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Diving for the lost Spanish treasure ship The Atocha off the coast of Florida inspired new inventions and cost Mel Fisher 16 years, $58 million, over 100 court battles, $1.6 million in lawyer’s fees, one Supreme Court case, and the drowning death of his oldest son and daughter-in-law. Every day he told his friends, investors and colleagues, “Today’s the day.” He printed it on T-shirts. He’d quote it when there was no money to meet the day’s payroll. Then after 16 years, the cry of triumph crackled across the airwaves, “Put away the charts! We found it!” “It” meant 40 tons of gold, silver bars, rare emeralds and unique artifacts—$450 million worth of treasures buried under the sea for 363 years. Mel would have 13 years left to live. His children and a grandson are still hunting for a trove of gold and emeralds in the missing forecastle of the ship. |
