Caledonia

The Scotch set out to the America's to plant a colony there . They landed at the Darien istmus .  They called their settlement Caledonia and themselves Caledonians . Visitors , casual or deliberate opened up small trade with the Caledonians  , but since they wanted to be paid in cash instead of trade goods their was little barter going on . However , the captain of the MAUREPAS , a French ship reported to have collected  much Spanish loot along the coast did at least agree to carry the colony's dispatches to a place were they could be forwarded to Edinburgh .But the French captain turned out to be a fool , and insisted on setting out into Caledonia's narrow channel in the teeth of a fresh gale  and with his crew half drunk . Pennycook ( one of the Caledonians ) saw the danger and chased after this ship managing to catch up with her just as the MAUREPAS was being blown broadside onto the rocks .  Pennycook got a line aboard the French vessel and towed her into a small bay where she was still exposed to the fury of the gale but could at least put down her anchors  . Then Pennycook sent back to fetch more anchors and cables while he himself went onboard the MAUREPAS to try to persuade her captain to delay his departure . But before the Caledonian's had returned with the cables the gale freshened  and the Frenchman's  anchor cables snapped .  The MAUREPAS was driven ashore amid pounding waves and became a total loss . Twenty-four of the fifty-four crewmen were drowned  . This wrecking took place on Christmas Eve .  Taken in consideration that a vast treasure was on board it may be worthwhile to check up on this wreck which can be pinpointed  . Some of the cargo would have been saved but most of it should still be there .  One of the first ships to put in an appearance was the RUPERT PRIZE , an English warship operating out of Jamaica . Her captain , Richard Long , was officially surveying the coast for the wrecks of Spanish plate ships which might be worth salvaging . Here again is an indication that there were wrecks along that coast line .  Now get your gear together and go after these sites .   Cornelius

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I wished I could go with you . Maybe next year this would be something to do together  ( after Cedar Keys ) . The colony consisted out of farmers , no divers . I bet there is a lot of material there .  Cornelius

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Thank you for a great read Cornelius!

Regards,

Christian

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