1969 HUNT FOR DEBRAAK

HISTORY OF CAPE HENLOPEN AND BEYOND

DeBRAAK HUNT HISTORY 1969

The D & D Salvage Company, Pennsylvania treasure hunters will be back in June to search

the Cape Henlopen capes waters for the lost sloop of war, DeBraak, 270 years ago. This will

be their fourth and final attempt, said Mario S. Busa, spokesman for D & D. The wait is

for a final agreement with a dredging company to move necessary equipment to the Cape

Henlopen capes near the lost vessel. D & D had a contract for three years which had

expire but and extension was granted . D & D has invested $65,000 in the search so far.

The dredge they are waiting for will remove six yards of sand at a swipe, and cost $1600

a day .

DeBraak sank off Cape Henlopen May 24, 1798 during a afternoon storm and was said to

have a cargo of Spanish booty worth millions. The are 'other' who say the cargo was cocoa

and copper. The search area is an old sailing ship graveyard with many sunken hulks.

There have been artifacts found and recovered but have not proven to be of the DeBraak

but were turned over to the University of Delaware and the Delaware State Archives.

Abstracts: The Sussex Bureau, Wilmington News Journal , Tuesday, May 13, 1969.