Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha [Hardcover]

Jedwin Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0471158941 | ISBN-13: 978-0471158943 | Edition: 1

"In real life-especially off the Florida coast-things can have fatal consequences. Fatal Treasure is a truly compelling read."
-Aphrodite Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Cruel Sacrifice and All She Wanted

In 1622, hundreds of people lost their lives to the curse of the Spanish galleon Atocha-and they would not be the last. Fatal Treasure combines the rousing adventure of Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea with the compelling characters and local color of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It tells the powerful true story of the relentless quest to find the Atocha and reclaim her priceless treasures from the sea. You'll follow Mel Fisher, his family, and their intrepid team of treasure hunters as they dive beneath the treacherous waters of the Florida Straits and scour the ocean floor in search of gold, silver, and emeralds. And you'll discover that nearly four centuries after the shipwreck, the curse of the Atocha is still a deadly force.

"On this day, the sea once again relinquished its hold on the riches and glory of seventeenth-century Spain. And by the grace of God, I would share the moment of glory . . . . I was reaching for my eighth emerald, another big one, when the invisible hands squeezed my trachea. In desperation, I clutched at my throat to pry away the enemy's fingers. But no one had hold of me."
-From the Prologue

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In 1622, the Spanish galleon Atocha sank in a hurricane off the coast of Florida with 260 passengers and crew. The ship contained an estimated 40 tons of stolen gold and silver ingots, gold coins, emeralds, and jewelry. Smith, a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, informs us that in 1969 Mel Fisher set out to search for Atocha and its sister ship, Santa Margarita, which also sunk in the hurricane; 143 of its passengers and crew drowned. Fisher found Margarita and its $20 million in gold in 1971, but found only bits and pieces of Atocha's treasure. Smith describes the decades-long quest to find Atocha's riches: encounters with sharks and other dangers (one young diver was killed after being sucked into a boat's massive propellers) and legal battles with the government. In the 1980s, half of the ship was found, along with gold chains and coins, silver bars, and emeralds (2,189 gems valued at $70 million). With 30 black-and-white photographs, this is an engaging account of a remarkable treasure hunt. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Inside Flap

This is a gripping modern story of treasure, tragedy, and tenacity reminiscent of Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

When the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank off the coast of Florida during a hurricane in 1622, the nobles and crew members went down with untold riches. On board were forty tons of treasure–thousands of silver and gold ingots, enormous grass-green emeralds, silver coins bound for the Spanish treasury, exquisite jewelry, thirty-five treasure chests earmarked for the Catholic Church, and other smuggled booty. Today that fortune is worth billions of dollars. In 1969, the legendary Mel Fisher set out to find it.

In Fatal Treasure, Pulitzer Prize—nominated journalist Jedwin Smith tells the true untold story of the Fisher family’s relentless pursuit of the Atocha’s treasures–and of the men and women who helped Fisher realize his dreams. While other writers have focused on the larger-than-life Mel Fisher and parts of the story, Jedwin Smith tells the entire saga for the first time, expertly bringing to life all of the characters. We jump into the sea with a colorful assortment of adventurers as they scour hundreds of miles of ocean floor in search of the Atocha, known as the Ghost Galleon, and her treasure-laden sister ship Margarita, which sank in the same storm. Fatal Treasure traces the team’s progress from the early triumphs in locating treasure to the unspeakable tragedies that cost the lives of five divers, including one of Fisher’s sons and his wife.

Drawing on more than fifteen years of exclusive and intimate access to the Fisher family and the divers, Smith–who has himself joined the dives and plucked gold and emeralds from the bottom of the sea–takes you behind the scenes of the longest and most successful treasure hunt in history. He depicts the eccentric characters and flamboyantly spicy flavors of tropical Key West. And in beautiful prose he recreates the stunning discoveries–and the enormous and ongoing price in lives, both lost and ruined, that the Atocha has exacted from those who would disturb her undersea grave. Smith captures as no other writer ever has the romance and suspense of big-time treasure hunting as well as the horrible tragedies that can occur. The result is an unforgettable tale of adventure and deep-sea drama.

