Three stories, three centuries, and fortunes lost to the sea.
Lindsay dives into San José, the legendary 17th-century Spanish galleon whose discovery sparked a modern treasure war. Meg explores Jeff MacKinnon’s Death Coast shipwreck finds, where Atlantic waters still give up long-buried secrets. And Chantel uncovers the legend of Captain “Black Sam” Bellamy—the pirate whose lost fortune still lures treasure hunters today.
Gold, ghosts, and mysteries from the deep—what’s lost beneath the waves never stays buried for long.
References:
Smithsonian Magazine. (2026, January 27). Archaeologists discovered the “Holy Grail” of shipwrecks a decade ago. Now they’re finally beginning to unravel the secrets of the San José. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-discovered-the-holy-grail-of-shipwrecks-a-decade-ago-now-theyre-finally-beginning-to-unravel-the-secrets-of-the-san-jose-180988050/
BBC Reel. (n.d.). Watch [Video]. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0gj0wgc/watch (tvbeurope.com)
HISTORY.com Editors. (2025, May 27). How the San José became the “Holy Grail” of shipwrecks. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/articles/san-jose-shipwreck-battle-2 (history.com)
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Cape Breton Spectator. (2017, July 19). Cape Bretoners, train accidents, and the U.S. https://capebretonspectator.com/2017/07/19/cape-bretoners-train-accident-us/
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Graham, R. (2026, April 21). Pirate shipwreck off the coast of Cape Cod sets the historical record straight on West African gold. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pirate-shipwreck-off-the-coast-of-cape-cod-sets-the-historical-record-straight-on-west-african-gold-180988572/
Landrigan, L., Landrigan, L., & Landrigan, L. (2026, February 9). Black Sam Bellamy, the Pirate who fought smart, harmed few, scored big. New England Historical Society. https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/black-sam-bellamy-pirate-fought-smart-harmed-scored-big/
Museum, W. P. (2026, April 3). Pirates, gold, and a 300-Year-Old mystery — solved by science. Whydah Pirate Museum. https://www.discoverpirates.com/blog/pirates-gold-and-a-300-year-old-mystery-solved-by-science/
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