Carrying cotton and miscellaneous cargo, she left Tampico bound for Port Arthur. Five days later, on Oct. 16, 1912, during a storm that sank vessels all over the Gulf of Mexico, the “Nicaragua” went down on the shores of Padre Island, in that section of the coast known as the Devil’s Elbow. The stern, engine room section and masthead of the vessel remained visible off the island for many years, serving as a landmark for down-island travelers. Rumors have arisen about the gun running and illegal activities it might have performed, however there is no evidence of the ships true mission that October evening. The remaining structure of the ship can still be seen at low tide.