he took with him a heavy dark bar to give it for research. Divers usually did not pick them up from the bottom, and on those rare occasions when they accidentally landed on the diving board deck, they threw them overboard. To Magen's great astonishment and no less delight, this plain-looking piece of metal turned out to be pure silver.

Meanwhile, the Franco-Prussian war was brewing in Europe. Paris, where the leader of the expedition was located, was surrounded by the Germans. In the last letter received from Spain, it was reported that almost all divers were ill, paralyzed, and only one could continue their descents. The fact is that no one thought about any decompression in those days. Therefore, despite the relatively shallow depth, decompression sickness brought down the divers. Yes, and Magen himself was bedridden.

Diving work resumed only two years later. The French discovered five more sunken ships, but there was still no trace of gold. And not all of them managed to collect silver bars. In November 1872, the search for treasure ceased. The expedition did not even have money left to take diving equipment out of Vito Bay.

Later, the unlucky leader of the French rescue expedition, Hippolyte Magen, published in Paris the book “Galeons of Vigo”, in which he told the story of Spanish treasures in a fascinating way and gave his thoughts on their rise. His book aroused such great interest among underwater treasure hunters that the Spaniards, just in case classified all historical materials related to this bay.

At the end of the 19th century, several more expeditions were organized. The American Vigo Bay Treasure Company, which lasted almost fifty years, a record time for such enterprises, took up the business most seriously. That's just any values ​​raised there, at least officially, on her account is not listed. True, once the Americans managed to bring the hoists under a well-preserved galleon, but when carrying it by crane to the shore, the ship broke and both halves sank again.

In 1904, the treasures of Vigo attracted the attention of a very talented engineer, Giuseppe Pino, who made a significant contribution to the development of diving. This Italian, born in 1870, began to work on the creation of a new generation of apparatus for exploring the depths of the sea.

In 1903, Pino tested his invention, the gyroscope, in Genoa. His apparatus was a steel shaft, consisting of several hollow cylinders, retractable, like a telescopic tube, depending on the depth of immersion. The lower part of the chamber ended with a chamber with 12 portholes arranged in a circle, and on top there was an observation deck. To make the structure buoyant, the platform rested on a cork platform and was fixed at the side of the research vessel. The bottom was surveyed by an observer sitting in an observation chamber or from a platform that could accommodate up to 20 people. In this case, the image was transmitted to a special screen using a complex system of mirrors.

Having received influential patrons, Pino was able to create his own company, which chose the same Vito Bay as the arena for testing the new apparatus. He signed a contract for diving work, according to which Spain would receive 20% of the treasures found.

At the end of 1904, all equipment was transferred to the work area, and work began. With the help of a specially made underwater elevator, several cast-iron cannons, four steam boilers from an English ship of the late 19th century, one of which weighed 70 tons, several gold figurines and silver ingots, were lifted from the bottom. However, most of the treasures were never discovered.

From 1945 to 1962, the French treasure hunter Florent Ramozher was looking for treasures in Vigo. The object of his interest was the vicinity of the island of Cies. It is precisely established that it was there that on October 24 one of the galleons captured by the British sank. The depth at the search site was only 35-40 meters, but the remains of the ship turned out to be deep in the silt and almost inaccessible.

It would seem that this series of failures will forever discourage underwater treasure hunters from wasting time and money on perhaps even non-existent treasures at the bottom of Vigo Bay. After all, twelve solid diving expeditions have been there! Among the ships sunk in 1702, it is perhaps impossible to find one that divers would not inspect or even try to raise. For almost three centuries of searching, Vigo Bay has become synonymous with unfulfilled hopes.

And yet, oddly enough, in November 1955, the English company Venture bought the right to conduct diving operations in Vigo from the Spanish government. The attention of the British was attracted by "San Pedro", which no one has yet been able to penetrate. According to some historical documents, it could be assumed that at the very beginning of the battle, the Spaniards tried to transport treasures to the shore on this ship. The galleon was shot by English ships and sank in a relatively shallow place, and local fishermen, so that the gold would not go to the enemy, filled it up with boulders. From time to time, the stones grew together, forming a strong shell that did not let treasure hunters in.

Unfortunately, Venture, like its predecessors, failed. It was not possible to raise anything of value from the bottom.

The attempt of the "Atlantic Rescue Expedition" led by John Potter, who gathered the best underwater explorers, also ended in failure. During the 1956-1960s, diving work was carried out, but no positive results were achieved.

For three centuries, many expeditions have visited Vigo Bay. They all failed. Despite the fact that almost all the sunken Spanish ships were examined and turned out to be completely empty, the legend of the sunken treasure still haunts the minds of treasure hunters, although the Spanish archives contain information that at least some of the valuables delivered to Vigo were unloaded from the galleons and sent to Seville.

Atlantic Ocean! A boundless, vast expanse of water spanning twenty-five million square miles! Along it stretches for nine thousand miles, in breadth - an average of two thousand seven hundred miles! A sea so significant, but hardly explored in antiquity, with the exception of the Carthaginians, those Dutch of the ancient world, who traveled during their trading voyages to the western coasts of Europe and Africa! The ocean, the coasts of which, with their bends, cover a huge perimeter! A body of water into which the greatest rivers in the world carry their waters: St. Lawrence, Mississippi, Amazon, La Plata, Orinoco, Niger, Senegal, Elba, Loire, Rhine, watering countries are the most civilized and wildest! Majestic water surface! Ships of all countries plow these waters from end to end, under the flags of all nations of the world, and they are guarded by two formidable guards who inspired fear in sailors - Cape Horn and Cape Storms!

