Mel Fisher: Spain to Key West

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Mel Fisher: Spain to Key West INSIDE WEEKWEEEKK OFOF JULYJULY 13-19,133-1919, 2017200177 www.FloridaWeekly.comwwwwww.FloridaWeee kly.coom Vol. 2, No. 15 • FREE Cuisine Santiago’s Bodega brings Mel Fisher: Spain to Key West. A16 Key West’s legendary treasure hunter Music Jeep Caillouet’s Long Road to Key West. A6 BY LAURA HACKWORTH Florida Weekly Correspondent Indiana Jones. Lara Croft. Jim Hawkins. Jack Sparrow. The allure of the treasure hunting lifestyle is ever- present in literature and film; the familiar tale of the rogue explorer always searching for an historical relic or a treasure buried deep in some remote location inspires children of all ages (and some adults) to draw their own trea- sure maps and lead their own expeditions to where X marks the spot. Given its position in the middle of the ocean, Key West has always been asso- Top Picks ciated with the piratical Exciting things to try this week in our calendar. SEE MEL, A10 A9 Mel Fisher handprints at PParticipantsii at the h party enjoy j a llocal l event. the Schooner Wharf Bar. NICK DOLL / COURTESY PHOTO NICK DOLL / COURTESY The Nuestra Señora de Atocha BY MAXINE LOPEZ-KEOUGH ald, each gold bar, each bronze cannon Florida Weekly Correspondent needed first to be recorded in a ledger, after which it was carefully loaded by a They were four weeks behind sched- crew of more than 100 sailors and slaves ule. For months, a procession of mules into the bowels of the mahogany-hulled had been arriving at the Veracruz docks, vessel that sat dockside. winding their way through the haze of At the same time, all manner of unre- a humid tropical summer, laden with a corded booty — jewelry, currency, art, all bank’s worth of treasure bound for Spain. smuggled aboard to avoid taxation — was Real Estate Each piece of silver, each flawless emer- Cottage just a stroll away from FLA-KEYS / COURTESY PHOTO SEE PRIZE, A12 The Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha. popular places. A18 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID THERE’S A LOT TO LIKE FORT MYERS, FL PERMIT NO. 715 www.facebook.com/KeyWestFloridaWeekly Visit us online at www.FloridaWeekly.com A2 WEEK OF JULY 13-19, 2017 www.FloridaWeekly.com FLORIDA WEEKLY KEY WEST OFF OFF DUVAL Editor & Publisher Owen Killian An insider’s look at Key West [email protected] The most traveled and visible street little signage and inside feels like a world Key West night. in Key West is only the beginning, the away. The nautical-themed bar is warm ■ Better than Sex 926 Simonton St. surface, of what the town has to offer. and homey. Small and large plates include Account Executive 305-296-8102; www.betterthansexkeywest. Ask the locals about their favorite spots, items such as roasted bone marrow and com. A great place for couples. Swing by Hannah Mein stroll through quiet neighborhoods or yellowtail snapper. Knowledgeable bar- [email protected] this dessert only, adults only restaurant down alleyways off Duval Street and you’ll tenders mix up craft cocktails such as late in the evening. Indulge your senses Presentation Editor begin to dive deeper into the quieter, more Curse Like a Saler with gin, dolin blanc, with chocolate-dipped wine glasses and Eric Raddatz diverse and less readily apparent offerings. agave, basil, mint and grapefruit. Brilliant! cheeky homemade desserts and beverages [email protected] Here are eight spots that you might not see ■ Cornish Memorial African Meth- such as an Ephemere Apple Spiced Ale in at first glance. odist Episcopal Zion Church 702 White- a tall beer glass with a signature caramel Reporters ■ The Café 509 Southard St. 305-296- head St. Established in 1864 by former rim-job. Lick it good. Maxine Lopez-Keough 5515; www.thecafekw.com. This cozy, inno- slave Sandy Cornish and his wife, Lillah. ■ Deuces “Off the Hook” Grill 728 Laura Hackworth vative restaurant has been redefining veg- The current building was built in 1894. Simonton St. 305-414-8428; www.offthe- Bucky Montgomery etarian cuisine for over 13 years. With a ■ The Reverend Long organized the hookkeywest.com. Tucked into a quiet warm Bohemian décor that includes local Bethel A.M.E Church in 1870 at 712 neighborhood, Off the Hook serves break- Graphic Designers art