Southern_Digger
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Tropical Storm Sandy is looming and the ocean is kicking up so I went up to Hillsboro (So. Fla.) and searched oppsite the wreck site of the Gil Blas, circa 1836. Actually was able to get down to the flat, rock/shell strewn beach at low tide and that is where most of the old came from. Waves were rough, often standing waist deep on the flat part of the beach and almost got knocked over a few times. May go to some beach again today if lightning lets up. Or else, I heard the fishing is great...
Anyhow, I was on the Historical Commission at the time taking care of land archeology issues; when the Underwater Marine Archeology Council began work on this wreck. There were actually two wrecks near each other. One, I believe, may have wrecked during the civil war. I never dove there but did see some of the common 1800's ship fittings they removed from the wreck. I snorkeled out on it last year--sanded over with much scattered debris mixed with dredging material. See links at end of this post.
Here are my finds
Much fill still on the beach. Many of these leaded iron pieces are unidentifyable, could be from wreck, or dredge pipe slag.
Not shipwreck related bur here are a few finds from the water off Ft. Lauderdale beach and an old, nearby park. Only old coin found : 1925 wheat cent. Two earrings came out of ocean black-they cleaned up good. The ring is 925 Mexico. All other jewelry is fake bling, as expected lately.
Note: URL's did not work... Just google GIL BLAS SHIPWRECK for information, history and a panoramic image of how the wreck came in close to the natural beach.
Anyhow, I was on the Historical Commission at the time taking care of land archeology issues; when the Underwater Marine Archeology Council began work on this wreck. There were actually two wrecks near each other. One, I believe, may have wrecked during the civil war. I never dove there but did see some of the common 1800's ship fittings they removed from the wreck. I snorkeled out on it last year--sanded over with much scattered debris mixed with dredging material. See links at end of this post.
Here are my finds
Much fill still on the beach. Many of these leaded iron pieces are unidentifyable, could be from wreck, or dredge pipe slag.
Not shipwreck related bur here are a few finds from the water off Ft. Lauderdale beach and an old, nearby park. Only old coin found : 1925 wheat cent. Two earrings came out of ocean black-they cleaned up good. The ring is 925 Mexico. All other jewelry is fake bling, as expected lately.
Note: URL's did not work... Just google GIL BLAS SHIPWRECK for information, history and a panoramic image of how the wreck came in close to the natural beach.
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