In the book, “Let your life speak” Parker J. Palmer quotes, “Some journeys are direct, and some are circuitous; some are heroic, and some are fearful and muddled. But every journey, honestly undertaken, stands a chance of taking us toward the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep needs.” Today we read of one such courageous journey taken by “Las Cinque Chagas”.
A Portuguese Vessel of 1,200-ton with a measure of 150 feet long and 45 feet wide. Colossal for its time, set sail from Lisbon, Portugal journeying towards Goa, India. According to reports, she was on her way back to Lisbon from Goa in late 1593, with a cargo of 3,500,000 Portuguese Cruzados, along with 22 treasure chests filled with precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, and pearls estimated at over $k1 billion in today’s currency. Aboard were reported to be more than 1,000 people of whom were common Portuguese seamen carrying pockets full of jewels and 400 were slaves.
As she began to draw near the coast of Portugal’s Azores, she was fired by the three English privateer ships sailing near the Azores when they spotted her due to her gigantic size and attacked her setting her aflame and she eventually sank along with the crew and cargo and unfortunately none of the treasures fell at the hands of the British.
Today, she is known as the most sought-after shipwreck that lies in the depths of the Azores waiting to be discovered. Probably one of the richest wrecks ever still to be found that lost herself heroically against the British.
Stay Tuned to know more about upcoming deepest shipwrecks still waiting to be discovered…
