The ocean hide's enormous richdom
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Wed Jan 2, 08 05:53 AM
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Nuestra Senora de Atocha
Sunk in 1622
Found by Mel FisherThe Atocha tragically ended her voyage during a severe hurricane on to the corral reefs off the Florida Keys on September 6, 1622, near the Marquesas About 20 miles west of the Florida Keys, whit her hull severly ripped open the vessel quickly sunk taking with her 264 souls many of whom, were of royal blood. She scattered over 47 troy tons of treasure,gold silver and precious gems over 30 miles of ocean bottom. There were only 3 people to survive the wreck.This remarkably rich cargo valued at hundreds of millions of dollars by today’s standards lay lost beneath the sea for nearly 360 yearsIronically Mel Fisher was born almost 300 years to the day that the Atocha went down. His obsession for the Atocha treasure has lasted over 20 years. During this time, Mel found himself selling off other treasures that he had found, trying all the time to get people to invest in his dream... the Atocha.Fighting off bill collectors, power and utilities cut-offs. He could not even pay his own divers at times. Mel was forever going to court to keep other salvage companies away from the wreck areas.The biggest tragedy was the death of Mel's son Dirk, Dirk's wife and another crew member. This happened when his salvage boat "The Northwind" sank over the wreck site on July 20, 1975.Mel Fisher continued on his search despite all the financial problems, death of family and friends. He ended up finding the mother lode.Im surly hope he can still enjoy his remakeble find after his great loss instead |
But im proude to say im wearing one of Atocha ‘s coins
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Link:
http://blog.bitcomet.com/post/13321/
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