The Nautilus cut through the waters of the Atlantic with its water cutter, passing in three and a half months about ten thousand leagues! Figuratively speaking, he traveled a distance greater than the length of the path around the globe, if you go around it along the equator! Where are we headed? What does the future hold for us?

Passing the Strait of Gibraltar, the Nautilus headed for the open sea. He resurfaced again, and our daily deck walks resumed.

I immediately went upstairs to freshen up; I was followed by Ned Land and Conseil. Twelve miles away, Cape St. Vincent, which forms the southwestern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. A fairly strong south wind blew. The sea is rough and unfriendly. The lateral roll began. "Nautilus" went, waddling from wave to wave. The deck was flooded with water, dousing us with salt spray and foam. We hurried down into the hold, still having time to breathe fresh air.

I went to my cabin. Conseil went towards himself; but the Canadian, preoccupied with something, followed me. Our high-speed flight across the Mediterranean ruined all of Ned Land's plans, and he made no secret of his disappointment.

As soon as the cabin door closed behind us, he sat down and silently looked at me.

“Friend Ned,” I said, “I understand you! But you can't blame yourself for anything. The Nautilus has developed such a breakneck speed that it would be crazy to think about escaping!

Ned Land was silent. His tightly compressed lips, furrowed brows said that he was obsessed with a single thought.

“Look, Ned,” I continued, “it's too early to despair. We go along the coast of Portugal, near France and England, where it is easy to find refuge. Now, if the Nautilus, upon leaving the Strait of Gibraltar, headed south, heading for desert waters that do not wash the shores of the continents, I would share your concern. But we know that Captain Nemo does not avoid European seas. And if so, I have no doubt that in a few days the conditions will be more favorable, and then ...

Ned Land looked at me even more intently, and finally parting his lips, he said:

- This evening.

I jumped to my feet. I confess that this proposal came as a surprise to me. I wanted to reply to the Canadian, but I couldn't find the words.

“We agreed to wait for an opportunity,” Ned Land continued. - The case is presented. Tonight we will be a few miles from the Spanish coast. The night is dark. Wind from the sea. You gave your word, Mr. Aronnax, I'm counting on you.

I was silent. The Canadian got up and approached me.

“Today at nine o’clock!” - he said. - Console alerted. The captain will be locked up in his cabin by that time and will probably go to bed. Crew members, sailors, mechanics will not see us. Conseil and I will make our way to the middle ladder. You, Mr. Aronnax, stay in the library, two steps away from us, until I give the signal. Oars, mast and sail in a boat. I took some of the provisions there. He also took out an English key to unscrew the nuts of the bolts on which the boat was attached. All is ready! So, see you tonight!

“The sea is restless,” I said.

“I agree with you,” answered the Canadian, “but you have to take the risk. It's worth it! However, the boat is reliable and it will not be difficult to sail a few miles with a fair wind! Who knows if we won't find ourselves a hundred leagues from European shores in the morning? If all goes well, then between ten and eleven o'clock in the evening we will land somewhere on the shore ... or we will not be alive. So, see you tonight!

With these words, the Canadian left, leaving me in a state of complete confusion. I flattered myself that the opportunity would not come so soon and that I would have time to think over and discuss the state of affairs. But my stubborn companion denied me time. And what could I say to him? Ned Land was a thousand times right! An opportunity presented itself, he used it. Could I break this word and for the sake of personal motives take responsibility for the fate of my companions? Can't the captain go out to sea tomorrow, far from any land?

At that moment, a rather strong whistle let me know that the tanks were filling with water and the Nautilus was sinking under the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

I didn't leave the cabin. I did not want to meet the captain for fear of showing my excitement in front of him. Thus I spent a tedious day, oscillating between the desire to break free and the regret that I would have to part with this wonderful Nautilus without completing my exploration of the depths of the sea! Leave the ocean - "my Atlantic", as I liked to call it - without looking into its innermost depths, without wresting from it its secrets, which the Indian and Pacific Oceans revealed to me! The novel fell out of my hands as soon as I had time to read the first volume, the page broke off in the most interesting place! How agonizingly the hours dragged on! Then I dreamed that I was already safe, stepping foot on solid ground, next to my companions; then, contrary to reason, I was seized by a desire that some unforeseen circumstance should interfere with the fulfillment of Ned Land's plan.

I went to the salon twice. I wanted to check with a compass. I wanted to know if the Nautilus was really heading off the coast of Portugal, or was moving away from them. But no! We were still plying Portuguese waters. The course of the vessel lay to the north, along the coast of Portugal. I had to submit to necessity and prepare to escape. My luggage was small: only notes.

Well, what about Captain Nemo? How will he react to our actions? What trouble, what harm can our escape cause him? And what will he do with us if our attempt fails? Did he give me the slightest cause for discontent? Against! He gave us the most cordial hospitality. He cannot attribute my flight from the ship to ingratitude. And I didn't make any promises to him. He knew that we were bound to him not by promises, but by force of circumstances. But it was precisely his constant declarations that Our fate is forever tied to his fate that excused our attempts to break with him.

I haven't seen the captain since our visit to Santorini. Will chance bring us together on the eve of our escape? I wanted to meet and was afraid of her. I listened for the sound of his footsteps in the cabin adjacent to mine. Not the slightest noise caught my ear. There appeared to be no one in the cabin.

Then the thought came to me: is there a mysterious captain on board at all? Since that night, when the boat left the side of the Nautilus, on some secret mission, I have somewhat changed my view of Captain Nemo. I realized that, despite all the declarations, he still retained some kind of connection with the Earth. And is it true that he never leaves the Nautilus? Hasn't it happened that he didn't show up for weeks? What was he doing at this time? I imagined that he was suffering from fits of misanthropy! Was he really on some secret mission beyond my understanding?

