TREASURE ISLAND OF MULL.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 17

TREASURE ISLAND OF MULL.

ANOTHER SEARCH FOR ARMADA GOLD. • Another search is to be made for the treasure of the famous Tuscany galleon Admiral of Florence, -which was one of the ships of the Spanish Armada, and which, after fleeing north about from the Engllsu ships, was blown up in Tobermory Bay, In the Isle of Mull. The Duke of Argyll has granted a lease, which began on October 1, to explore the bed of the bay for the hull and its contents, to Lieut.-Colonel Kenneth Mackenzie Foss. Colonel Foss will employ the most modern type of ore-finding apparatus io locate the position of the galleon, which is believed to lie under at least twenty-five feet of sand. When it has been found he will use two sand pumps and two powerful pumps with, a lifting capacity which will strip the hull of its overlie in three or four working days. It is uncertain what treasure the galleon had' on board. Ashley wrote to Walslngham soon after she sank that she was "one of the largest in the whole and commanded by a grandee of the first'rank, and was always served In silver plate." Tradition says that she carried 30,000,000 "pesas of eight" and a crown for the Spanish prince who was Intended to occupy the throne of England. It Is believed that, apart from the bullion, there arc at least forty large cannon and a quantity of cannon balls in the hull , which will make the ore-finding apparatus operative. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. Pieces of the wreck which have been brought to the surface at Intervals suggest that the keel and the lower timbers of the galleon will be found in a fair state of preservation, and Colonel Foss hopes, within a moderate period of time, to raise a sufficient portion of her to make it possible to construct a model. The first serious attempt to recover the treasure was made In 1670, when a Swedish engineer was brought over, with a diving bell, by Archibald, Marquis of Argyll, who was then Admiral of the Western Isles. But the King of England interfered, and sent the Duke of York, afterwards King James 11., with a warship to prohibit all attempts to recover the treasure, In his capacity as Lord High Admiral of England. The case was tried in Edinburgh, and, after considerable delay, It was decided that the rights to the ship were vested in the Marquis of Argyll, to whom the Duke of York wrote a very friendly letter, apologising for the trouble which he had caused. Later on the Duke cut off the head of the Marquis of Argyll, and conflscated hU estates, while his son fled abroad and returned in time to assist in driving King James 11. from the throne of England. A second attempt at salvage was made in 1730, and a verj fine bronze gun was recovered bearing the date of 1584, and the fleur de 11s of Francis 1., as well ac gold and silver coins. About five years ago Captain William Burns, of the Glasgow Salvage Association, obtained a lease to work the vessel from the present Duke of Argyll, and his efforts during three seasons were attended with aconsiderable amount of success. Breechloading cannon, swords, pistole. End cannon balls were recovered, as well as coins which, though of the face value of only three or four shillings, realised from two to three guineas apiece when sold by auction in London. The period for which Captain Burns obtained the lease has just expired. STORY OF THE GALLEON. There are many romantic versions of the history of the Admiral of Florence. One of the best known Is that a couple of nights before the sailing of the Armada, one of the Infantas dreamed that she was fated to embark In the galleon, and there appeared to her witH perfect distinctness tbe features and form of a foreign nobleman, whom she was to marry when the fleet arrived at Its destination. Accordingly, against all the remonstrances of her relations the Infanta is said to have sailed on her. The galleon fled to Tobermory Bay, and, having sent a boat ashore to obtain water and provisions, the Spanish commanded entered Into friendly relations with the head of the Clan Maclean, who was Invited to co on board. Immediately the Infanta set eyes on him she declared that this was the man she had seen in her dream, aud he was to be her future husband. Incidentally, it may be noted that 1588 was a leap year. Unfortunately, Maclean was already married; but the Infanta would suffer no interference with what she considered to be the workings of fate, and subsequently an attempt was made to carry off the ohlef "f the clan aud a few followers. Seeing the ship was taking up her anchor and maslng sail, Maclean's wife dispatched a number of the clan to board the galleon, and to procure the release of her husband oud hie followera. One of the latter, In revenge for the treachery of the Spaniards, is said to have applied a torch to the powder magazine. The ship was sunk, and all on board, except a cook who was blown Into the water, are said to have perished.