Please permit me to introduce Fleet Society member (#86) James Mesher of Snohomish, Washington. Jim sent me his story of how he first became interested in the 1715 Fleet. Not surprisingly, his story begins with a chance encounter with an article from January 1965 which he saw in National Geographic. But rather than spoil his story, I will let him tell you.
My Coins and Correspondence from Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ... by Jim Mesher
I am 64 years old, and I would have to say that one of the things that I have been most passionate about in my life is treasure hunting, especially when it relates to the history of the Spanish treasure fleets, and the discovery and salvage of certain treasure galleons that failed to complete their journey from Havana, Cuba to Spain. I have a great man, Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ..., to thank for this. Accordingly, I have always had an especially keen interest in the 1715 fleet.
This all began for me in 1969. While waiting for my father in the reception area of his medical offices, I just happened to pick up a January 1965 issue of the National Geographic from among many other far-from-current magazines on the table next to me. I was fifteen at the time. While thumbing through that National Geographic, I noticed the article by Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ... titled “Drowned Galleons Yield Spanish Gold.”
As I read Kip’s story and examined the images of some of the wonderful treasures he had found, I experienced a degree of excitement and enthusiasm exceeding anything I had experienced before then. Quite simply, I had never seen, or heard about, or read about, anything as fantastic to me as what I found in that article. I even, at the age of 16, got certified as a scuba diver with the idea of one day diving on one of the 1715 wrecks.
Later that year, in August, I decided to write to Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ..., hoping that I could purchase a piece of eight from him. I had $25 and a pillar dollar, dated 1817, that I could send as payment. I did not have an address for him, so just wrote his name and town (either Vero Beach or Sebastian) and Florida on the envelope. My letter, with the enclosed $25 and pillar dollar, reached him. In my letter to Kip, I indicated my hope that he could send me a piece of eight, preferably uncleaned.
He sent me a very nice Mexico eight real coin, along with a hand-written note, and a cert bearing his signature. He wrote to me that he had cleaned the coin just enough to make sure that he was sending me a nice coin. I still have that coin, his note to me, and the cert, as well as the envelope he used to send them.
About one year later, sometime in 1970, I sent Mr. Wagner $80 with a request that he send me, if possible, a dated piece of eight. In response, Kip sent me a beautiful Lima coin, dated 1699, along with a lengthy hand-written note and cert. Those items are still in my possession.
Over the years, I have collected other coins, and some artifacts, recovered from the 1715 wrecks, as well as other treasures from various parts of the world. However, I would have to say that the treasures that I value the most are the items that I received from Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ... in 1969 and 1970.
I am pleased to share images of these items with you as a tribute to Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ... and as a little piece of additional evidence of what a great man he was. To me, it is quite telling that he responded so generously to letters and enclosures received from a kid living on the other side of the country. He was indeed generous in taking the time to write to me and in selecting two very nice pieces of eight to send me, that were worth more than what I had sent to him as payment.
I am retired from various careers that include working as a chemical engineer, airplane maintenance instructor for Boeing, math teacher, and patent attorney. I regret that I never experienced diving on one of the 1715 wrecks. I imagine that, if I were ever to do such a dive and found even just a spike or musket ball or fragment of K’ang-hsi porcelain or piece of lead sheathing, I would give thanks to Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ... for the thrill of finding it.