These thoughts and thousands of others haunted me. The unusual situation opened up a wide field for all sorts of conjectures. I was overcome with agonizing anxiety. The hours of waiting seemed like an eternity. The day dragged on too slowly.

Dinner, as usual, was served in the cabin. I barely touched the food. I got up from the table at seven o'clock. One hundred and twenty minutes—I counted every minute—separated me from the moment when I would have to follow Ned Land. My excitement grew. The pulse was beating fast. I couldn't sit still. He paced up and down the cabin, hoping to dispel his disturbing thoughts as he moved. The thought that I might perish was the least of my worries; but at the thought that our plan would be revealed before we had time to escape from the ship, at the thought that I would have to appear before Captain Nemo, enraged or, even worse, grieved at my treacherous act, my heart sank.

I wanted to take one last look at the salon. I passed through a narrow corridor to this museum, where I spent so many pleasant and useful hours. I looked at this collection of treasures, as a man looks at his native places, which he must leave forever tomorrow. I said the last "sorry" to all these works of art, all these wonderful exhibits of nature! I wanted to take a last look at the waters of the Atlantic, but the shutters were tightly closed, and their iron curtain hid from my eyes the ocean, which I could not study.

Walking around the salon, I came to a secret door in the wall leading to the captain's cabin. To my profound surprise, the door was half open. I involuntarily took a step back. If Captain Nemo were at his place, he would notice me. But everything was quiet. I stepped closer. The cabin was empty. Pushing open the door, I looked around and went inside. All the same harsh environment of a hermit's dwelling.

A few etchings on the walls - I didn't notice them at the time - caught my eye. They were portraits - portraits of prominent historical figures who devoted themselves to serving the lofty idea of ​​humanism: Kosciuszko, a hero who fought for the liberation of Poland, who fell with a cry: "The end of Poland!" Botsaris is the Leonid of modern Greece; O "Connel - a fighter for the independence of Ireland; Washington - the founder of the North American Union; Manin - an Italian patriot; Lincoln, who died from a slave owner's bullet; and, finally, a martyr who fought for the liberation of blacks from slavery and hung up on the gallows - John Brown: terrible pencil drawing by Victor Hugo!

What connection could there be between Captain Nemo and these heroes? Will their portraits reveal the secret of his life? Was he not the defender of oppressed peoples, the liberator of enslaved tribes? Did he participate in the political and social upheavals of recent times? Was he not one of the heroes of the fratricidal war between the Northern and Southern states of America, a regrettable and memorable war?

The clock struck eight. At the first blow, my dreams were interrupted. I shuddered, as if some unsleeping eye had penetrated the secret of my dreams, and rushed out of the captain's cabin.

In the cabin, I took one last look at the compass. The arrow pointed north. The log showed moderate speed, the gauge a depth of about sixty feet. Circumstances were favorable for the realization of Ned Land's plan.

I returned to myself. He put on warm clothes: sea boots, a beaver hat, a byssus jacket lined with sealskin. I was ready. I was waiting. Only the trembling of the vessel as the propeller turned broke the deep silence that reigned on board. I listened, strained my ears. Will there be a cry in the silence that will let me know that Ned Land has been captured? A death anxiety seized me. I tried in vain to regain my composure. At nine o'clock without a few minutes, I put my ear to the captain's door. Complete silence. I left the cabin, returned to the salon, immersed in darkness and still empty.

He opened the door to the library. The same twilight and the same emptiness. I sat down by the door leading to the middle ladder and waited for Ned Land's signal.

At that moment, the shaking of the ship's hull significantly decreased and then completely stopped. What does this change in the course of the Nautilus mean? Does stopping him help or harm the Canadian's plans? Who knows?

Suddenly I felt a slight jolt. I realized that the Nautilus had sunk to the very bottom of the ocean. My anxiety has increased. The Canadian didn't signal. I was tempted to run to Ned Land and ask him to postpone my escape until another time. Today our voyage - I felt it - is not taking place under normal conditions ...

But the saloon door opened, and Captain Nemo appeared on the threshold. When he saw me, he addressed me without any preliminaries.

- Ah! Mr. Professor,” he said in an amiable tone. - I was looking for you! Are you familiar with the history of Spain?

If he had asked me whether I knew the history of France, in my state of extreme confusion and anxiety, I could not have answered him.

- Well, you? the captain continued. Did you hear my question? Are you familiar with the history of Spain?

“Very bad,” I replied.

Oh, those scientists! the captain said. - He does not know! If so,” he added, “sit down, and I will tell you a curious episode from the history of Spain.

The captain stretched out on the sofa, and I mechanically sat down beside him. It was twilight.

“Listen carefully, Professor,” he said. - The case is not without interest for you, in it you will find the answer to a question that you, undoubtedly, have not yet decided.

“Listen, captain,” I said, not understanding what my interlocutor was talking about. And mentally I asked myself: does not this case relate to the escape we had planned?

“Mr. Professor,” continued Captain Nemo, “if you please, we will turn to the past. It was the year 1702. As you probably remember, at that time the French king Louis the Fourteenth, having imagined that at one wave of his hand the Pyrenees would fall through the ground, put his grandson, the Duke of Anjou, on the Spanish throne. The unlucky prince, having reigned under the name of Philip the Fifth, was forced to fight against strong external enemies.

