THE SAN PEDRO: A SPANISH GALLEON

The San Pedro, a member of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet caught by a hurricane in the Straits of Florida, sank in 18 feet of water 1.25 miles south of Indian Key.

The San Pedro was built in Holland. Its length was ___ and its weight was 287-ton. The San Pedro along with 21 other Spanish ships under the command of Rodrigo de Torres left Havana, Cuba bound for Spain on Friday, July 13, 1733. The ships were all heavily laden with treasure. The San Pedro carried l6,000 pesos in Mexican silver and numerous crates of Chinese porcelain. Upon entering the Straits of Florida, the wind intensified and huge waves began to thrash the ships. The Spanish treasure fleet was ordered back to Havana by their Captain. But it was too late! The storm intensified and scattered, sank or swamped most of the fleet. Many sailors died, but the entire crew of the San Pedro survived and swam to nearby Indian Key. Later, the Spanish sent salvagers from Cuba to retrieve the men and the ship’s valuable cargo.

In 1960 archeological work began. The site had already been heavily salvaged by treasure hunters. Silver coins dating between 173l and 1733 were recovered from the pile of ballast and cannons that marked the place of her demise. Part of the ship’s rigging and hardware as well as remnants of her cargo were uncovered and removed from the sea bed.

Divulging the Spanish galleon are cannon and ballast, dense stones from European river beds which were usually stacked in the belly of sailing ships to increase their stability. Mixed in with the ballast are flat, red ladrillo bricks from the ship’s galley. In 1989 this site became a State of Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve. Replica cannons, an anchor from another 1733 shipwreck site, and a bronze plaque were placed on the site.

This site may be visited by experienced snorkelers who can free dive to 10 or 20 feet. If the water visibility is good, occasionally the wreck may be seen from the surface. Some of the marine life that can be observed foraging above the turtle grass, corals, cannons, anchor and ballast stones include snappers, grunts, spadefish, stingrays, parrotfish, angelfish and occasionally a barracuda.

Rewritten by the author based on information in a pamphlet published by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

For more information, visit these web sites: 

http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/underwater/galleontrail/ShipwreckPages/06_SanPedro.htm

http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/sanctuary_resources/shipwreck_trail/san_pedro.html 

www.keyshistory.org/IK-1733-wreck.html

www.adp.fsu.edu/1733.html