B5F43I1

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GARY MANGIACOPA ARCHIVE
============================================================
Title:      B5F43I1
Slug:       b5f43i1
Categories: Lost Treasure
Source:     https://garymangiacopraarchive.com/b5f43i1
Pages:      8 scanned, 8 extracted
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Processed:  2026-06-06
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NORWALK
TRAIN
By Margaret Lewis
DISASTER
ge
do
G
ca
lo
sel
riv
dr
m
pa
tox
a.r
pro
bri
Ri
the
ing
the
col
ing
[AD] 228 20892820 823 2 4 7 8 9
the
SO
S
hortly after 10:00a.m., May
6, 1853, a New Haven Rail-
road passenger train shot
through an open drawbridge just
outside the Norwalk River, causing
the death of 46 passengers and the
loss of over $250,000 in gold and
precious gems. At that time it was
considered the worst single railroad
disaster to ever happen in America.
Several attempts have been made to
recover the precious cargo, but as far
as it is known, no one has ever found
any of it.
The treasure had belonged to a
man named Thaddeus Birk, a jew-
eler who had moved to the United
States from Great Brittan only a few
months prior to the disaster. He was
the sole proprietor of a business that
imported fine gems from London,
Paris, and Bavaria. Business was very
slow in the beginning and Birks'
goal was to build up a reliable clien-
tele of wealthy patrons.
Birk's first big break came when
he was asked to attend a birthday
party that was being thrown for the
wife of a wealthy shipping magnate,
Nigel Massey, of Boston, Mass. It
was an extraordinary opportunity for
Birk because he was asked to attend
the party not only as a guest, but also
as a businessman.
Nigel Massey, like Birk, had also
moved to America from Great
Brittan, and was familiar with the
beautiful gem-encrusted jewelry of
the Tawney Company, one of
Londons' finest jewelry firms which
8 LOST TREASURE September 2001
A frontier train, similar to the one lost at Norwalk, causing the death of 46 people and
the loss of $250,000.
Thaddeus Birk represented. Massey
learned about Birks' arrival in
America from a friend, and consid-
ered buying a few expensive pieces
for his wife, Regina. Birk was asked
to bring along a wide assortment of
jewelry for Massey, or any other of
his wealthy guests to choose from.
This was a great chance for Birk
to circulate with some of Bostons
socialites and to also establish him-
self as a supplier of some of the finest
jewelry that money could buy. If he
handled the situation properly, his
shop would be the "in-place" for the
ultra rich to expand their collections
of extravagant rare gems.
Several days before he left for
Boston, Birk filled up two leather
covered wooden trunks with dozens
of his finest examples. There were
solid gold bracelets, gold earrings
and finger bands all encased with
diamonds, emeralds and precious
stones. There were also solid gold
brooches, pins and necklaces, deli-
cately filled with pearls and diamonds.
Birks two most expensive
samples were both pendants. One of
them had a 30 carat teardrop dia-
mond that hung from an 18 inch
silver chain, and the other one con-
tained an oval emerald of equal size.
The total value of Birks' samples
was over $50,000, and he was con-
vinced that he would sell it all at the
act
the
pa
op
lan
jus
wh
thi
the
tra
the
be
Th
lef
of
fel
ter
CM
ge
Th
go
46
de

[PAGE BREAK]