The loss of the Atocha and its enormous treasure marked the beginning of the end of the Spanish Empire. As the Fisher family has discovered, finding an immense treasure can be as devastating as losing one. Yet, as Smith reveals, even years after Mel’s death, his children carry on in pursuit of their father’s dream to find the huge remaining section of the ship and its bounty. Offering deep insight into the nature of obsession, the heart of an adventurer, the lure of dreams, and the enormous power of wealth both for good and evil, Fatal Treasure tells an unforgettable tale of courage, greed, loyalty, heartbreak–and of a mysterious and demanding ship that still calls to us from the sea.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471158941
• ISBN-13: 978-0471158943
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #994,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive book on the 'Atocha' treasure hunt...., March 4, 2005

By 

M. Bell (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha (Hardcover)

A lot has been written on the search for the legendary treasure galleon 'Atocha.' Unfortunately, not much of it makes for very entertaining reading. Too many writers have taken a great story of persistence, tragedy and faith and turned it into a clinical and boring historical tome. This book however by Jedwin Smith is a great look at Mel Fisher and his 16-year quest to find the mother lode. The author helped dive on the wreck numerous times starting in May 1985 and then several years later. It is this intimate familiarity with the cast involved that brings the story closer to home for the reader.

Mel Fisher is profiled here in all his larger-than-life glory; huckster to his investors, devoted father to his family, and dreamer extraordinaire. Beyond just the glory of July 20, 1985 when his divers uncovered the bulk of his $400 million dollar prize, we learn of all the tragedies that led up to that moment. From the loss of his eldest son, daughter-in-law and another diver in a boating accident ten years to the day before. To the loss of others involved in the 16-year search along the way. It also becomes obvious to the reader that Mel uncovered A LOT of "dry holes" off of Key West over the years in his long and arduous search. Frustration and utter despair would've crushed most treasure hunters. And where those failed, a collapse in the financing would've taken over, but Mel Fisher is portrayed as a forever optimist with his famous saying: "Today's the day."

It is easy to see from 'Fatal Treasure' how his infectious dream and optimism motivated others to help him in his ultimately successful quest. Great annecdotes are also provided here by the author including one about how Jimmy Buffett came aboard Mel's boat the day of the big find to perform 'A Pirate Looks At Forty.' He (Fisher) was named 'President in Perpetuity of Key West' because he so embodied the laid back, drop out of the rat race lifestyle. A little known fact presented is that the author's brother along with Fisher's son Kim and others have continued the quest for the even richer stern section of the ship right up into the present day. Although the pictures in this book are in black and white, the reader gets a good feel for the massive amount of gold, silver and emeralds found. It is over-the-top with regard to bringing this fascinating true adventure to life!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Great Treasure Hunt, June 18, 2003

By 

Pat Clyne (Key West, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha (Hardcover)

Jedwin Smith takes the reader on a whirlwind ride through the hurricane's eye of decades of Mel Fisher's treasures, triumphs and tragedies while searching for the elusive Spanish Galleon, Atocha. Smith, being one of the few journalists who actually kept coming back for more, was caught up in the search and after some personal introspection, proved to have what it takes to be an accepted member of the crew.

Mel Fisher was a 20th century adventurer who loved to explore the sea's tightly held secrets of the past and its many treasures. He was a man who would share his dream with anyone who would listen; those that did, would be offered the opportunity to experience that adventure first hand; if they accepted, they usually got much more than they could have ever imagined.

Although the title, "Fatal Treasure", reveals the worst tragedies Mel and his crew had to endure in the course of their 16-year odyssey, the book also deals in great detail with the mindset of those who would spend their lives probing the depths to make one man's dream their own obsession. As for Mel Fisher's explanation as to why he did what he did, he had a rather simple quip to his most complex vocation. His response would be- "for the fun, romance and adventure"; an attitude and spirit of mind that embraced life and all who knew him.

"Fatal Treasure" is really a story about an American hero who would not allow government interference, financial ruin or great personal tragedy sway him from what he believed was his right as an American citizen to pursue. This is the "gift" he bestowed on his crew, and became the real treasure to be found and understood. If there is an underlying theme to Smith's narrative, it would certainly be a lesson in civics about personal freedoms and how easy it would be for us to lose them, and if we do, "Fatal Treasure" just may become the story of this country's "Last Great Treasure Hunt." A Great Read! 5 stars

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping True Story, May 1, 2003

By 

DJ Merchant (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha (Hardcover)

Several books have been written on Mel Fishers treasure hunt for Atocha. However, Jedwin offers a perspective found in no other book. HE WAS THERE. Jedwin gets up close and personal with the Fisher family and treasure hunters. Jedwin takes you to the bottom of the Florida Straits with the men and women who made Fishers dream come true. You'll experience the excitement of finding treasure, and the tragedy at the lives lost in the relentless search for gold. I couldn't put it down. Semper Fi