It must be said that a year earlier the reigning houses of Holland, Austria and England entered into an alliance in The Hague, which aimed to deprive Philip the Fifth of the Spanish crown and place it on the head of a certain archduke, whom they had previously named Charles III.

Spain was forced to fight against this coalition. But she had almost no army or navy. However, she used unlimited funds, but on the condition that her galleons, loaded with American gold and silver, could freely enter Spanish ports.

Just at the end of 1702, a rich transport was expected, which was escorted by a French squadron of twenty-three ships under the command of Admiral Château-Renaud. The escort of the Spanish ships was explained by the presence in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean of the combined fleet of the coalition.

Transport was expected in Cadiz, but the admiral, having learned that English ships were cruising in Cadiz waters, decided to enter some French port.

The commanders of the Spanish ships opposed the admiral's order. They demanded that transport must be brought into the Spanish port, and if not into Cadiz, then at least into the bay of Vigo, on the northwestern coast of Spain, which had not yet been blocked by the Allies.

Admiral Chateau-Renaud, out of cowardice, obeyed the demand of the Spaniards, and the galleons entered Vigo Bay.

Unfortunately, the harbor of Vigo was an open road, unsuitable for defense. It was necessary to hurry with unloading before the arrival of the allied ships. There was enough time. But here, on the most empty occasion, a strife arose.

– Do you closely follow the course of events? Captain Nemo asked me.

“I’m all attention,” I answered, not yet understanding on what occasion they gave me this history lesson.

“So, I continue,” the captain spoke again. – What happened? The Cadik merchants enjoyed, you see, the privilege of receiving all the cargo that came from the West Indies. Therefore, the unloading of gallions with gold in the port of Vigo was a violation of their privilege. They filed a complaint with Madrid. And the weak-willed Philip the Fifth ordered that the transport be left under sequestration until the enemy fleet left the Kadik waters.

In the meantime, the court and the case, on the twenty-second of October, one thousand seven hundred and two, the English ships entered the bay of Vigo. Admiral Chateau-Renaud, despite the superior forces of the enemy, put up a heroic resistance. But as soon as he realized that the riches entrusted to him would fall into the hands of the enemy, he set fire to and flooded the galleons, which went to the bottom with all the countless treasures that were on board.

Captain Nemo is silent. Frankly, I still did not understand what could interest me in this story.

He rose from the sofa and invited me to follow him. I have already taken control of myself. I had to obey. The cabin was dark, but ocean waters gleamed through the crystal glass. I went to the window.

All around the Nautilus—within a radius of half a mile—the waters seemed to be pierced with electric light. The clean sandy bottom was clearly visible. There, between the blackened remains of the ships, sailors from the crew, dressed in spacesuits, scurried about. They dug up silted, half-rotten casks, mangled boxes. From these boxes and casks poured ingots of gold and silver, whole cascades of piastres and precious stones. The sandy bottom was literally strewn with these treasures. Having shouldered their precious luggage, the sailors went to the ship, put their cargo there, and again set off to unload this inexhaustible source of gold and silver.

And I understood. Here, on October 22, 1702, there was a field of military operations. Here were flooded galleons with gold for the Spanish king. From here, depending on the need, Captain Nemo drew millions, replenishing the gold reserves of the Nautilus. He, only he, owned this wealth. He was the direct and only heir to the treasures taken from the Incas, defeated by Ferdinand Cortes!

“Do you know, mister professor,” the captain asked smiling, “that the waters store such wealth in their depths?”

“I knew,” I replied, “that sea water contains two million tons of silver in solution.

- Right! But to isolate the silver from the water would require large and unjustified expenses. And here I collect what people have lost. And not only here, in the bay of Vigo, but in a thousand other places where shipwrecks occurred; these places are marked on my map of the seabed. You see with your own eyes that I own millions, don't you?

“Quite right, captain. But let me say that in the exploitation of Vigo Bay you have only outstripped one joint-stock company.

- Oh, that's how!

- Yes, a joint-stock company that received from the Spanish government the right to carry out work to search for sunken galleons. Shareholders hope for rich incomes, because the lost treasures are estimated at five hundred million!

- Five hundred million! cried Captain Nemo. They were here, but they are no more!

- And if so, - I said, - it would be an act of mercy to warn these same shareholders about this unfortunate circumstance! However, it is still unknown how they would react to such a message. The player usually regrets not about losing, but about the collapse of hopes for winning. I pity most of all those thousands of poor people for whom these riches, if properly distributed, would have made life easier. And now they are lost to them!

As soon as I said this, I felt that my words touched the nerve of Captain Nemo.

– Lost! he exclaimed, excited. “So you think, sir, that wealth is lost, since it fell into my hands?” Am I collecting this gold for myself? Who told you that it will not go to a good deed? Do I really not know that on earth there are destitute people, oppressed peoples? Poor, needy victims, crying out for vengeance! Don't you understand that...

Captain Nemo didn't finish the sentence. Who knows if he regretted what he said too much? But I understood everything. Whatever the reasons that prompted him to seek independence in the depths of the seas, he still remained a man! His heart responded to human suffering, and with a broad hand he helped the oppressed!

And then I realized to whom the millions sent by Captain Nemo were intended on that memorable day when the Nautilus entered the waters of the island of Crete, engulfed in rebellion!

Secrets of Vigo Bay

No book on treasure hunting or diving is complete without the story of the treasure hunt in Vigo Bay.

This story, shrouded in mystery and over time, overgrown with fantastic details, has turned into a legend that has been haunting the minds of not only ordinary people, but also venerable scientists for more than two and a half centuries. We will not break tradition.

