Wreck Of The Juno

There was never any accurate position of where the Juno went down and it is often claimed to be closer to New Jersey than Cape Henlopen.

The Juno shipwreck is still a mystery today. Some call it a New Jersey wreck rather than a Delmarva wreck.

The Juno left San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 1, 1802, . She was heading to Spain via the American coast for safety and the trade winds. She had aboard almost 1,000 passengers.

As she headed North the weather turned giving her rough seas. Day after day, the Juno endured in the face of stiff northeast winds. She continued up the East coast trying to make repairs along the way. A nor'easter bore down on the frigate as she started to sail near the mouth of the Delaware Bay.

An American schooner, the Favorite, responded to distress flags of the Juno on October 24. The Captain of the Favorite agreed to stand by and ride out the storm with the Juno until they could both reach safe harbor. The Favorite American Captain assured the Spaniard he would remain to help. He was a welcome a sight to the Juno. For the next two days, the two ships limped northward along the east coast. On the night of October 27, the weather worsened and The Favorite lost sight of the Juno.

After the storm passed on the morning of October 28, there were no traces of the Juno. The Favorite Captain could not locate any part of the vessel. It was reported that 23 tons of silver and an inestimable(?) tonnage of  gold and coinage stored in her holds, were aboard when she went down. Never to be found to this day, it is estimated the ship is located somewhere off Cape May between the Delaware Bay Harbor and Lewes. Her bell has washed up on the Lewes beach along with many coins.

Her resting place is still a mystery today. The Juno is still giving up here treasures, bit by bit. So the search continues. 

With permission from David Seibold from his book  Shipwrecks, Sea Stories and Legends of the Delaware Coast (available in our retail stores)