San Pedro - Bermuda Shipwrecks (sitios de interés)
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Underwater Research Center
The Spanish noa, San Pedro sailing from Cartagena, Colombia on to Havana, Cuba en route to Cadiz, Spain, wrecked on the reefs off Bermuda in November, 1595 in approximately twenty-five feet of water. In 1955, Teddy Tucker discovered in a sand hole artefacts, including a spectacular emerald and gold cross. The 22 karat gold cross weighed four ounces and four of the seven emeralds were of good quality. At that time, the cross was considered the most valuable artefact ever found in the Western Hemisphere and in 1963 the entire collection was sold to the Bermuda Government. The collection was sold at a reasonable price, as Teddy desired that the collection remain complete and in Bermuda.Like a Chinese puzzle, it opened in four parts and is thought to have once held a religious relic, which had disintegrated. From small rings on the arms of the cross, hung tiny gold spikes, representing the nails on the cross, and at the foot was the ring for the third, which was missing.
The cross is believed to have been the property of a church dignitary, such as a Bishop. The cross originally on display at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo was transferred to the Bermuda Maritime Museum in Dockyard in 1975. Teddy was asked to show the cross to Queen Elizabeth II and just before she arrived, Teddy discovered that the cross had been replaced with a plastic replica! Scotland Yard and Interpol were alerted. To date the cross has not been recovered. The original cross was 3 5/8 inches long.
