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News and stories with a focus on pirates and pirates culture
Treasure, Tragedy, and Turmoil: The Battle for the San José's Billion-Dollar Bounty
The San José, a Spanish galleon sunk over 300 years ago by the British off Colombia's coast, is now the world’s most valuable shipwreck, packed with gold, silver, and emeralds worth up to $18 billion. But the real treasure? A never-ending argument over who gets the loot.
Colombia wants to raise the ship's remains and put them in a museum. Treasure hunters, on the other hand, have their eyes on the cargo's commercial value. Meanwhile, archaeologists are shaking their heads, saying it should be left undisturbed. Maritime historians chime in, pointing out that the San José is a graveyard—around 600 people went down with the ship—and should be treated with respect.
The San José, a Spanish galleon sunk in 1708, was sailing from Panama toward Cartagena, Colombia, on its way back to Spain when things went south—fast. Britain and Spain were at war, so a British warship intercepted the San José. The plan was to seize the treasure, but in a plot twist worthy of an action movie, the Brits accidentally fired a cannonball into the ship’s powder magazines. Boom! The San José blew up and sank in minutes.
The wreck stayed hidden until the 1980s when a U.S. salvage company, Glocca Mora, claimed to have found it. They tried to team up with Colombia to split the treasure, but things went downhill quickly—cue the legal battles. In 2015, Colombia announced they’d found the ship on a different part of the seabed, without Glocca Mora’s help. Now rebranded as Sea Search Armada, the salvage company argues they still have rights to the ship's treasure. Colombia, however, insists otherwise.
Adding to the chaos, the Colombian government wants to raise the wreck and put it in a museum. Treasure hunters, of course, are eyeing the billions in gold, silver, and emeralds. Meanwhile, archaeologists believe the ship should be left untouched, and maritime historians remind us that the San José is a watery grave for around 600 people.
So far, it’s been a legal free-for-all, with Spain, Colombia, a U.S. salvage company, and indigenous groups all staking their claim. The dispute has spanned courtrooms from Colombia to the U.S., and now it’s docked at The Hague. As historian Carla Rahn Phillips, who literally wrote the book on the San José, puts it: “It’s a great mess, and I see no easy way out of this.” With so many players involved, the only thing sinking faster than the ship might be everyone’s hopes of a happy ending.
The Answer to the Mystery of Henry Avery Disappearance Discovered!
Could the most wanted criminal of the 1700th century actually be a spy for the English Crown? In 1695, Henry Avery led his 160-strong crew to pull off the most lucrative heist in pirate history on the high seas, amassing gold, silver, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. Shorty after the pirate and half of that treasure disappeared and the mystery continues to this day. Recently, a crew of treasure hunters found a letter that reveals disappearance of 17th century British pirate was tied to William III’s spy ring, Daniel Defoe and an archbishop. Read the entire article here in the Guardian.
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In 1656, the sinking of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas sparked centuries of salvage attempts. Recently, a new expedition uncovered spectacular treasures including jewel-encrusted pendants and gold chains, untouched on the seabed for hundreds of years.
The ship went down off the Little Bahama Bank, with treasures spread across a debris trail over 13km. Allen Exploration, licensed by the Bahamian government, led the exploration with marine archaeologists and divers. They plan to display the finds in a new museum in the Bahamas.
The Lost Treasures of the Maravillas: Unveiling Centuries of Sunken Riches
The Maravillas, part of a fleet carrying treasures from the Americas to Spain, sank on January 4, 1656, due to a navigational error. Named after a 13th-century sculpture of the Virgin Mary, it carried royal and private consignments, contraband, and rescued cargo from another wreck. Colliding with its flagship, it hit a reef, resulting in the loss of all but 45 of the 650 people on board, with many falling prey to sharks.
Coins found in New England help solve mystery of "One of the greatest crimes of the 17th century"
One tarnished silver coin at a time, the ground is yielding new evidence that in the late 1600s, one of the world's most ruthless pirates wandered the American colonies with impunity.
Newly surfaced documents also strengthen the case that English buccaneer Henry Every - the target of the first worldwide manhunt - hid out in New England before sailing for Ireland and vanishing into the wind.
"At this point, the amount of evidence is overwhelming and indisputable," historian and metal detectorist Jim Bailey, who's devoted years to solving the mystery, told The Associated Press. "Every was undoubtedly on the run in the colonies."
Unveiling the Modern Buccaneer: Elon Musk's Pirate Persona
In the vast ocean of business and innovation, there emerges a figure who, in the spirit of adventure and daring exploration, could be likened to a modern-day pirate. Elon Musk, the enigmatic entrepreneur and visionary, has captured the imagination of many with his bold ventures and unconventional approach to industry. And its not just his choice in renaming Twitter to just the symbol X. While not wielding a cutlass or sailing the high seas, Musk's swashbuckling spirit in the business world has drawn parallels to the golden age of piracy. Let's explores the traits and endeavors that make Elon Musk a candidate for the title of a contemporary pirate.