Sl
at
Va
party. In another satchel Birk carried
his personal items and a change of
clothes.
Early the next morning Birk
boarded the New Haven train headed
for Boston. He sat in the first passen-
ger coach where he took the whole
seat for himself and his valuable
luggage. Birk looked out the win-
dow at the beautiful scenery as the
train chugged out of New Yorks'
Grand Central Station, heading north-
east towards New Haven, Conn.
The New Haven Railroad fol-
lowed the coastline, offering the pas-
sengers an extraordinary view of the
rivers, basins, and estuaries along
the way. Due to the heavy traffic,
some of the waterways required
drawbridges to accommodate both
trains and river traffic. The train
moved along at a steady pace as it
passed Long Island Sound, headed
toward the South Norwalk Depot.
Just a few minutes after 10:00
a.m., the steamboat Pacific ap-
proached the closed railroad draw-
bridge that spanned the Norwalk
River just a few hundred yards from
the South Norwalk train station. See-
ing the steamers oncoming approach,
the bridge tender lowered the red
colored sphere to alert any oncom-
ing trains well in advance. He then
activated the drawbridge, swinging
the long central span horizontally,
paralleling the flow of the river.
The Pacific steamed through the
opening and headed into Long Is-
land Sound. The bridge tender was
just preparing to close the bridge
when the New Haven Express came
thundering around the turn towards
the opening. Seeing the impending
tragedy, the engine crew leaped from
the moving train only a few seconds
before it shot across the open chasm.
The train was traveling so fast that it
left the bank and slammed into one
of the concrete bridge pillars, then
fell into the river below.
Following the engine into a wa-
tery grave was the tender, two mail
cars, the express car and two passen-
ger cars, one of them carrying
Thaddeus Birk and his fortune in
gold and jewels. In less than a minute,
46 people were killed and the train
demolished, a total loss of life and
property. The findings of a coroners'
inquest placed the blame for the di-
saster on the trains' engineer.
Eventually, the wreckage from the
demolished train was slowly cleared
from the channel, but most of the
personal items that had belonged to
the passengers were strewn about
the water, never to be recovered. At
the prices they are paying today for
gold, silver and precious gems, Birks
jewelry would now be worth a small
fortune, possibly over a million dol-
lars.
Norwalk, Conn., is a small indus-
trial town located in the southwest-
ern part of the state. It is situated
along the Norwalk River which flows
south into Long Island Sound at South
Norwalk.
SOURCES:
Treasure, June 1984. LT
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LOST TREASURE September 2001 9

[PAGE BREAK]

CARTER LATHAM
PUBLISHING CO., INC.
3201 N. Frazier
Phone A.C. 713,
[AD] 756-3328
[AD] P.O. Box 328
CONROE, TEXAS 77301
JOHN H. LATHAM
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
HOWARD P. CARTER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
EUGENE WOODALL
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
VOL. 4, NO. 4
LOST
TREASURE
IN THIS ISSUE
MARCH,
rike it r
LYNN LATHAM
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
ILANON MOON
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
JEAN LATHAM
BUSINESS MANAGER
DAPHNE WALKER
ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
LAFITTE'S LAST CACHES ON AMERICAN SOIL..By Thomas B. Jewell I
KNIFE IN A TREE
...........By Beverly Dickerson 16
TRAGEDY AND TREASURE OF LAURA'S CLIPPER....By Jeff Ferguson
BOOM! WENT THE FINNS AND THE GOLD
NEW ENGLAND'S UNDERSEAS BONANZAS
17
..By Benito Villa
...By Robert E. Cahill
19
KEENE
21
IS THERE ANOTHER OAK ISLAND MONEY PIT?
TREASURE AT BUZZARD ROOST
LOUIS D'AURY'S MANY TREASURES
MISSING $100,000
Visitors are alway
...By Al Masters 26 plant, to browse
By Roberts C. Mills
We're easy to f
33 in the San Ferna
..By Duff Howard 36
...By John Ward 55
TRUE TREASURE CLASSIC
CIRCULATION DEPT.
JOYCE MCGLOHN, MGR.
DODIE SHARP
SAMMIE LUKE
LOST TREASURE wants to buy articles,
cartoons and filustrations. Manuscripts
and photographs will be handled with
care, but their safety cannot be guar
anteed. Enclose stamped envelopa with
all submissions Inquire before sending
original art.
CARTER/LATHAM PUBLISHING CO.:
INC. 1979
[AD] Subscription price:
One year (12 Issues) for $10
Two years 124 Issues) for $18.60
LOST TREASURE (USPS 638-080) 15
published monthly for $10.00 per
year by Carter Latham Publishing
Co., Inc., at 3201 Norths Frazier
Street. Conroe, Texas 77301;
Second-closs postage paid at Conroe,
Texas, POSTMASTER Send address
changes to LOST TREASURE, P.O. Box
328 Conroe, TX 77301
MISSING GOLDEN SLUGS
WORTH $10,000 APIECE!
DEPARTMENTS AND FEATURES
PANNING FOR COLOR (With the Publisher)
BLM/U.S. FOREST SERVICE PROPOSITION 13 P
LETTERS TO LONG JOHN
BARGAIN BOOK STORE
LOST TREASURE ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS
LONG JOHN'S (T/R RANCH CLUB) LIFERS
CLASSIFIED
TREASURE NUGGETS
CLUB NEWS
Cover photo: "The trea
NON-FICTION-ALL STORIES ABOUT LOT
9330 Co
By Maurice Kildare 58
AUTHOR
ENGINEER
ALASKA
Alaska
3127 C
Anch
(907)
Gates
17 M
Clear
0907)
504 C
Fairb
(907)
40
46
48
ure

