Fall 2005
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Along an 80-mile stretch of water in the Florida Keys lie the shipwrecks of a Spanish fleet that sank one fateful night in July, 1733. Today these wrecks are some of North America's oldest artificial reefs, supporting complex ecosystems of marine life that have thrived generation after generation for nearly 300 years. The newly developed 1733 Spanish Galleon Trail reveals what these ships look like after hundreds of years in the sea. The opening of the trail, established by the Division of Historical Resources, coincides with this year's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in Florida, September 15 through October 15.
On Friday, the thirteenth of July 1733, the New Spain Fleet left Havana harbor on its return voyage to Spain. Commanded by Rodrigo de Torres aboard the newly built capitana, El Rubi, the convoy consisted of three other armed navios, 16 merchant naos, and two smaller ships carrying Mexican supplies to the presidio at St. Augustine. The following day, after the vessels sighted the Florida Keys, the wind shifted abruptly from the east and increased in velocity. Lieutenant-General Torres, sensing an approaching hurricane, ordered his captains to turn back to Havana and to sail as close to the wind as possible, but it was too late. By nightfall, all or most of the ships had been driven westward and scattered, sunk, or swamped along 80 miles of the Florida Keys. Four ships made it safely back to Havana. Another vessel, the galleon El Africa, managed to sail on to Spain undamaged.
Survivors gathered in small groups throughout the low islands and built crude shelters from debris that had washed ashore. Spanish admiralty officials in Havana, worried about the fate of the fleet, sent a small sloop to search for wrecks. Before the sloop could return, another boat arrived in the harbor and reported seeing many large ships grounded near a place called "Head of the Martyrs." Immediately, nine rescue vessels loaded with supplies, food, divers, and salvage equipment sailed for the scene of the disaster. Soldiers were on board to protect the shore camps and the recovered cargo.
A thorough salvage of the ships was undertaken by the Spaniards. Vessels that could not be re-floated and towed back to Havana were burned to the waterline, enabling divers to descend into the cargo holds, and also concealing the wrecks from freebooters. The work continued for years, with the salvors working under the watchful scrutiny of guard ships. The location of each shipwreck was charted on several maps. When a final calculation of salvaged materials was made, more gold and silver was recovered than had been listed on the original manifests, the tell-tale evidence of contraband aboard the homeward-bound vessels.
In the 1960s, most of the wrecks associated with the 1733 fleet were relocated by modern salvors. Some were explored under agreement with the State of Florida; several were investigated by the Division of Historical Resources and various educational institutions. Others became the targets of illegal salvage activities. In 1989, San Pedro was designated a State Underwater Archaeological Preserve and eventually became a State Park. In 2004, the Division was awarded a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant for the interpretation of the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet. Adminis
A 24-page guide to the 1733 Spanish Galleon Trail features details about the history of the 1733 fleet disaster, directions on how to access each site, descriptions about the creatures that live there, and instructions for minimizing visitor impact to cultural and natural features. To request a copy of the guide, e-mail rsmith@dos.state.fl.us, phone 850.245.6444, or visit the Spanish Galleon Trail Web site at www.flheritage.com/archaeology/underwater/galleontrail/.
To nominate a new preserve, request a poster of Florida's Shipwreck Preserves, or request a brochure for any of the 11 underwater sites, e-mail dscott@dos.state.fl.us, write the Bureau of Archaeological Research, Division of Historical Resources at 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250 or phone 850. 245.6444. For information on all the sites, visit http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/archaeology/underwater/preserves/.