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Fearless Exploration: Pirates were known for venturing into uncharted waters in search of hidden treasures, and Musk embodies this fearless exploration in the business realm. With companies like SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, Musk is pushing the boundaries of technology and industry, much like a pirate seeking new horizons and undiscovered riches.
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Rule-Breaking Innovation: Pirates were notorious for breaking societal norms and challenging established rules, and Musk shares a similar inclination for rule-breaking innovation. Whether challenging traditional automotive manufacturing with Tesla's electric cars or revolutionizing space travel with reusable rockets at SpaceX, Musk disrupts industries and charts his own course, much like a pirate sailing against the prevailing winds.
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Eccentric Leadership: Pirates were known for their charismatic and eccentric leaders, and Musk's leadership style reflects this trait. Musk's unfiltered and often humorous communication on social media, combined with his ambitious goals, adds a touch of eccentricity to his persona, much like the legendary pirate captains of old.
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Pursuit of Wealth and Influence: While pirates sought treasure and influence through unconventional means, Musk, too, pursues wealth and influence in the modern era. His ambitious projects aim not only for financial success but also for the advancement of humanity. Musk's pursuits in electric vehicles, renewable energy, space exploration, and neural interfaces align with the quest for societal and technological progress.
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Controversial Ventures: Pirates were often involved in controversial activities, and Musk has had his fair share of bold and sometimes controversial ventures. From the flamethrowers sold by The Boring Company to his ambitions for a city on Mars, Musk's ventures frequently generate public debate, reminiscent of the controversies that surrounded pirates of old.
While Elon Musk may not sail the seas with a Jolly Roger raised high, his adventurous and rule-defying spirit in the business world draws intriguing parallels to the pirate legends of yore. Musk's fearless exploration, rule-breaking innovation, eccentric leadership, pursuit of wealth and influence, and controversial ventures all contribute to the perception of him as a modern-day buccaneer. As Musk continues to chart unexplored territories, the legacy of his pirate-like endeavors may leave an indelible mark on the annals of business history.
Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez
Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there.
Before we get to the treasure hunt, let's touch on the historical background of Jose Gaspar and how a now infamous fictitious pirate became a Tampa legend.
Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay.
All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates.
Gaspar's legend is one of a murderous, bloodthirsty swashbuckler who stole money from Spain, stole a ship, kidnapped a Spanish Princess, and left a trail of death and gold throughout the high seas.
The Search for Blackbeard’s treasure based on enduring myth
Suggested location of Blackbeard's Creek’s Plum Point as it appeared in a 1880 U.S. Coast Survey chart.
The Search began within minutes after the notorious pirate Blackbeard was killed in the Battle at Ocracoke on Saturday morning, Nov. 22, 1718.
As soon as the wounded were attended to and the surviving pirates were placed under guard, the hunt was on, led by Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard. The first place they searched was Blackbeard’s cabin in the roundhouse of his 65-foot-long Jamaica-rigged sloop, Adventure. Surely the world’s best-known and most-feared pirate captain kept a chest of Spanish gold, silver and jewels hidden beneath his bunk, just for his walkin’ around money.
Rarely mentioned in the many books, articles and other accounts of the famous battle is that Maynard and the other volunteer sailors from the British king’s ships stationed in Virginia were persuaded to accept the potentially deadly assignment of apprehending or killing the North Carolina pirates by the prospect of acquiring pirate treasure. It could be said that the 60 men aboard the two, small, rented sloops under Maynard’s command were little more than pirates themselves.
Two weeks after the smoke cleared from the battle, Maynard and his men were still hoping to find a treasure on Ocracoke Island that would make them all rich. They were disappointed. In addition to casks of sugar, cocoa, indigo dye and a few bales of cotton, only a small amount of what is called gold dust, small nuggets of gold, were recovered from the pirates’ possessions.
Disney goes quiet about a Pirates of the Caribbean 6
The long awaited and rumored Pirates of the Caribbean sequel is still in the works...maybe. Disney is not talking about it or answering questions as to whether the new installment will feature a return of Captain Jack Sparrow. After Johnny Depp's public legal troubles with ex-wife Amber Heard, Disney was quick to keelhaul the next installment of the pirate movie series. But now that the strikes are over and Depp is back on friendly terms with the mouse could we see an exciting new announcement soon?
Mark your calendars for June 28th - 30th 2024. The Order of the Leviathan will be inducting 13 pirates into the lauded organization for men and women of recognized quality and integrity without regard to race, creed, religion, or gender. Consistently delivering leadership and encouragement to other pirate groups, and exemplifying a moral code founded on the highest standards of ethics, honesty, and strength of character. The Order of Leviathan is committed to true camaraderie and goodwill to all.