[PAGE BREAK]

Rock
ouses
from
The
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Hilli
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1,213
550
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search
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was ever
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W. 4. & Joseph yours han
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W. 7. Sa Belódia que yua aloft
b. 8. Herrera.
23.
Tees Puentes.
• Dias.
Silver pieces of eight and Spanish cobs have been found at Appledore Island,
New Hampshire, and Wellfleet and Winthrop in Massachusetts.
NEW ENGLAND'S
UNDERSEAS BONANZAS
Florida has captured international
attention by the richness of the
treasure finds emerging from its
coastal waters. In 1960, the U.S.
Treasury Department reported $11
million in sunken treasure recovered
that year from American coastal
Waters primarily Florida.
By 1970, the annual recovery had
doubled, and it may have quadru-
pled since then. A single rich recent
find, the Atocha off Florida, could
vield $60 million or more.
Although little has been recovered
from New England waters, these
By ROBERT E. CAHILL
waters do hold their share of yet-
to-be-found treasure ships. Also, it's
not just sunken gold and silver that
can make a lucky skin diver rich.
An old bottle can bring $500 or
more from an avid collector.
Recently, a diver found six tiny
Chinese figurines in a shallow-water
wreck and sold them to a collector
for $10,000.
How much, for example, do you
think a trunkful of Paul Revere's
personal belongings might bring?
His trunk is in the charred remains
of the brig Spring Bird, sunk off the
coast of Maine in about 15 feet of
water.
But that's a story that conjures up
visions of all kinds of underwater
treasure, and it's all in New Eng-
land.
One of the greatest, yet unherald-,
ed battles of the American Revolu-
tion took place in the Penobscot
River in Maine in 1779. This battle
is not emphasized in American
history books because six British
ships managed to defeat 17 of
America's finest warships and trans-
ports.
asure
March, 1979
While Florida gets most of the attention, New England's
waters hold their share of yet-to-be-found treasure ships
21

[PAGE BREAK]

