RECOLLECTIONS OF AN ANCIENT WRECK.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2502, 6 September 1890, Page 7

RECOLLECTIONS OF AN ANCIENT WRECK.

Mr. Alexander Allen, whose name has been mentioned in the public Press as having some personal knowledge of the Spanish vessel, repor tedly treasure-laden, on the Warrnambool coast., some forty years nc©, is not dead—as has been stated —but is residing, and has been for years past, ou bis small farm about two miles from WarrnguL AYheu interviewed, the old man, who has a very lively recollection of the wreck incident, made the following statement: —“I arrived at Port Fairy in the year 1860, and was about that port for some years, ana as the coast \vre then so exposed, there being no breakwater, wrecks occasionally

occurred. I have seen three ships come ashore in ©ce day, and have, at the risk «f my life, tried to save the poor drowning sailors. My method was to tie a rope rbund my body, and swim out to the wreck; but I had many a narrow escape. I well remember this vessel coming ashore. She was a foreign ship; but whether a Dutchman or a Spaniard, I don’t know. I do know she was not an English vessel, and she ran a: liore in very stormy weather on a sandy beach, and gradually became buried and lost s'ght of. although it was a long time before she was hidden altogether! Many of us had heard that she had a lot of gold and other valuables on board, and we saw the captain and the sailors do all they could to get into the hold. They would not have run the risk they did if there was not something valuable to be got hold of. Day after day they were battling against the waves, which the strong winds dashed over the vessel, and they worked like Trojans to get. what t.hev wanted, but the gold seemed to be stowed away down the hold where it could not he got hold of; and the water continually rushing in they had to give up the s larch. I and inv two sons then tried what, we could do. having heard about the gold coins on board. We cut away the rigging, and smashed up the bulwarks, but it. was laborious work, as by this time the vessel was a good distance down, and when we had finished with her, the top of her hull was level with the sand. We got a quantity of copper bolts and copper out of her, and sold the lot for £lB, not £ls, as Mr. Bennett states. We did our best to get into the hold, hut the waves swept the sand over even into it, and thus we had to give up the search, though very sorry, as we felt sure the doubloons wore there. I see Mr. Bennett says I am dead, but I don’t look like dying just yet. Did not. demolish the hull. We only had a jiart of the bulwarks. The hull was covered over with the sand, and I believe lies buried there to this day. Scarcely a day passed for twelve months that, did not see us down at that wreck. I knew the hull was buried in the sand, and I can point out the place. I got a little cannon out of her, a ID or 20-pounder, and I gave it to the harbour-master. lie may be aide to throw wane light on it. But 1 could put ray finger on the spot to-morrow if I were there.” Allen is very emphatic ns to the accuracy of his recollections, and is convinced that the ship is the one for which the Government have been making search. Mr. Anderson, of the Warrabcel Council, who has known Allen for many > ears, has written to the Commissioner oi Tublia Works on the subject.