nootka
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Guessing that the huge storm(s) we had in December really shook things up.
There have been three different incidents relating to shipwrecks (four, actually) since the storm came Dec. 2 &3.
First is a shipwreck piece that washed ashore in Washington. It was partially burned, but obviously from very old construction. Here is the link on that one: Shipwreck Mystery Intrigues Ocean Shores
Second was that locals began to notice that our "resident shipwreck/landmark" the Peter Iredale, was so much more revealed after the storms. The lower portion of the hull is much more visible. We went and took photos about a month ago:
The ship is usually obscured by sand further up the side, probably about two or three feet. The lower structure is still there, we just don't get to see it except every dozen years or so and it's being eaten away by rust pretty quickly.
The third thing was that a mystery shipwreck started to emerge from the dunes near Coos Bay, Oregon. Here is a link to that story:
After repeated winter storms, a mystery shipwreck emerges from the dunes
More recently, over the Presidents Day holiday, a pair of cannons were found that are from the 1846 shipwreck of the USS Shark. One other cannon was found from this wreck and gave Cannon Beach, OR it's name. These two were found not far from there even though the Shark was wrecked in the Columbia River.
Many of you know that I worked a little bit on a new (the newest) shipwreck chart put together by my friend, Bill Brooks. I have an image file that you can link to and read the chart (it's big, but loads fast), and see for yourself where the USS Shark's location was for sinking, and how much further down Cannon Beach would be. This was 1846, so the jetties did not exist, then. Here's the link to my friend's shipwreck chart:
Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard
Here's a little sample portion of the area where the Shark sank, so you can better see the details:
I was thinking that the storm just might have rattled some things loose, but I never imagined that so much would be revealed (though far more is not known). I met someone that dives as a hobby/job, and he says they are going to dive in May to look for another very famous wreck, a spanish galleon, one of only two known lost in this area, that when it wrecked had a load of beeswax on it. The beeswax washed ashore in that area (bees were not in this part of the country before white men brought them, so that's significant in itself in dating the wreck). Here is alink to that site (the beeswax wreck site):
Beeswax Wreck
Might just be a coincidence that I am getting my shipwreck chart (the very first one built) today!
The cannons were pretty cool, though. I wonder if anything else will surface, or what the divers will find when they look in May. I was hoping it (the storms)
didn't destroy the area they were searching, but maybe it did more good than bad.
Here's a link to that story:
Visitors Stumped by Lost Cannon
I thought you'd like to enjoy some of our more fascinating history both as a country, world, but especially those of you that are local....
Liz
There have been three different incidents relating to shipwrecks (four, actually) since the storm came Dec. 2 &3.
First is a shipwreck piece that washed ashore in Washington. It was partially burned, but obviously from very old construction. Here is the link on that one: Shipwreck Mystery Intrigues Ocean Shores
Second was that locals began to notice that our "resident shipwreck/landmark" the Peter Iredale, was so much more revealed after the storms. The lower portion of the hull is much more visible. We went and took photos about a month ago:
The ship is usually obscured by sand further up the side, probably about two or three feet. The lower structure is still there, we just don't get to see it except every dozen years or so and it's being eaten away by rust pretty quickly.
The third thing was that a mystery shipwreck started to emerge from the dunes near Coos Bay, Oregon. Here is a link to that story:
After repeated winter storms, a mystery shipwreck emerges from the dunes
More recently, over the Presidents Day holiday, a pair of cannons were found that are from the 1846 shipwreck of the USS Shark. One other cannon was found from this wreck and gave Cannon Beach, OR it's name. These two were found not far from there even though the Shark was wrecked in the Columbia River.
Many of you know that I worked a little bit on a new (the newest) shipwreck chart put together by my friend, Bill Brooks. I have an image file that you can link to and read the chart (it's big, but loads fast), and see for yourself where the USS Shark's location was for sinking, and how much further down Cannon Beach would be. This was 1846, so the jetties did not exist, then. Here's the link to my friend's shipwreck chart:
Dead Reckoning of the Pacific Graveyard
Here's a little sample portion of the area where the Shark sank, so you can better see the details:
I was thinking that the storm just might have rattled some things loose, but I never imagined that so much would be revealed (though far more is not known). I met someone that dives as a hobby/job, and he says they are going to dive in May to look for another very famous wreck, a spanish galleon, one of only two known lost in this area, that when it wrecked had a load of beeswax on it. The beeswax washed ashore in that area (bees were not in this part of the country before white men brought them, so that's significant in itself in dating the wreck). Here is alink to that site (the beeswax wreck site):
Beeswax Wreck
Might just be a coincidence that I am getting my shipwreck chart (the very first one built) today!
The cannons were pretty cool, though. I wonder if anything else will surface, or what the divers will find when they look in May. I was hoping it (the storms)
didn't destroy the area they were searching, but maybe it did more good than bad.
Here's a link to that story:
Visitors Stumped by Lost Cannon
I thought you'd like to enjoy some of our more fascinating history both as a country, world, but especially those of you that are local....
Liz
