Posted by Tim on October 31, 19103 at 22:13:42:
In Reply to: That's not the point here... posted by S. Stevens on October 31, 19103 at 05:10:27:
: The porthole, plain and simple, is stolen property. The individual offering it for sale on eBay is not the "owner" under any definition of the word and there's nothing anyone can say to argue that fact. The Cedarville wreck is a part of the Straits Preserve, effectively placing it under the ownership of the State of Michigan. More importantly, the auctioning of the wreck's fittings raises serious ethical issues regarding individuals profiteering from artifacts stolen from the remains of a recent (within our lifetime) disaster that cost the lives of 10 people. Such a sale effectively promotes blatant disrespect of the actual tragedy and is an insult the victim's surviving family members, many of which I'm sure would be more than a bit upset upon learning that a piece of their loved one's gravesite is being hawked by some nimrod on an internet auction site. Thanks to these unscrupulous "artifact peddlers" on eBay and the like, the demand for Great Lakes shipwreck memorabilia remains steady, offering a lucrative means of income to thieves. I don't care one iota if this porthole was recovered in '66 or '96. I don't care if the individual selling it is not the same individual who ripped it off the wreck 37 years ago. And it definitely makes no difference what condition it is in, being that it was never the kind of item that should have been appraised for it's potential monetary value in the first place. All this sale does is feed the artifact frenzy - another trinket for the shelf behind the counter of some PADI Pro Facility in Tavernier or a "trophy" for some stroke in Goober Falls, Minnesota who would claim he salvaged it all by himself just to impress his friends. This isn't about shipwreck aesthetics, get it? This is about calling attention to the behavior of an individual who's seeking to turn a profit from the sale of a stolen artifact from a recent Great Lakes tragedy. I reiterate: It belongs to the State of Michigan, or to the people of the Presque Isle region if you prefer, and therefore, it belongs back on the wreck.
: Oh yeah - and you expect more than a few outraged families in Rogers City, MI once the Alpena News gets wind of this little auction.
Let me set you straight on the Cedarville it is not a grave site as all bodies and remanies have been recovered if you want to call it something I guess you could call it a accident scene. As far as the people in Rogers city being upset I doubt that very much. Did you know the Cedarvilles stern steering wheel is plastered on the outside wall of the local bank.Also there are other artifacts in verious business thru out the city not in museums.Big deal eh, probably more people see them were they are.How about the tavern in Alpena where the entire bar top is made up of pieces of shipwreck wood as well as the back bar recovered, I am sure from Thunder bay wrecks.To me it does a lot more for the wood then looking at it sticking out of the mud covered with mussels and slime.You want to witness a real crime check out all the anchors in the Straights Of Mackinaw City park that have been left to rot without any condideration to preservation.I could go on and on because I have been around long before you were born but some of you might get my point.There is nothing wrong with salvageing before the law most people proudly restore and display there items.I do agree however that artifacts from Michigan waters should be kept in Michigan ie: not shipped to the Milwaukee public library and Vemillion Ohio to name a couple.I can find no fault with legally salvaged artifacts being displayed in private collections taverns or museums etc. As for the Texas Cedarville porthole if all you complainers would kick in 5.00 a piece you could buy it and do whatever makes you happy.As for tax deductions for donations for get it there is no way to appraise items for tax purposes ie:shipwreck artifacts I checked it out, try running it by the IRS good luck!!! Hey look what happened to Paul Ehorn for being a nice guy and loaning a artifact to a public library. Tim