April
19/+0
Spanish Galtreorns By CommanderP. J. Searles, (CEC), U.S.N. (Continued from last i,ssue) Water was carried in several thousand jars, some of which were stowed belorv, and others hung in the rigging" On a few galleons water was carried in bamboo tubes, and occasionall;,'11 cisterns. There never was enough water, and the insufficient amount was supplemented, when possible, by rain water. It was not uncommon for the water ration to be reduced to about a quart a day for all purposes, and on some trips men and women died of thirst. For scanty spoiied foo,d, insufficient water, crowded quarters, harsh discipline, discomfort, disease, sickness and perhaps death, passengers were called on to pay as much as 5,000 pesosfor the trip.
cause of wrecks. Some ships were lost because of rotten timbers, top heavy; improper and unsafe loading; incompetenceof offi.cersand seamen. Among other wrecked galleons were Nuestra Seitoru de La Vitlu,7620; San Feli.pe,1596; San Fi'ancisco: San Jose, whose loss was ascribed to the fact that the workmen who built her had worl<edon holy days; Saz Pctblo,lost near Guam 1568,the flrst galleonto be wrecked-she was carrying about 40,iJ00pounds of einnamon; Espiritu Stt'nto, 1576; San Juu.nillo, 7578; San Antonio, 1,603,while carrying an extremely rich cargo, as well as ]rany wealthy citizens of Maniia who were fleeing from the Chinese uprising; San N'icolas, lost in 162l with 330 persons; Concepcion, wrecked orr Saipatr,1638-six of the 28 survivors Loses by Siekness saiied in an open boat to the Phiiippines; So,n Galleons always lost a large number of the Antbrosio, wrecked on Luzon with a loss of 150 passengers and crew due to disease, mostly persons, \639; Encarnu"cion,1649; Santo Ct"isto scurvy. In 1606 eighty died while en route to de Burgos, burned at sea 1693,-one of the most Acapulco. In 1620, a galleon lost 99 at sea and ireart rending of all sea stories is that of cannibalrvas unable to proceed further than the Guadala- ism among the few who rnanaged to escape the jara coast. In 1629 the loss amounted to 105, in ship, oniy two reaching land alive, one insane and 1633 two galleons lost 140 at sea, w};ile the two the other long imprisoned for having eaten human galleonsof 1643 lost 114. In 1657 all aboard the flesh; San Jose,7694,-the largest galleonbuilt up San Jose perished; none were alive when she was to that time, she was wrecked near Mariveles with found floating south of Acapulco over a year after a ioss of 400 lives; Sc,iaFrancisco Xauier, 1705; leaving Manila. Still another galleon late in the Pilar, 1750; San Cristobal, 1735; San Andres, 17th century lost 208 out of her passenger and 1798. crew list of 400. Wreck of the Santa Margarita In 1755, eighty two of the Santisimo Tri,nidad,'s In 1600 the Santa Margctrita sailed from Manila 435 died at sea, over 200 sick were landed at the Jesuit Mission at Cape San Lucas, ancJ.only 27 w-ith a passengerand crew list of 260. Almost men were able to stand when bhe ship reached at once she was battered by storm after storm. port. Even as late as 1806 the San Anclt'es lost FIer commander, Juan Martinez de Guillestigui, and her pilot died. For eight months the galleon 36 from scurvy alone. was thrown helplessly about, finally to be cast Shipwrecks ashore on Saipan, with only 50 men still alive. "[he Santa Margo,rita, Santo Tomas, San Gero- Most of these 50 were killed by the Chamorros. In 1601 Lhe Santo Tomas sailed by Saipan and n'i.mo and. Sctn Antonio are four of about 35 galleons that rn'ere wrecked. Several thousand picked up a survivor of the Santa Margarita who lives were lost, and perhaps more than 50,000,000 came out in a native boat. Although other surpesos in property. Storms were not the only vivors were living ashore, Commander Antonio de