adorning the walls, the menu offers a Chris Andruskiewicz Duval St. It was destroyed by a fire in fast and lunch, but the creative and well- variety of options to suit all tastes along 1922 and the congregation then moved to executed dinner menu featuring fresh sea- Hannah Kruse with craft beers, organic wines and an Alisa Bowman the corner of Thomas Street and Truman food is especially enticing. Grouper in a array of sangria flavors plus fresh juices, Avenue. The building features masonry French bouillabaisse broth, Fish and Chips Paul Heinrich flavored house-made tonics or cafe kom- Scott Sleeper walls, twin towers in front and pointed- featuring mahi-mahi, and slow roasted bucha on tap. Omnivores will appreciate arch windows reminiscent of the Gothic Jamaican jerk chicken thighs are recom- Circulation Manager seafood dishes such as blackened mahi revival style. mended along with dark chocolate cov- Robin Falkner mahi and PEI mussels. The famous veggie ered banana bread for dessert. The Duck burger is not to be missed along with the ■ Key West Island Bookstore 513 [email protected] Fleming St. 305-294-2904; www.Keywes- BLT pizza is also delicious. It’s a small falafel, house-made spring rolls, quinoa space so reservations are recommended. Business Office Manager and avocado salad, stir-fries or fresh fish tislandbooks.com. This decades-old bou- Kelli Carico chimichurri tacos. Finish with vegan key tique bookstore offers a surprisingly varied ■ La Rubia Fine Hats 510 Fleming lime cheesecake or the vegan carrot cake. wealth of current and used titles, from St. 305-296-6059; www.larubiakeywest. Everything is made from scratch, so be best sellers to rare titles. Often open late, com. The Florida Keys’ only importer sure to check out the nightly specials. it’s an inviting place to browse among the of authentic Panama hats. The owners The Cafe also has an extensive weekend crowded stacks. developed this boutique to carry on the Published by centuries-old tradition of hand weaving Florida Media Group LLC brunch menu with bottomless mimosas. ■ Cuban Coffee Queen 284 Margaret hats, which come from Ecuador and not 100 Grinnell Street Grab a comfy colorful seat in front of the St. 305-292-4747; www.cubancoffeequeen. Key West, FL 33040 window or opt for takeout. They deliver. com. The strong Cuban coffee at this hole Panama by the way. There are styles for men and women in a wide array of colors Phone: 305.363.1310 ■ in the wall is also rich in Key West heri- 2 Cents Restaurant & Pub 416 Apple- and weaves. They also offer a nice selec- www.FloridaWeekly.com routh Lane, 305-414-8626; www.2centskw. tage. A Café Con Leche paired with a clas- sic Cuban sandwich or some Havana rice tion of wearable, fair trade crafts such as com. is right behind Leather Master and jewelry, ikat wraps and shigra. ■ just off Duval, but it’s hard to find with and beans will keep you going long into a Copyright: The contents of the Florida Weekly are copyright 2016 by Florida Media Group, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without the express written consent of Florida Media Group, LLC. Bands DJs L L Brunch Brunch Special Saturday & Sunday 2 for 1 Mimosas 10am-3pm $)..%2.)'(4,9 0-s(!009(/52 0-$!),9 -EAT2AFmE L Shot Specials L UFC Juke Box L L Daily Specials: Our Menu changes daily due to fresh catch and availability. We use as much locally grown produce as possible, including micro greens from chef Henry’s back yard, and whatever is fresh and available from Big Football Pine Key’s Grimnal Grove Farm. Seafood Specials include a Whole Fish of the day, Day Boat, Crudo (daily raw preparation) Produce on Toast & Taco L of the Day. WWWCENTSKWCOM s!PPELROUTH,ANE Trivia 1/2 block off of Duval between Southard/Fleming Frozen Irish Coffee "QQFMSPVUI-BOFt,FZ8FTUtt.BSZ&MMFOT#BSDPN Your Destination for GET AWAY FOR ONLY... Manatee Park FORT MYERS, FL $ EdisonEdi & Ford Winter Estates ROUNDR UND FORT MYERS, FL 125 TRIP!IPP!!