By Amy Borgens, State Marine Archeologist
During a violent storm in April 1554, four Spanish Plate Fleet vessels became separated en route from San Juan de Ulúa (Veracruz), Mexico on their way to Spain. Only San Andres would safely arrive at Havana, Cuba, though heavily damaged—the remainder of the fleet ran aground and sank off present-day Padre Island, Texas. Most of the passengers...