This is a collection of eight stories. ‘Galleón’ tells of the loss of a Spanish ship off Panama in 1715 and its re-discovery in 2017.
This is a collection of eight stories. ‘Galleón’ tells of the loss of a Spanish ship off Panama in 1715 and its re-discovery in 2017. ‘Escape’ describes how jailed prisoners can be illegally freed. ‘Hideaway’ is a story of an eye-witness to a crime. ‘The Miracle’ is the tale of a seminarian who sees and speaks to Saint James. ‘Lottery’ explains how a young offender wins the Lottery. ‘The Old Man’ reveals how a retired revolutionary performs a favor. ‘Triple Cross’ takes the reader through the excitement of robbing a jewel courier. Finally, in ‘Confession’, a Priest listens to the confession of a legend of the old West.
Excerpt
THE GALLEÓN
THE SPANISH TREASURE FLEET 1715
‘The sun vanished and I swear before Almighty God that the wind blew as I have never seen it blow in my forty years at sea. Day was as night. No moon or stars illuminated the turbulent waters. We were swept into a shallow bay and our sails shredded and our masts ripped from the decks. Santa Victoria and two others of the fleet, were blown onto Turneffe Atol offshore from the Belize Barrier Reef. The vessels Doña Eliza and Señora de Arcadia were broken to pieces. The Santa Victoria, my own ship, was severely damaged, and the only one to survive”1
This extract, from the source described below, describes a violent storm off the eastern coast of Honduras that ravaged three Spanish treasure ships as they attempted to make a rendezvous in Havana for the journey home to Spain. From the middle of the 16th until the middle of the 18th century, fleets such as these, sailed the waters between Spain and South America carrying fortunes in gold and gems. Because of their ability to do this, Spain built a strong empire and became the most influential nation in in the world. The voyages were fraught with danger from rival powers and pirates but the biggest threat was not from armed aggressors but from the weather
The treasure fleets were struck by hurricanes in 1715 and again in 1733. Some valuables were recovered, but much was lost on the ocean floor. The Spanish salvaged part of the valuable cargos but more remained below the waves. Ships lay undisturbed for two hundred years until the 20th century treasure hunters found a few. The Santa Carolina however, lost in 1715, had never been seen or heard of since. That was until 2017, when by accident, the wreck was discovered. The story of this strange occurrence is told in these pages.
1 Raul de Mantos, Captain of the Santa Victoria As quoted in David León and Maria Matos report “The Santa Victoria.” The National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 2001, Section 12, page 4.
Professional Reviews
Galleon and seven other tales
This is a collection of eight stories. ‘Galleón’ tells of the loss of a Spanish ship off Panama in 1715 and its re-discovery in 2017. ‘Escape’ describes how jailed prisoners can be illegally freed. ‘Hideaway’ is a story of an eye-witness to a crime. ‘The Miracle’ is the tale of a seminarian who sees and speaks to Saint James. ‘Lottery’ explains how a young offender wins the Lottery. ‘The Old Man’ reveals how a retired revolutionary performs a favor. ‘Triple Cross’ takes the reader through the excitement of robbing a jewel courier. Finally, in ‘Confession’, a Priest listens to the confession of a legend of the old West.
SURGICALLY RE-WRITTEN and CONDENSED Feb-May 2013... A MONUMENTAL JOURNEY is an adventure mystery historical fiction novel that follows a young mans journey (with friends) to find Truth, happiness, purpose, and a long lost Norse tribe.
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