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CIRCA 1595
THE 80-FOOT-LONG SPANISH galleon San Agustin, with Sebastián Rodríguez Cermeño as its captain, left he Philippine Islands on
July 5, 1595. On board were silks, other
textiles and porcelains bound for New
Spain (Mexico), several passengers, a crew
of at least 70 men and one dog. Following
a northern route, the perilous journey
took 106 days — and very likely the lives of
several crewmen. Then, off Punta de los
Reyes in what is now Marin County, the
San Agustin mysteriously sank, leaving 70
crewmen, Cermeño and the dog stranded
at what is now Drakes Bay. Fortunately, a
sailing launch had been unloaded before
the San Agustin broke up in the surf. And
on December 8, 1595, Cermeño, his 70 men
and the pet dog boarded the 30-foot launch
to sail to their true destination, Acapulco,
Mexico — 1,500 miles away. Seven weeks
later, Cermeño and all 70 men successfully
made port; only the dog — a victim of the
men’s near starvation — had perished. A
half-hour documentary, The San Agustin:
California Shipwreck, is available on DVD;
contact thelencreative@gmail.com. M
Sinking
of the San
Agustin
The Drakes Bay tragedy
started an incredible journey.
BY JIM WOOD
On board were silks, other
textiles and porcelains bound
for New Spain (Mexico),
several passengers, a crew of at
least 70 men and one dog.
Looking Back