* TravelingTrrava ele in via the Key West Express iss ttruly the best way to get to Fort Myers and Marco Island. You’ll enjoy air-conditioned interiors, several exterior sun decks, FloridaFlorida Repertory Theatre plus couches, tables, and even FORTFOF RTR MYERS RIVER DISTRICT, FL rreclining airline-style seating. SanibelS Island Lighthouse TThere’s even a full-service galley, SANIBEL ISLAND, FL full-service bar, and flat screen TVs with satellite television to watch during the duration of the ride. This is not just a ferry, it’s the Key West Express! SIT BACK, RELAX & LET Sidney Berne Art Center FORT MYERS RIVER DISTRICT KEY WEST EXPRESS , FL GET YOU THERE! FFreshre Seafood! FORTFOR MYERS BEACH, FL J.N.J..NN. “Ding”“Ding Darling Refuge RelaxingRe on the Beach SANIBELSAN ISLAND, FL FORT MYERS BEACH, FL Naples Zoo GET READY FOR YOUR NAUTICALNAPLES, FL ADVENTURE!The Pier & Park FASTERFAS THAN DRIVING, CHEAPER THAN FLYING, THE BEST WAY FORTTO MYERS TRAVEL BEACH, FL *M*MINIMUMMINIMUM 8 DAY ADVANCE PURCHASE, NON-REFUNDABLE FARE. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. WEEKEND FEE APPLIES TO ANY TRAVEL FRIDAY THRU SUNDAY. EXPIRES JUNE 30, 2017. ONLINE PURCHASES. 1-800-593-7259 swww.keywestexpress.net A4 WEEK OF JULY 13-19, 2017 www.FloridaWeekly.com FLORIDA WEEKLY KEY WEST MAP IT OUT Getting around Key West 1.
Recommended publications
  • The Abandoned Shipwrecks Act in Florida Tyler Wolanin
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst School of Public Policy Capstones School of Public Policy 2018 The Abandoned Shipwrecks Act in Florida Tyler Wolanin Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cppa_capstones Part of the Law Commons, Other Legal Studies Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, and the Public Policy Commons Wolanin, Tyler, "The Abandoned Shipwrecks Act in Florida" (2018). School of Public Policy Capstones. 47. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cppa_capstones/47 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Public Policy at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in School of Public Policy Capstones by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 The Abandoned Shipwrecks Act in Florida Tyler Wolanin Master of Public Policy and Administration Capstone May 1st, 2018 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Abandoned Shipwrecks Act is a 1988 federal law that grants states jurisdiction over abandoned shipwrecks in their territorial waters. The intention of the law is to allow states to form historic preservation regimes to protect historic shipwrecks from looters and salvagers. One of the most important beneficiaries of this law is the state of Florida, with the longest coastline in the continental United States and a history of attempts to protect historic shipwrecks. This law has been criticized since inception for removing the profit incentive for salvors to discover new shipwrecks. The Act has been subjected to a considerable amount of legal criticism for the removal of jurisdiction over shipwrecks from federal admiralty courts, but it has not received attention from policy scholars.
    [Show full text]
  • The Potential for Private Claims of Ownership to Military Shipwrecks in International Waters: the Case of Japanese Submarine I-52
    Buffalo Law Review Volume 49 Number 2 Article 10 4-1-2001 Raiders of the Lost . Sub? The Potential for Private Claims of Ownership to Military Shipwrecks in International Waters: The Case of Japanese Submarine I-52 Stephen Paul Coolbaugh University at Buffalo School of Law (Student) Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/buffalolawreview Part of the Law of the Sea Commons Recommended Citation Stephen P. Coolbaugh, Raiders of the Lost . Sub? The Potential for Private Claims of Ownership to Military Shipwrecks in International Waters: The Case of Japanese Submarine I-52, 49 Buff. L. Rev. 929 (2001). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/buffalolawreview/vol49/iss2/10 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Buffalo Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COMMENT Raiders of the Lost... Sub? The Potential for Private Claims of Ownership to Military Shipwrecks in International Waters: The Case of Japanese Submarine 1-52 STEPHEN PAUL COOLBAUGHt [U]p until recently, all underwater archaeological discoveries have been done in a water depth of less than 200 feet. Well 200 feet is less than four percent of the world's oceans. But this new technology of submersibles and robots can now cover ninety-seven percent of the world's oceans.... There's probably more history now preserved underwater than in all the museums of the world combined.