This story began in 1701, when the French king Louis XIY declared war on the Spanish succession to Austria. Dissatisfied with the claims of the French, England and Holland sided with Austria. But for war, as you know, you need money. They could have come from the gold and silver mines of Peru, Mexico, and Chile, but they were far away, and the way to Europe was difficult and dangerous.

The risk of losing the wealth accumulated over several years was so great that it was only a year later that a decision was made to transfer them. On July 11, 1702, a caravan under the command of Manuel de Velasco, consisting of 19 Spanish galleons loaded with treasures, accompanied by 23 ships of the French squadron of Admiral Chateau Reno, left Vera Cruz and headed for Cadiz. However, information that the port was blocked by the English fleet forced them to change the route and move to the north-west of Spain in the bay of Via. Not daring to unload the treasure ashore under the protection of French troops, Manuel de Velasco requested an order for further action. The answer from Madrid came a month later. But it was already too late. On the night of October 21, an Anglo-Dutch squadron - about 100 ships - under the command of Admiral George Rook broke into the bay. Landed on the shore, a landing force with a total number of 4,000 people quickly took possession of the fortifications. For more than a day, the naval battle continued with fierce boarding battles. When everything calmed down, 24 Spanish and French ships rested at the bottom of Vigo Bay, taking with them the secret of one of the most mysterious underwater treasures.

Historical information about the fate of the treasures is very contradictory. According to some, the British managed to capture five million pounds worth of jewelry, others - only two hundred thousand. A number of archival documents testify that a significant part of them was nevertheless unloaded ashore, but materials have been preserved that convincingly prove that the entire cargo of the caravan rests at the bottom of the bay. However, there is no consensus on the number of sunken ships. Some historians believe that an epidemic of yellow fever broke out on the ships on the way from Vera Cruz, and the squadron was forced to split up and go to different ports. Others state that of the nineteen galleons, eleven were captured by the English and Dutch. The version that the precious cargo was unloaded on the shore of Chateau Reno and forwarded to the French government is also interesting. Supporters of this point of view, as an argument, cite evidence of the assignment to him immediately after these events of the rank of marshal and full admiral. The argument is quite weighty - after all, it was not for the same that he received an award from Louis XIV that he sank the convoy entrusted to him? The total value of the missing treasures is also unknown - no documents about the loading of valuables onto Spanish ships in Vera Cruz have been preserved. Yet the British value them at twenty-four million pounds, and the Americans at sixty million dollars.

One way or another, Vigo Bay has become a kind of Mecca for treasure hunting and a testing ground for testing underwater archaeological methods and diving search equipment.

The waters of the bay remember the first attempts of the Frenchman Alexander Hubert in 1738, which did not achieve the expected results, and the unsuccessful work of the Spaniards and the British. The latter, under the leadership of William Evans, nevertheless managed to raise a few silver bars, which dealt a crushing blow to the national pride of the Spaniards. They were so overwhelmed by his luck that they forbade the representatives of the nation that sank its galleons from looking for treasure.

“The Spaniards considered these relics of a century and a half ago with avid interest,” writes Magen in his book “The Galleons of Vigo” published in Paris in 1873. - Their fantasy did not know how to keep. Boxes of indigo were turned into silver vases, and pieces of cast iron into silver ingots.” Following the Madera, the galleons La Ligura, sunken in the depths of the bay, Tambor, and Almirante were examined, but more valuable finds than copper basins, various vessels, a ship's compass and indigo paint, have not been found. Magen is in a hurry, the expedition's funds are running out, and the whole enterprise is in danger of collapse. And now Fate, as if encouraging the banker, throws him the first ingot of silver, then the second, the third. Soon the weight of the silver raised was one hundred and thirty pounds. Magen perked up. He managed to quickly sell the shares and again, having collected the necessary amount, continue work.

At this time Deneruz returned to Paris. This time he agreed to take over the management of the work, but the Franco-Prussian war broke out. The threat of collapse again hung over the expedition like the sword of Damocles. The divers, who had not received salaries for their hard work for a month, went on strike. And Magen himself was bedridden. The Germans laid siege to Paris. Unable to act, Magen resigned as director.

After the unsuccessful search by the French at the end of the 19th century, several more attempts were made to take possession of the treasure. The largest of these were the work of the American Vigo Bay Treasure Company, which existed for almost fifty years. They managed to raise one well-preserved galleon to the surface, but when carried by a crane to the shore, the ship broke and again sank to the bottom of the bay.

In 1904, the treasures of Vigo attracted the attention of Giuseppe Pino, a talented inventor and engineer who made a significant contribution to the development of the world's ship-lifting and diving business.

His personality deserves special attention.

Giuseppe Pino was born in 1870 in Chiampo Arzignano, Italy. At the age of eighteen he moved to Milan, where he sold his first inventions in the field of electricity. With the proceeds, he begins work on the creation of an underwater ball for exploring the depths of the sea. A few years later, his idea is put into practice, but the young designer fails. Residents of the village of Vadu, located between Savona and Genoa, where Pino is conducting his tests, frightened by the "monster", flood it. Hardly survived the misfortune, Giuseppe continues to work on new inventions and gradually gains authority and influential patrons. They help him establish a company whose activities are aimed at improving diving technology.

In 1903, near Genoa, a new brainchild of Pino, a hydroscope, was tested, which interested the Italian Naval Ministry. His apparatus was a steel shaft, consisting of several hollow cylinders, retractable, like a spotting scope, depending on the depth of immersion. The lower part of the shaft ended with a chamber with 12 optical glasses - portholes, located circularly over the entire surface, and the upper part - with a steel platform. To make the structure more buoyant, the site rested on a cork platform and was fixed at the side of the research vessel. The bottom survey was carried out by an observer sitting in an observation chamber or from a platform where up to 20 people could stand standing. In this case, the image was transmitted to a special screen using a complex system of mirrors.