New England
continued
How much, for example, do you think a
trunkfa
For 21 days, beginning July 24,
Colonial soldiers tried to take the
British garrison at Penobscot Bay.
Gen. Peleg Wadsworth (Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow's grand-
the 1,300 American
father) led
troops. They couldn't defeat the
British and were forced to retreat.
As they reboarded their transport
ships waiting in the river under the
protection of American warships, six
British men-of-war came around a
bend in the river, and the sea battle
began.
The American frigate Defiance
was hiding in a small inlet in the
bay, but her crew, spying a British
warship waiting outside the inlet,
put a torch to their own ship.
The flagship Warren, with Com-
modore Dudley Saltonstall aboard,
sailed to Oak Point Cove near
Frankfort. There Saltonstall ordered
the Warren and the brig Active
burned to the waterline. The Spring
Bird, with Paul Revere's trunk
aboard, was also put to the torch
and abandoned. The British captured
her, but she sank moments later.
Two American sloops and a brig
were captured intact by the British,
but the Hector, Charming Sally,
Black Prince, Hazard, Dilligence,
Monmouth, Providence, and Tyran-
nicide sank in the Kenduskeag
River, which flows through Bangor.
The General Putnam and Vengeance
were grounded opposite Hanipden,
where their crews blasted them
apart with explosives. The victorious
British came out of the battle with-
out a scratch, while Paul Revere
and his men walked home to Boston.
In 1960, the Warren, General
Putnam and Vengeance were found
by scuba divers. Among the valuable
artifacts recovered was a Paul
Revere brass cannon, one of only
four known to exist today.
ne ship that treasure hunters are
Oitching to get their hands on
is the Spanish frigate Conception,
also known as the Sagunto. She
wrecked at Cedar Island Ledge
southeast of Smuttynose Island, ten
miles off Portsmouth, New Hamp-
shire, in a blizzard in 1813. Al-
though the disaster occurred only
a stone's throw from the Isles of
Shoals, not one Spaniard survived.
A few years after the disaster,
silver pieces-of-eight and Spanish
cob coins began drifting ashore at
22
AUTHENTIC NEW ENGLAND -
NEW YORK TREASURE MAP
(100 buried and sunken treasures - lost and found)
LEGEND
1. Pirate treasure buried at Swans Isle,
Kennebec River.
2. Gold and silver buried at Sassona River
some found in 1800.
Islands
3. Pirato Low buried gold from Spanish
ship MONTCLOVA at Pond Isle, Casco
Bay, valued at $2,000,000-kottle of
[AD] $700,000 in Spanish coins found on Ram
Isle in 1840.
4. Castine Hoard, 2000 coins found in
1849 at Bagaduco River - worth.
[AD] $700,000.
5. $20,000 in gold and diamonds buried
by pirate, Roberts in Kennebec River,
found by G. Benner in 1890's.
6. Circus ship ROYAL TAR, burned and
sank in 1836 $20,000 in silver-off
Penobscot Bay.
7. Scuba divers found silver bars and coins
off Bar Harbor, 1965.
8. Capt. Kidd and Capt. Bellamy buried
loot on island here.
9. Pirato Black Walt buried treasure'
Richmond Isle some found in 1855
by D. Hanscom, $200,000 remains.
10. Antique airplane lost in bay, 1927 also
many shipwrecks.
11. Fisherman found $4,000 in silver at
Haskell Isle, 1870.
12. Supply ship EMPIRE KNIGHT sank 1944
and 1710 galley wrecked at Boone Ldg.
13. Many shipwrecks, some of value, off
Mount Desert Islo.
14. Schooner BIRKMYRE, sank 1875 at Duck
Isle, $20,000 in strong box.
15. Cobb coins found from Spanish wreck,
Appledore Isle, 1865.
16. Spanish frigate CONCEPTION, sank
Codar Isle Ledge, 1813, silver aboard.
17. Sam Haley found 3 silver bars, Smutty-
nose Islo, 1820.
18. Old coins found by divers and residents
at Gosport Harbor in 1870, 1901 and
1962.
19. Pirate Quelch buried 190 silver bars at
Smuttynose Isle in 1700's.
20. British payroll ship, sank at Crane's
Beach, coins still wash ashore.
21. Cutter GALLATIN, sank Boo Hoo Ldg.,
1892, some articles found in 1962, valu-
able guns remain.
22. Bark JOHN, sank in 1645, found by J.
Cahill off Misery Isle.
23. USS NEW HAMPSHIRE, Civil War
frigato, off Graves Isle Paul Revere
spikes and one 1803 gold coin recovered.
24. Schooner UNION, sank 1810, off Bakers
Isle valuable block tin cargo.
25. Whaling ship BRITANNIA, on maiden
voyage. sank off Manchester, 1800's.
26. Bark TEDESCO, sank off Swampscott,
1857, artifacts aboard.
27. Diver A. Channell found ancient Spanish
medallion off Nahant, 1964.
28. Gold coins found at Short Beach, 1880,
silver coins found Deer Isle, 1906.
29. Schooner MINNIE, sank 1874, rare
Spanish guns aboard.
30. D. Conrad found ancient cannons in
shallows at Hampton Beach, 1963.
31. Capt. Kidd buried treasure at Great
Head Pirate Veal at Dungeon Rock
Lynn.
32. ELIZABETH-ANN, sank in 1829, silver
coins found off Winthrop.
33. Pirates from the brig CHARLES buried
treasure in Marblehead, 1703.
34. Pirates buried $70,000 on banks of
Parker River, Byfield.
35. Schooner JULIET, sank 1886, off Fawn
Bar, silver aboard.
36. $1,800 in old coins dug up by Ed Snow
at Calf Isle, 1958.
37. Gold coins found on Lovell's Isle by
lighthouse keeper, 1920.
38. French Man-O-War,
MAGNIFIQUE,
wrecked at Lovell's Isle, 1782, $1,000,000.
39. Russian ship sank in harbor, 1700's, 400
lb. bell salvaged in 1959.
40. CORDELIA, off Cliff Beach, sank 1807,
precious china aboard, some recovered.
41. Danish transport GERTRUDE-MARIA,
1783, rare artifacts, toys, etc.
42. Brig KADOSH, sank 1860, guns and
good whiskey aboard.
43. Bronze shield and claw found in nets off
Brant Rock, from sunken ship.
44. Schooner WHITE SQUALL, 1866, valu-
able block tin cargo.
45. British frigate SOMERSET, of Bunker
Hill fame, 1778, buried under sand.
46. British Man O War, off Monomoy
Beach, with $1,000,000 payroll.
47. Pirate ship WHIDDAH, wrecked
1717, treasure, ivory worth $3,000,000.
48. Sidewheeler PORTLAND, sank 1898,
[AD] $150,000 aboard.
49. Italian Liner ANDREA DORIA sank
1956, $3,000,000 in valuables - bronze
statue recovered.
50. British liner REPUBLIC, sank 1909, $2,-
000,000 in gold.
51. Freighter OREGON, sank 1941, $3,000,-
000 cargo of Merino wool.
52. Coins and pirate sword found by E
Rick, 1934, on Martha's Vineyard.
53. $30,000 in silver buried, 1846, East
Chop Light.
54. VINEYARD SOUND LIGHTSHIP, sank
1944, artifacts recovered by B. Luther,
1965.
55. 600 valuable wrecks off Point Judith,
including steamer ATLANTIC, 1846.
56. Pirate Brodish sank ship ADVENTURE,
1699, estimated $2,000,000 aboard.
57. Blackboard landed, said to have buried
treasure at Providence, 1716.
58. Pirate sword, coins and artifacts found
off Cranston by divers, 1963.
59. Treasure buried by Capt. Kidd's first
mate at Jamestown, some recovered.
60. Treasure chest washed ashore at New-
port, 1850, but lost again.
61. Steamer FAIRFAX, 1898 and SS SILVIA,
1908, off Sow & Pigs Reef, of some
value.
62. German U-boat 853, sank 1945, $1,000,-
000 in jewels hidden in ammo shell cases.
Lost Treasure
CO
63. Stea
article
[AD] $150,000
64. Supply ship
LA
and other ite
for $4,000,
by divars
66. Privateer Di
loot, sank
6. "Us
ner and
off Old
67. Steamship
sank in 10
68. Privatear H
silver aboa
6. "Unidentif
cam digge
70. French fri
1875, $20
71. Spanish
London wi
here.
72. Miniature
walk
73. Capt. Kidd
Isles, some
1949.
74. Blackboardi
said to hav
75. Gold coin
on Tuxis
76. In 1880, C
old coins
pirates in
77. HMS HU
Gate, with
coins. So
78. Steamer
away Be
79. Sidewhe
under san
cross Ale
80. Sidewhe
brec shi
81. Liner Of
Pirate
sank
one c
the r
treas

