Missing $6 Million In Gold

A near-record-size gold nugget was lost in 1502 in a hurricane along the Mona Passage off the southeastern coast of Hispaniola, between that island and Puerto Rico. The nugget was reported by some who saw it to weigh at least 61 pounds. Others estimated its weight as high as 416 pounds. The enormous nugget went to the bot-tom of the Caribbean when a huge fleet of Spanish ships bound for home ventured out to sea despite warnings of a great storm approaching from the north.

The fierce hurricane engulfed the fleet. Nineteen ships sank with all hands. Six others were lost, but left a few survivors, and four scudded around Sanoa into Santo Domingo, barely limping into port and completely unseaworthy. Of all the fleet only one ship, the Aguja, made the trip safely to Spain.