For "field" tests of the apparatus, Pino chooses Vigo Bay. He has long been attracted to these places. Having familiarized himself with archival materials on the sunken ships, Pino concludes an agreement with the Spanish government to carry out diving operations. According to this document, Spain is entitled to 20% of "all wealth, no matter what is produced."

At the end of 1904, all the equipment is delivered to the search area, and Pino, full of hope, gets down to business.

In addition to the hydroscope, another invention of Giuseppe is used in the work - an elevator for lifting sunken objects from the bottom. It consists of two quadrangular frames to which two-layer elastic bags made of rubber and tarpaulin are attached. The lower frame is equipped with a strong magnet, which, according to the author's intention, was supposed to attract iron objects, and devices for fixing the discovered finds. Air was pumped into the bags by a pump, and they rushed up, dragging a load tied to the lower frame. This prototype of a modern pontoon was supposed to lift objects weighing up to 30 tons. The inventor's calculations came true. During the work, it was possible to extract several cast-iron cannons, four steam boilers from an English ship of the late 19th century, one of which weighed 70 tons, gold figurines and several silver ingots. However, the fabulous treasures were never found.

The failures of all expeditions have not discouraged underwater treasure hunters. The mystery of Vigo Bay, like a magnet, attracts more and more new volunteers. Again and again, search groups are being equipped, archives are being searched, firms are again failing and people's lives are being crippled.

More than 15 attempts to find the legendary Spanish treasures have brought no luck to anyone.

Cannons raised from the bottom of Vigo Bay

Fearing for the fate of the treasures stolen during the war years, the Spaniards, after long hesitation, finally decided to transport them from America to Europe. In the summer of 1702, nineteen galleons were loaded with a large amount of gold, precious stones, silver, pearls, amber, indigo, vanillin, cocoa, ginger. In total - in the amount of thirteen million gold ducats. On June 11, a caravan of ships under the command of Manuel de Velasco left Vercarus. At sea, he met with a French squadron of twenty-three ships, which was entrusted with the protection of the Spanish galleons. Since the threat of an attack by the Anglo-Dutch fleet was real, the command of the squadron was entrusted to the then famous Admiral Chateau-Renaud, who, over many years of service, had repeatedly won victories over both the British and the Dutch.

The combined Franco-Spanish flotilla was to go to Cadiz. But since intelligence reported that this port was blocked by the English fleet, Château Reno headed to the north-west of Spain, to Vigo Bay.

After arriving there, the Spanish naval commander had every opportunity to unload the treasures on the shore, under the protection of the French troops, who at that time were in abundance in Spain. However, instead of this, the indecisive Manuel de Velasco began to wait for instructions from Madrid where to go next. The fact is that, although the values ​​belonged to Spain, they were intended primarily to pay for the military expenses of France.

The news that there were galleons in the bay of Vigo, carrying unheard-of wealth, spread all over the coast of Spain and reached the British. A month later, an order came from Madrid. But at the moment when Manuel de Velasco was opening a secret package in his cabin (by the way, the messenger delivered it on the night of October 21, but no one dared to wake the nobleman), an Anglo-Dutch squadron under the command of Admiral George Rook broke into Vigo Bay. For thirty hours the fierce boarding battles did not stop. The Spaniards managed to set fire to part of their ships so that they would not get to the enemy. The British lost their flagship and six hundred men, but along with the Dutch they captured and sank several French warships. Château Reno itself managed to break through the blockade and go to sea. While in the bay, which became the scene of a grandiose battle, twenty-four ships sank.

What is the fate of the treasures that were in the holds of the galleons during the battle? For almost three hundred years this question has remained unanswered.

According to one source, the British managed to seize five million pounds worth of jewelry - although even this is only part of the treasure. Other sources claim that all the valuable cargo went to the bottom of the bay along with the galleons. The French assume, and not without reason, that upon the arrival of the squadron in Vigo, Château Reno nevertheless unloaded valuables ashore and, under the protection of French troops, secretly sent them to his government. Otherwise, why did Louis XIV, after a naval battle, which cannot be called a victory for the admiral, promote him to marshal and even generously reward him?

True, skeptics believe that it was impossible to hide the fact of unloading such a huge amount of valuables.

Indeed, in July 1738, a French shipping expedition led by Alexander Hubert arrived in Vigo Bay. After careful measurements, the places where six sunken ships lay were determined. The choice fell on the galleon, which was at a depth of only six meters at low water. The ship was raised with slings, wooden pontoons, spiers and twenty-two thick hemp ropes. Finally, after two years of labor in February 1742, he was brought so close to the shore that at low tide the hold was dry. It was a Spanish galleon "Toho" with a displacement of about 1200 tons. But, apart from 600 tons of stone ballast, twelve cast-iron cannons, several hundred cannonballs and a dozen bags of rusty nails, nothing was found on it. As a result, having spent more than two million francs on the expedition, the French left Vigo Bay with nothing.

After them, the British appeared there. One of them, William Evans, was lucky enough to pick up silver bars valued at several hundred pounds. The amount, of course, was insignificant. The main thing was that his findings inspired hope. Perhaps he would have been able to discover other values, but Spain unexpectedly forbade representatives of the nation that sank the Spanish galleons to look for treasures in its territorial waters.

