salvaged Spanish treasure: US courts say, 'Give it all back to Spain...'

[TKite]

Didn't the Athocha have to go through the courts like that? I thought Florida tried to sieze it, and the federal courts at first said it was legally the state's, but that the salvage group wasn't obligated to tell Florida the location.

I don't recall I never followed it that closely. I wouldn't mind being on a treasure hunters diving team. I was asked to be a Diver for a treasure hunter once, but not sure what happened to the expedition, other than it didn't go out and I believe some other company might have gotten claim on the area he was intending to work.

[sealevel6]

People say that but, are the decendents of those "slave owners" not living a comfortable life still to this day, enjoying a wonderful education at great schools, working at successful businesses, living in mansions from inheritances passed down- off of the backs of the sweat and toil of those said slaves from years ago?
Are you saying that in both cases there should be absolutely no accountability?
Just curious...

[TKite]

People say that but, are the decendents of those "slave owners" not living a comfortable life still to this day, enjoying a wonderful education at great schools, working at successful businesses, living in mansions from inheritances passed down- off of the backs of the sweat and toil of those said slaves from years ago?
Are you saying that in both cases there should be absolutely no accountability?
Just curious...

I am saying that in both cases, nobody has a right to be asking for money for what happened a long time ago and did not directly affect them.

PS- I think you are living in La La Land if you think any of those 'slave time' decendents are still living in those big houses and 'enjoying' anything from those times. Most inheritences are squandered by the 2d or 3d generation, because it wasn't earned. As well, slaves were common in all parts of the world, not just early Colonial America- look at history, it was a part of life everywhere.

[George W. Olney]

That's one of the sillier fantasies I've seen posted, buddy. Mansions? Inheritances? Sheesh! Dream on.

[TKite]

That's one of the sillier fantasies I've seen posted, buddy. Mansions? Inheritances? Sheesh! Dream on.

LOL agreed George.....

[sealevel6]

What? You'e telling me no money was ever passed down thru generations in inheritances? George, cmon are you serious?
The heirs of Mercedes and VW have nothing now? You do know alot of their factory work was performed by jewish slave labor right?
And TKite I'm not trying to give you any any s---, The salvagers spent over 2 mil and the govt. doesn't want to reimburst them a dime? I'd say "what happens in the Atlantic stays in the Atlantic"
just reflecting

[TakesALickin]

I read the whole article, and I have to say the most shocking thing was...










Spain has an airforce?!!

[George W. Olney]

Say! I know you now! You're Sacha Cohen getting in character for another movie! Good luck, guy. Hope it's not as bad as the others.



George

[larryccf]

the US State Dept got involved, not because of requests from spain, but a big democrat donor (from either LA or Vegas) was trying to recover a $7 million dollar painting from Spain, and a swap was agreed on - by swap, basically spain would release the painting and us state dept would do what it could on behalf of spain

worst part is, the courts had ordered the coins be held in secure storage (which i'm sure they would have been anyway) but the cost of storage and whatever they do to preserve the coins, clean em etc, ran $600K and Odyssey was even denied recovery of funds spend to store and preserve them

sucks to be them

[larryccf]

the spanish were watching them, suspicious of what they were pulling up - they found it off Gibaltra - they sought haven in the harbor there, and the spanish military blockaded them from leaving - that's when they chartered a plane to bring it home to the US

the spanish boarded them when they finally left harbor, in international waters ad held the captain for a couple of weeks

it was on the discovery channel not too long ago