Billy,
Sorry for the delay, just back from havana and spotty internet there
I am not claiming to be an expert on anything, I am a researcher.
The site you guys had was exceptional, I believe that a lot of what transpired along the North Coast was avoiding the tax collector (except the San Miguel/ Concepcion and others) who we know came to rest in the North due to storms in the Martyrs of Florida and crashing through the Silver Bank.
But the San Miguel was loaded with contraband anyway, just look at who owned it, The Gov. of Mexico, his son was the Captain and the staff represented a who's who of serious dudes. No this ship was loaded with contraband.
I am not discounting your wreck because of anything that you found or did not find,
I am convinced that the SM is much closer to Cabo Samana.
The amount of archival research from witnesses is astounding, remember the salvage camp was set up for almost a year after the wreck. those guys knew where they were.
I discovered a name of the most likely victim of your shipwreck (again it is only my opinion)
I have to wait until I get back to Kentucky, as I don't remember the ship or the year and I only had a hard copy and it is in my file room.
I discussed this wreck with Bowden, before he lost what was left of his marbles and he was in complete agreement. I told him that I was going to give you the information when I ran into you again, Bowden tried to discourage me, but I have long stopped listening to his advice. Even when he was playing with a full deck!
Not anymore, he's gone in the mind- serious dimensia.
They took away his drivers license.
He went to the store for ham and cheese from his house in S. Miami and they found him in Tampa.
The last time I talked to him, he tried to convince me that he found the Concepcion!!!!
You are right about Beeker, he can't hurt you on the wreck site, but he will claim some type of discovery credibility, the guy would swear he found the Titanic if he could get away with it.
(maybe he should hang around with Bowden)
Beekeris not even a has been, he is a never was!!!
I wish you luck in your endeavors, just left a series of meetings with the Cuban minister of culture and director of sub-aquatico. It looks like salvage for cultural use only there as well if it ever gets off the ground.
The DR was the last great bastion in our hemisphere- it is a shame t is all gone.