In 1748, the Spaniards themselves tried to find the precious cargo, but to no avail. Further, for almost eighty years, no diving work was carried out in the bay, although local residents from time to time made fleeting sorties there - they dived to the skeletons of sunken ships, trying to see something in the troubled water.

In 1825, the brig Enterprise entered the bay. On board was a diving bell of a new design, which not only made it possible to stay under water longer, but also, which is very important, gave the aquanaut a good view of the bottom. The captain of the brig, Dixon, had to work in it while on deck the armed Spaniards were impatiently waiting for their share of the booty. A few days later the brig disappeared from the bay as suddenly as it appeared. There were rumors that with the help of the bell, the British were able to raise a significant amount of gold, after which, having drunk the guards, they raised the sails and fled.

In the late 50s of the last century, the Spanish government sold the right to search for treasures to the French businessman David Langland, who ceded it, of course, not without benefit to himself, to the Parisian banker Sicard. Since the Parisian did not have enough money for the expedition, he, in turn, turned to the prosperous banker Hippolyte Magen for help. He carefully checked what Sicard told according to the old Spanish archives, and also conducted an additional investigation in Paris. Apparently the results were positive because he agreed to fund the expedition. However, during its organization, an unexpected obstacle arose in the person of Captain Gowan, a well-known diving specialist in England at that time. It turned out that resourceful Langland managed to sell the right to raise values ​​to him as well. Moreover, Gowan has already managed to sell many shares of his company in London.

While the misunderstanding was settled, time passed. Finally, after a very lengthy preparation, Magen began to survey the sunken galleons. An old Spanish fisherman, who took part in the work of Captain Dixon's expedition, showed for a decent reward where five ships lay at the bottom. In order to obtain more accurate information and at the same time keep the secret, Magen ordered that the viewing glass of the helmet of the diver preparing for the descent be screwed up before the helmet of his comrade, who had climbed onto the deck, was removed. Thus, none of them could hear what the other divers were saying after the dive. It is not known whether this played any role, but ten ships were discovered in twelve days.

Soon, diving equipment began to arrive from France. It included an underwater electric lantern that weighed almost half a ton, and an underwater observation camera that could accommodate two people. The first find was an old cannon with a muzzle clogged with a cork, in which air was still preserved. The divers then recovered two hundred cannonballs, a copper vessel, a boarding axe, a dagger handle, a silver goblet, a pipe case, and a bag of Brazil nuts. All this lay among the remains of the galleon, which for some reason the locals called "Madera".

The beginning of the autumn storms forced the divers to stop work on this ship and go to the galleon "La Ligura", which sank in the depths of the bay. Here they were able to get to the ship's infirmary, where they found several copper basins and glass vessels. When the galleon's hull was blown up, a compass and an iron bowl were added to the number of finds. But, alas, there was no gold and silver. Magen's funds were running out, and the whole enterprise was in danger of collapse. It was decided to try their luck on the Tampor galleon. We had to hurry, so the work was carried out even at night, since the electric lantern gave a fairly bright light underwater.

And here the first silver ingot was unexpectedly found. And soon already gained 130 pounds. In high spirits, Magen left for Paris. He managed to sell additional shares and raise a decent amount of money. By the way, from Vigo Bay, he took with him a heavy dark bar to give it for research. Divers usually did not pick them up from the bottom, and on those rare occasions when they accidentally landed on the diving board deck, they threw them overboard. To the great amazement and no less joy of Magen, this plain-looking piece of metal turned out to be pure silver!

Meanwhile, the Franco-Prussian war was brewing in Europe. Paris, where the leader of the expedition was located, was surrounded by the Germans. In the last letter received from Spain, it was reported that almost all divers were ill, paralyzed, and only one could continue their descents. The fact is that no one thought about any decompression in those days. Therefore, despite the relatively shallow depth, decompression sickness brought down the divers. Yes, and Magei himself was bedridden,

Diving work resumed only two years later. The French discovered five more sunken ships. But there was still no trace of gold. And not all of them managed to collect silver bars. In November 1872, the search for treasure ceased. The expedition did not even have money left to take diving equipment out of Vigo Bay.

Later, the unlucky leader of the French rescue expedition, Hippolyte Magin, published in Paris the book Vigo Galleons, in which he told the story of the Spanish treasures in a fascinating way and gave his thoughts on their rise. His book aroused such great interest among underwater treasure seekers that the Spaniards, just in case, classified all historical materials related to this bay.

At the end of the 19th century, several more expeditions were organized. The American "Vigo Bay Treasure Company" took on the most serious business and lasted almost fifty years - a record period for such enterprises. That's just any values ​​raised there, at least officially, on her account is not listed. True, once the Americans managed to bring the hoists under a well-preserved galleon, but when carrying it by crane to the shore, the ship broke and both halves sank again.

In 1904, the Spaniards Iberti and Pino followed in the footsteps of the Americans, who, on one of the two sunken ships, found several gold figurines and silver bars of eighty pounds each. Eventually, thirty years later, a joint-stock company was formed, which took a concession to carry out underwater work for eight years. Alas, they also brought nothing but disappointment.

It would seem that this series of failures will forever discourage underwater treasure hunters from wasting time and money on perhaps even non-existent treasures at the bottom of Vigo Bay. After all, twelve solid diving expeditions have been there! Among the ships that sank in 1702, it is perhaps impossible to find one that divers would not inspect or even try to raise. For almost three centuries of searching, Vigo Bay has become synonymous with unfulfilled hopes.

