- Oct 26, 2004
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- Shipwrecks
A related thread on the CSS SELMA triggered me to offer this:
The article mentioned the ship's bells from the Selma and the Alabama. Of course, the history of the CSS Alabama is well know--and deseved. But have you heard of the USS Kearsage? The Kearage was the ship that sunk the Alabama. The Kearsage then went on for another four decades protecting US interests all over the world. On one fateful voyage from Haiti to Bluefields, she ran up on the rocks of Rancador.
The crew managed to get to the island and was eventually evacuated. The US government appropriated about $45,000 to attempt salvage. The Boston Towboat Co. was awarded the contract. Some artifacts were saved from the ship, including the ship's Bible. Other salvaged items, along with a damaged section of the stern post WITH A UNEXPLODED SHELL FROM THE ALABAMA were also salvaged. The artifacts were taken back to Boston, but the salvaged was deemed incomplete since the vessel could not be pulled off the rocks.
Sidebars:
1. The assets of the Boston Towboat Co. are now owned by Boston Towing and Transportation (BTT), which, in turn is owned by Reinauer Companies. BTT is the oldest, largest and continually operating general towing company in New England, dating back to 1857. I mention this since records of the savage attempt on the USS Kearsarge may still be available with one of those companies-or known by one of those companies to now be in some archival repository.
2. The location of the Kearsarge today is in the historic record. I once was in the area but got 'wet feet' about going directly to her since the 'politics' of the area were not (and are still not) 'invitiing". But an "X" of her location does mark the spot of her last location. What is left of her--perhaps coins, other artifacts and some remnants of the smaller guns that sank the Alabama (thourgh her big guns were long ago offloaded) may still be enough incentive for a historian/arch-type (OK, THer as well) to take a peek.
Don.......
The article mentioned the ship's bells from the Selma and the Alabama. Of course, the history of the CSS Alabama is well know--and deseved. But have you heard of the USS Kearsage? The Kearage was the ship that sunk the Alabama. The Kearsage then went on for another four decades protecting US interests all over the world. On one fateful voyage from Haiti to Bluefields, she ran up on the rocks of Rancador.
The crew managed to get to the island and was eventually evacuated. The US government appropriated about $45,000 to attempt salvage. The Boston Towboat Co. was awarded the contract. Some artifacts were saved from the ship, including the ship's Bible. Other salvaged items, along with a damaged section of the stern post WITH A UNEXPLODED SHELL FROM THE ALABAMA were also salvaged. The artifacts were taken back to Boston, but the salvaged was deemed incomplete since the vessel could not be pulled off the rocks.
Sidebars:
1. The assets of the Boston Towboat Co. are now owned by Boston Towing and Transportation (BTT), which, in turn is owned by Reinauer Companies. BTT is the oldest, largest and continually operating general towing company in New England, dating back to 1857. I mention this since records of the savage attempt on the USS Kearsarge may still be available with one of those companies-or known by one of those companies to now be in some archival repository.
2. The location of the Kearsarge today is in the historic record. I once was in the area but got 'wet feet' about going directly to her since the 'politics' of the area were not (and are still not) 'invitiing". But an "X" of her location does mark the spot of her last location. What is left of her--perhaps coins, other artifacts and some remnants of the smaller guns that sank the Alabama (thourgh her big guns were long ago offloaded) may still be enough incentive for a historian/arch-type (OK, THer as well) to take a peek.
Don.......
