MyBayCity.com columnist Dave Rogers and wife Dolores after 5K Gasparilla race. Gasparilla Festival More for Health Than Pirate Loot That Just Keeps Coming
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Think pirates are just a thing of the past?
Consider today's seafarers who venture onto the bounding main and return with pieces of eight and gold bullion.
As in olden days, Tampa, Florida, is the headquarters for the maritime treasure trade.
Amazingly, millions of dollars gleaned from shipwrecks under the sea for hundreds of years are brought into Tampa every few years by Odyssey Marine, a company listed on the stock exchange.
If Blackbeard or Black Bart were still alive they'd be drooling at the recovered coins and gold bars still being off-loaded ships at the Port of Tampa.
And a trove of about $30 million is reportedly buried along the Peace River on the Gulf Coast. Have a look next time you go to Florida.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)
Tampa celebrates its heritage with the annual Gasparilla Festival, several days of pirate-inspired high jinks combined with healthy activities like running races.
Lots of Michiganians and other Yankee folk descend on Tampa in early February every year either to party or run, or both. For the past several years your humble correspondent has been among them.
The finish line announcer at the Gasparilla 5K, prompted by the number of an approaching runner, quickly looks up the name on a computer database and is able to say as the startled participant crosses the finish line: "Here is Joe Schmaltz of Rochester Hills, Michigan, completing the 5K in a time of 39 minutes 47 seconds."
An incredible record number of 17,300 runners, including scads of Michigan athletes, competed in the 5K (3.1 miles), 15K (9.3 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) and marathon (26.2 miles) last weekend in Tampa.
The field included runners from all over the world. Of special note was 1st Lt. Ivan Castro, injured and blinded 16 months ago by a mortar shell in Iraq. Castro finished the half marathon on a tether with help of Adm. Eric T. Olson, Commander of U.S. Special Operations at MacDill Air Force Base. They finished in 1:50:38. "I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me," said Lt. Castro.
Another incredible story of courage is that of Dick Hoyt and his son Rick, of Massachusetts. Dick, 67, pushes Ric, 45, a quadriplegic, in a special wheelchair. Team Hoyt finished the half marathon, their 960th race together over 27 years, and will compete April 20 in the Boston Marathon.
Before the race weekend, Dolores and I visited the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and viewed the Shipwreck exhibit featuring both pirates and recent tales of recovery of underwater treasure.
Jose Gaspar, the namesake of the Gasparilla festival, would rise from his grave if he knew the kind of loot the Tampa company is hauling in.
The stock of Odyssey Marine Exploration rose over 15 percent recently after the company announced a diplomatic agreement allowing it to recover the shipwreck of HMS Sussex, an 80-gun English warship lost in 1694 believed to have been carrying about 10 tons of gold and 100 tons of silver worth between $500 million and $4 billion.
That would make the Sussex the most valuable treasure trove ever salvaged. Spain and the United Kingdom agreed that both countries would cooperate to ensure that the recovery of the wreck believed to be HMS Sussex is conducted in a way that preserves any archaeological findings. The company, which utilizes innovative methods and state-of-the-art technology to conduct deep ocean search and recovery operations, has signed an exclusive partnership agreement for the recovery of the shipwreck and will split the bounty with the UK Government.
Odyssey Marine hasn't recovered any significant wrecks since its recovery of the SS Republic in mid 2004 that netted about $75 million. The company states that it has located 161 shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, of which 25 are from the 19th Century and 12 from the 17th-18th Century. According to Spanish archeology professor Manuel Martín Bueno, "There is more gold in the Gulf of Cándiz than in the vaults of the Spanish national bank."
Who was Gasparilla Festival namesake Jose Gaspar? Born near Seville, Spain in 1756, he was "small in body, but imbued with the stamina of a Spanish fighting bull." Gaspar was from an upper-class family but was a bit of a rogue. At age 12, he kidnapped a young local girl and held her for ransom. He was captured and the judge gave him the choice of entering the Royal Spanish Naval Academy or going to jail. He chose a life at sea over a stint in the Graybar Hotel.
He rose through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant, a captain, and then an admiral of the Atlantic Fleet before becoming a naval attaché at the Court of Charles III in 1782. He was 27 years old.
While at the Court, he became romantically involved with several women (all at the same time). It was a perilous game, but one that matched Gaspar's love of danger and adventure. He publicly jilted the daughter-in-law of the King in favor of another woman of the Court.
Outraged and spiteful, the daughter-in-law conspired with the prime minister to frame Gaspar for stealing the Spanish crown jewels. Upon hearing news of his imminent arrest, ordered by Charles III, Gaspar commandeered a ship, the Floridablanca, and escaped. Swearing an oath to revenge his treatment by Spanish officials, he resolved to plunder any ship flying the flag of Spain. The year was 1783.
Gaspar took the Floridablanca and escaped to the Gulf coast of Florida. He established his base in Charlotte Harbor (near modern-day Fort Myers). He adopted a new name and the career of Gasparilla, the Pirate began.
A Pirating We Will Go
For the next 38 years, Gasparilla attacked merchant ships from all countries, not just Spain?s. By some accounts, he plundered over 400 ships. His own diary boasts of 36 victories by 1795 alone.
Widely regarded as fearless and ferocious, Gasparilla showed no mercy in battle. He routinely, killed all passengers and crew, with the exception of beautiful women (whom he made concubines). Occasionally, women from wealthy families were held for ransom on Captiva Island (some claim that this is how the island got its name).
His ship roamed the west coast of Florida and down to Cuban waters in search of prey. There where times where he did not sail alone. To pursue a particular big prize, we would temporarily join forces with other pirates operating in the area, including the famous Jean Laffite.
The Death of Gasparilla
After decades of pirating, Jose Gaspar decided to retire. He was 65, extraordinarily old for an active pirate. The Florida peninsula was now in American hands, and there was a determined and unrelenting effort by the Americans to destroy the pirates. The combination of age and the aggressive pursuit of the American Navy motivated Gasparilla into contemplating retirement.
In December 1821, he announced to his crew that he was going to quit the pirate's life. He said that he would divide up all of the spoils with his crew and retire to live a life of luxury.
On the day that the spoils of many years of pirating were to be distributed, a rich British merchant ship was seen passing near Gasparilla's hideout. Seeing a chance for one last score, Gasparilla took off in pursuit of the fat target. Just as the ship came within cannon range, the British ship dropped its colors and ran up the flag of the United States! Dozens of cannon were instantly uncovered from its deck and aimed at Gasparilla?s ship. Jose Gaspar had fallen into a trap. The seemingly helpless British ship was actually the U.S. Navy warship USS Enterprise.
A fierce battle ensued, but the end was inevitable. The American cannonballs, repeatedly punctured Floridablanca's hull, while still more shattered her masts. The Floridablanca was sinking as the USS Enterprise approached to finish the job.
Rather than be captured, Jose Gaspar climbed to the bow of his ship and yelled "Gasparilla dies by his own hand, not the enemy's." He wrapped the anchor chain around his waist. Still holding his cutlass high in one hand he jumped into the dark waters and instantly disappeared below the waves. The life of Jose Gaspar - Gasparilla the Pirate - and his reign of terror on the seas was over. The remainder of his crew were either killed or captured. Those captured were later tried as pirates and executed in New Orleans.
Near Spanish Homestead, $300,000 in gold coins was found years later. This may have been part of hush-money paid by Gaspar to a mysterious female landowner, Lady Boggess. Regardless, the remainder of the $30 million dollars in gold and jewels still remains undiscovered in the Peace River area.###
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