And yet, oddly enough, in November 1955, the English company Venture bought the right to conduct diving operations in Vigo from the Spanish government. The attention of the British was attracted by the galleon "San Pedro", which no one has yet been able to penetrate. According to some historical documents, it could be assumed that at the very beginning of the battle, the Spaniards tried to transport treasures to the shore on this ship. The galleon was shot by English ships and sank in a relatively shallow place, and local fishermen, so that the enemy would not get the gold, filled up the galleon with stone blocks. From time to time, the stones grew together, forming a strong shell that did not let treasure hunters in. Unfortunately, Venture, like its predecessors, pulled out a dummy. It was the last attempt to find one of the most famous and dubious underwater treasures.

Time: 1702

Location: Atlantic, Galicia (northwestern region of Spain)

The gold of Vigo Bay is associated with the War of the Spanish Succession. In a grandiose armed conflict, the interests of former allies and blood enemies mixed up - from Bavaria to Aragon. The gold of Vigo, by the will of fate, found itself in the center of the battle between the Franco-Spanish defenders and the Anglo-Dutch troops, secured a long memory and great fame for itself.

Captain Nemo's bins “... The clean sandy bottom was clearly visible. There, between the blackened remains of the ships, sailors from the crew, dressed in spacesuits, scurried about. They dug up silted, half-rotten casks, mangled boxes. From these boxes and casks poured ingots of gold and silver, whole cascades of piastres and precious stones. The sandy bottom was literally strewn with these treasures ... ”(Bern J. 20,000 leagues under water. - St. Petersburg: Logos, 2000). This is how the famous writer Jules Bern conveyed the legend of the treasures of Vigo Bay. Written in 1870, the novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" largely exploited the images that excite the contemporary creator of France. In those years, Paris was read with newspaper notes about the search for the famous treasure, and books telling about the wealth buried in the holds of the Spanish galleons scattered like hot cakes.

Published in 1873, Hippolyte Magen's book, The Galleons of Vigo, described the contents of the sunken squadron as one of the greatest treasures of all time, replete with numerous vivid images: silver goblets with sharp edges, large Lima emeralds, porcelain wrapped in soft cloth, boxes of pearls, pyramids from heavy gold bars and, of course, piastres marked with a Spanish cross.

Map of Spain and Portugal. 1732 (The asterisk indicates Vigo Bay.)

Such literature has replaced the initial skepticism at the mention of "Spanish billions". There is only one sensible explanation for this: the researchers, who dug into the sea for a long time and did not find traces of treasures, needed inspired stories about future discoveries that could attract the necessary sponsorship. However, it must be admitted that there were quite serious reasons for this. In August 1702, a large squadron of 42 ships left the port of Havana, traveling together under the Spanish and French flags. The French (on 23 warships) under the command of Admiral François de Château-Renaud were ordered to ensure the safety of 19 galleons of Spanish citizenship, transporting revenues to the treasury.

Battle of Vigo Bay. Unknown artist. 1702-1710

Captain Nemo's team is collecting gold from the bottom of Vigo Bay. Illustration from the original novel by J. Verne "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"

The war that was then raging in all seas and on all European frontiers demanded a lot of money. The Spaniards brought from the Peruvian mines more than 3,000 tons of silver and 200 tons of gold, collected over three years. In addition, the holds were filled with cochineal, spices, tobacco, pearls and other goods in demand. The ships under the command of Chateau Reno and the Spanish admiral Manuel de Velasco were heading to the Spanish port in Cadiz. But on the way, it became known that Cadiz was blocked by the British naval forces, and the carriers had to make a solid loop in order to anchor on the northern coast of Spain - in the area of ​​San Simon Bay, where Vigo Bay led. On September 22, 1702, the Spanish-French flotilla reached the bay. However, Velasco did not know what to do with the cargo next. The bankers of Cadiz, who sponsored the transfer, did not allow the overland delivery of treasures, and the king showed indecision. Considering the danger that the delay entailed, Château-Renaud proposed to move to the sea and head for Brest (France), where the treasures would be under reliable protection. However, his idea did not arouse the enthusiasm of Velasco, who did not want to take additional risks.

War of Admiral Rook, or the Birth of a Legend

Negotiations that lasted a month ended on October 22, 1702. The next day, the Anglo-Dutch army of Admiral George Rook approached the bay, having learned about the Spanish treasures and wished to get them for the English crown. After a short battle on land, it was the turn of the naval battle. The meager forces of Chateau Reno were opposed by one and a half hundred ships. The battle did not last long and ended in a matter of minutes. Hundreds of cannonballs riddled the hulls of the French ships and reduced them to rubble.

It was then that the legend of gold in the Gulf of Vigo was born. Admiral Velasco ordered the ships to be sunk so that they would not fall into the hands of the enemy. As they began to say after, along with all the treasures. In reality, however, Rook managed to capture some of the silver - about 14 thousand pounds sterling. The French expedition of 1738, led by Alexander Hubert, forced to think again about the fate of the “golden cargo”, which took one of the galleons from the bottom of the bay, and it was completely empty. Neither Hubert nor the 14 prospectors who followed him managed to find anything in the bay except a modest amount of gold. Not at all similar to the legendary result of the three-year development of Peruvian mines.

Then, for the first time, rumors began to appear that on the eve of the British invasion of the bay, most of the gold was shipped in the port. Perhaps Velasco specifically ordered the flooding of the fleet in order to divert attention from the land. The version is quite plausible, but not confirmed by official Spanish treasury documents. After all, if the gold was unloaded at the port, then it had to be delivered somewhere? If the Spaniards still received the desired cargo, one must think they would not make a secret out of this. Therefore, the question of the gold of the Gulf of Vigo is still open.