    [Show full text]
  • Nova Law Review Full Issue
    Nova Law Review Volume 4, Issue 1 1980 Article 1 Nova Law Review Full Issue Copyright c 1980 by the authors. Nova Law Review is produced by The Berkeley Electronic Press (bepress). https://nsuworks.nova.edu/nlr et al.: Nova Law Review Full Issue Published by NSUWorks, 1980 1 Nova Law Review, Vol. 4, Iss. 1 [1980], Art. 1 Volume 4, Spring 1980 Copyright 1980 by the 1Nova University Law Center Contents NOVA LAW JOURNAL Articles I Corporations: Majority Power and Shareholder Arrangements for Control Robert A. Kessler 25 Time to Abolish Parent-Child Tort Immunity: A Call to Repudiate Mississippi's Gift to the American Family Joel Berman 63 Beyond Reverse Discrimination: The Request for a Legitimizing Principle Stephen Jay Wisotsky 91 Legislative Overview: The Florida Workers' Compensation Act, 1979 Benjamin Lester A bberger III, Gary Granoff 107 David's Copperfield and FIFRA's Labeling Misadventures 137 Impact Fees: National Perspectives to Florida Practice 187 I.R.C. Section 2518 and the Law of Disclaimers 213 Open Season on Ancient Shipwrecks: Implications of the Treasure Salvors Decisions in the Fields of Archeology, History and Property Law Case Comments 237 Admiralty Law: Trial of a Treasure Hunter Treasure Salvors, Inc. v. Nuestra Sefiora de Atocha https://nsuworks.nova.edu/nlr/vol4/iss1/1 2 et al.: Nova Law Review Full Issue 257 Death With Dignity and the Terminally II: The Need for Legal Action Satz v. Perlmutter 271 Forfeiture of a Vehicle: Search for a Nexus Griffis v. State 285 Forged Restrictive Endorsements: Does the Drawer of a Check Have a Cause of Action Against the Depository Bank? Underpinning and Foundation Constructors, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Metal Detecting Florida's 1715 East Coast Treasure Wrecks Update: March 30, 2021 Assembled By: Lee Wiese
    Metal Detecting Florida's 1715 East Coast Treasure Wrecks Update: March 30, 2021 Assembled by: Lee Wiese Metal Detecting Florida's 1715 East Coast Treasure Wrecks Rev: H - Complete Update on January 04, 2014 Rev: J - Updated with Florida Beach Views & Protect Turtles Statement June 17, 2014 Rev: K - Treasure Article Links Added in the Appendix July 31, 2014 Rev: L - More than $1M in gold discovered off Fort Pierce from 1715 treasure fleet Rev: M - Treasure hunter reveals he found $4.5 million in gold coins off Wabasso Rev: N - Web-link Update Rev: O - Brevard Treasure Hunter Larry Bacola Discovers Gold Rings From 1715 Sunken Fleet Appendix Sept. 16, 2016 Rev: P - Remove reference to 50-year law. Rev: Q - Gold Religious Artifact Recovered June 4, 2019 Rev: R - Another Significant Discovery Made! June 27, 2019 Rev: S - Missing wing of gold pelican statue from 1715 shipwreck is recovered Rev: S+ Google Map Update and Minus Errors Metal Detecting Hobby Talk Page 1 of 104 Rev: S+ http://www.mdhtalk.org Metal Detecting Florida's 1715 East Coast Treasure Wrecks Update: March 30, 2021 Assembled by: Lee Wiese Metal Detecting the 1715 Treasure Fleet Disclaimer: The sources for this 1715 Fleet information package is derived from personal knowledge, websites and various books. In some cases’ the information found has required the author to interpret or make a value judgment on the validity of the material so there may be errors or disconnects in the article's material. It is suggested that this material should be considered as a reference guide only and the best avenue to follow is to seek a second source for this information.
