Posted by steve on November 18, 19101 at 12:10:45:
In Reply to: Re: Chicora posted by Craig Rich on October 02, 19101 at 13:20:24:
Two years ago, a dive to 323151-461804, just a debries field, but after the dive, depth-
sounder shows 323219-461982 blip just East of
Gull Island Shoal, a near surface rock,
was intrigging, WK at 230 feet? Is this the
end field from the scrap above, running
for a mile? Local diver thinks its the
big "M" wk., but knows no more.
ALL wrecks are protected from "salvaging"
In the Great Lakes, Navigable waters,
in any form whatsoever by the Maritime
Trieties and Inland nav waterways accords,
unless
you can prove original family connection
to the foundering, meaning= if the wreck
is of Ameican origin, belongs to Americans,
no matter were is help temporarily in
storage or arrest or became "imbedded"
in the mud, or sand, by accident.
The then local "museum" set up by locals
to "recover" goods, relinquishes all
property to the original Title holder,
because Titles DO NOT DIE because a
family member just died, Titles
survive centuries despite centuries
abandoned, endured local Government
piracy and
confiscatory feudal attempts, except when
gifted away to the servants by contract.
Captain Costeau said: Its their original
property, wherever deposited temporarily,
eventually WILL COME HOME.
The ATLANTIC still remains originaly
Titled to US, but temporarily serviced
by locals, who wish to provide a salvage
service, however late, do Hold no Title by
Crown or servants or any Court uterings
mandate, however
demanding may be there from. The pirate
Steve Morgan interference has no effect,
and he SHOULD NOT PROFIT FROM IT,
The locals may provide a service, but the
"bones" WILL be returned to the Title
original holder (or country of origin)
after all this huppla
has settled, the dust, and noise
without exception. This also
is the same Law in Admitralty
where vietnam advisers "bones"
are by Triety returned
to the country of origin, totally irrelevant
are the wishes of the foreign servants
running that system, whether or not they
WISH to have and hold a MUSEUM to display
the artifacts, or for bragging rights
or proffit. Not their original property,
are an Accommodation Party.
: Well, I've been waiting for this to hit the group! If they can understand it.
: As you might imagine we're being a little vague regarding depth until we complete our ROV survey of the site. Yes, it's "close" to 300 feet.
The "bones" are returned, always.
: Personally, I'm about 90% sure it's the Chicora. Valerie Olson van Heest is about 99.5% sure. Others fall in between somewhere, so you can see we're pretty sure. We wouldn't have gone public after 4 months of silence if we weren't. Our drop camera video was fairly revealing. We have construction drawings and numerous match-ups were made. The next step is to put an ROV on site to further document what's there. The state of Michigan is especially interested in producing a video "inventory" to make prosecution a little easier if any theft occurs over the coming years.
: Following the ROV exploration, we will be releasing the facts regarding the depth and location. We are providing a service, we are
not the claimant or salvagers ARCH intending
to dismantle this diving resource.
: At this time, we are planning to present our findings at the Southwest Michigan Underwater Preserve's springtime event "Evening Beneath The Inland Seas", at the "Ghost Ships Festival" in Milwaukee, and other venues to which we may be invited (let me know if you're interested).
: It was a great search. For the past 4 years we confined our search to the Preserve area. This year was different. SWMUP board member Jan Miller deserves much of the credit. He compiled computer models using USCG and NOAA weather data from 106 years ago to plot a probable search area. Four days later, Dave Trotter's side scan sonar ran right over the wreck. For those of you who need to know, it was May 25, 2001 at 3:00PM. Others on the boat that day included Jan Miller, Lewis Spencer, Larry Mims and me. It was a lot of fun!
: Stay tuned for further details.....
: Craig Rich
: Southwest Michigan Underwater Preserve &
: Chicora Preservation Society
: http://www.macatawa/org~crich/chicora.htm
: (yes, I know I need to update the web site!)