on september 13, the cuban consul in key west contacted the commandant of the united states navy base in key west concerning rumors that "valbanera" had sunk. radio operators at the base reported hearing "valbanera" in contact with the morro castle radio station in havana on september 12, but further investigation indicated that they had probably mistaken the call letters for "infante isabel", ecy, which had been in contact with morro castle, for the call letters for "valbanera", ecv. the last confirmed radio communication with "valbanera" had been on september 9. the u.s. navy submarine chaser spotted a submerged wreck with just the masts above water in the vicinity of rebecca shoal (about west of key west) on september 12, but identified it as a two-masted schooner. two other navy ships passing the area on september 13 did not notice anything of a wreck. another sub chaser sent out on september 16 returned the next day with confirmation that a large ship was wrecked on half moon shoal. on september 19 coast guard cutter "tuscarora" and sub chaser "203" were able to see the name "valbanera" on the wreck. the next day the officer who had reported the wrecked schooner on september 12 confirmed that he had seen "valbanera". the wreck was east of rebecca shoal, with just the masts and a couple of lifeboats above the water. there were 488 passengers and crew on "valbanera" when she sank. no bodies were seen or recovered.