    [Show full text]
  • Troubled Waters: the Battle Over Shipwrecks, Treasure and History at the Bottom of the Sea
    Troubled Waters: The Battle Over Shipwrecks, Treasure and History at the Bottom of the Sea By ACHIVES MA SSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE Leslie G. Baehr OF TECHNOLOGY B.A. Environmental Science JUN 18 2013 Anthropology University of Colorado at Boulder L LIBRARIES SUBMITTED TO THE PROGRAM IN COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES/WRITING IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE WRITING AT THE MASSACHUSETTES INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SEPTEMBER 2013 © Leslie G. Baehr. All rights reserved. The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part in any medium now known or hereafter created. Signature of Author: ProgrAn" Comparative Media Studies/Writing June 10, 2013 Certified by : I W Russ Rymer Thesis Advisor Accepted by: Seth Mnookin Director, Graduate Program in Science Writing Troubled Waters: The Battle Over Shipwrecks, Treasure and History at the Bottom of the Sea By Leslie G. Baehr SUBMITTED TO THE PROGRAM IN COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES/WRITING IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE WRITING AT THE MASSACHUSETTES INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ABSTRACT Though shipwrecks and treasure are deeply seductive to the public, the political, ethical, and scientific geography surrounding these sunken ships is not well publicized, except in cases involving large amounts of money. There is a battle for access rights to these objects with some claiming them as public historical commons, and others as commodity. Written for a popular audience, this thesis explores the history, technology and common sentiments surrounding shipwrecks from the people who have dedicated their lives to them: commercial firms (treasure hunters, salvors, etc.), academics (maritime archaeologists, conservators, educators, historians and cultural managers) and hobbyist SCUBA divers.
    [Show full text]
  • Case: 18-13282 Date Filed: 03/25/2020 Page: 1 of 25
    Case: 18-13282 Date Filed: 03/25/2020 Page: 1 of 25 [PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________ No. 18-13282 ________________________ D.C. Docket No. 4:18-cr-10001-JEM-2 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, versus JARRED ALEXANDER GOLDMAN, Defendant - Appellant. ________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ________________________ (March 25, 2020) Before ROSENBAUM, TJOFLAT, and HULL, Circuit Judges. ROSENBAUM, Circuit Judge: In Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins memorably hunted for Captain Flint’s hidden treasure. The Goonies put its own spin on treasure Case: 18-13282 Date Filed: 03/25/2020 Page: 2 of 25 hunting when the title band of friends defied One-Eyed Willy’s maze of booby traps to find his hidden treasure and save their beloved neighborhood. But for real-life treasure-hunting stories, perhaps nothing beats the quests of the aptly named Mel Fisher and his company Treasure Salvors, Inc. Fisher and his team specialized in finding and salvaging shipwrecks of Spanish galleons and other vessels from the Spanish Colonial era, off the coasts of Florida and its Keys. As of the mid-1980s, Fisher’s operation had recovered treasure worth approximately $400 million at that time. Among that treasure was Gold Bar 27, which Fisher donated to the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum (the “Museum”) in Key West, Florida. There, Gold Bar 27 became iconic, and three to four million Museum visitors handled it over the years. Enter Defendant-Appellant Jarred Alexander Goldman (sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction) and Codefendant Richard Steven Johnson.
    [Show full text]
  • Winona Daily News Winona City Newspapers
    Winona State University OpenRiver Winona Daily News Winona City Newspapers 3-16-1976 Winona Daily News Winona Daily News Follow this and additional works at: https://openriver.winona.edu/winonadailynews Recommended Citation Winona Daily News, "Winona Daily News" (1976). Winona Daily News. 1429. https://openriver.winona.edu/winonadailynews/1429 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Winona City Newspapers at OpenRiver. It has been accepted for inclusion in Winona Daily News by an authorized administrator of OpenRiver. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ; 0/ VU fyh,- T Q > , ¦ : : ¦ £S¦ ; ¦ ¦ ¦ W ? V V 7 ?* , • '¦ ¦ " ¦ " ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ y ¦:¦/ ' ¦ ¦' ¦¦ ' ¦' • ¦ ; ' ¦ * : ' ' ' . ' . ' , . '- . y-r. ' ¦¦ •> . 7 .. ' • ' • ' . ' . A' ' . * . * ' '' . * * . ds , ' .^A/A . - - ^Tuesday's——— ight ©rjun ^#1 . f f ¦ WM rt tyvi y OvpnUftA M^prs - . governments,nm umauon nas rorcea uie goverrunmaV, are heading toward tax Increases - some of 30 percent _ WASHINGTON (AP)> The fight being waged by the ' nation's municipal leaders for the preservation of or more. The crisis is reaching prosperous -subum, VWbicb once thought of it as extra money, to use the funds. where income can no longer keep up with costs-itaid ' ''7 for necessities. 7 r revenue-sharing is seen by many of Ihem as the last * Cernan retiring Stars to be cited V battle betweenthe cities and ruin. where schools, which lured many bom the city, are '. About one-fourth of local government budgets come Navy Capt. Eugene A. Cernan, 42, Perrine and actor being cut back. ; from federal grants, and general revenue-sharing is Actress-Valerie 7 Thecities, with large concentratlonsofIndustrlaland ' the man who left the last footprints Burt Reynolds will be cited by the constructicti-workers , minorities, elderly people left The cities and counties, reaching what many of them about one fifth of that .
    [Show full text]
  • The Quest for the Atocha
    INSIDE WEEK OF JULY 14-20, 2016 www.FloridaWeekly.com Vol. I, No. 15 • FREE Music scene Terri White: Not all treasure in Key West is sunken. A22 u Key West is ready to celebrate a treasure of its own u The music stage at the Mel Fisher Days Top picks BY MAXINE celebration. Head to our most-read page for LOPEZ-KEOUGH top picks of the week. A9 u Florida Weekly Correspondent There are a few universal laws that every child learns early in life. Find- ers, keepers. Sharing is caring. Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Don’t make that face unless you want it to stay that way. From every well-meaning parent and teacher: Follow your dreams and you can achieve the impossible. From Robert Louis Stevenson and Jules Verne: Hunting for buried treasure is a totally valid career choice. SEE MEL A20 u Bartender The worldly and wonderful PHOTO BY NICK DOLL Jennifer Garrison. A11 u The quest for the Atocha BY MAXINE LOPEZ-KEOUGH loaded by a crew of more than 100 sailors Florida Weekly Correspondent and slaves into the bowels of the mahogany- hulled vessel that sat dockside. They were four weeks behind schedule. At the same time, all manner of unre- For months, a procession of mules had corded booty — jewelry, currency, art, all been arriving at the Veracruz docks, wind- smuggled aboard to avoid taxation— was ing their way through the haze of a humid secretly added to the mix. By the time the tropical summer, laden with a bank’s worth ship was ready to depart, the Nuestra Seno- of treasure bound for Spain.
    [Show full text]
  • TREASURE HUNTERS EPHESIANS 1:4-6 As a Boy Mel Fisher's Favorite
    TREASURE HUNTERS EPHESIANS 1:4-6 As a boy Mel Fisher’s favorite books were Robert Louis Stevenson novels like Treasure Island. Stories full of lost treasure... swashbuckling pirates and Spanish galleons - gold doubloons and pieces of eight. As Mel grew older underwater exploration and treasure hunting became his hobby. He opened a scuba shop and purchased a salvage ship. He spent his vacations in the Caribbean exploring sunken wrecks, collecting coins, and gathering lost artifacts. Eventually, Mel became a full time treasure hunter. Over the years, Mel had heard of a lost Spanish galleon named the “Atocha.” The ship sunk in 1622, and was thought to be carrying fabulous wealth. For 16 years Mel searched for the Atocha. And his quest cost him dearly. He teetered on the edge of bankruptcy. More significantly, he lost his son and daughter-in-law in a tragic boating accident. But on July 20, 1985, 41 miles off the coast of Key West, Mel found his pot of gold. He picked from the ocean floor 40 tons of silver and gold - 100,000 pieces of eight, 1000 silver bars, and Columbian emeralds. A total treasure worth $450 million. It’s was one of the richest archeological finds since King Tut’s Tomb. And what little boy hasn’t laid in the bed at night and dreamed of discovering buried treasure? What big boy hasn’t had similar dreams of instant fortune, and overnight wealth? Why do you think folks spend their hard-earned cash on lottery tickets and sweepstakes? We’ve all fantasized of a fabulous fortune.
    [Show full text]