[PAGE BREAK]

hink
trunkful of Paul Revere's personal belongings might bring?
nd)
Great
Rock
silver
buried
als of
lf Fawn
Snow
le by
NIFIQUE
,000,000.
00's, 400
nk 1807,
overed.
MARIA
and
nets off
valu
Bunker
sand,
homoy
recked
000,000.
Ja
1898,
63. Steamer LARCHMONT, 1907, some
articles recovered by divers, 1963,
[AD] $150,000 remains.
64. Supply ship ONONDEGA, 1918, dishes
and other items of value. Propeller sold
for $6,000, many other items recovered
by divers.
65. Privateer DEFENCE, 1779, loaded with
loot, sank off Bartlett's Reef.
66. "Unknown" wreck found by divers Wag-
ner and Brose, 3 silver bars recovered,
off Old Saybrook.
67. Steamship LEXINGTON, caught fire,
sank in 1840, $60,000 in coin aboard.
68. Privateer HERMIONE sank here in 1782,
silver aboard.
69. "Unidentified" frigate off Savin Rock,
clam diggers found brass cannons, 1940.
70. French frigate sank off Thimbles Isles,
1875, $20,000 in gold and brandy.
71. Spanish frigate SAN JOSE, loft Now
London with $500,000, swamped appx.
here.
72. Miniature submarine swamped off Nor-
walk "Fenian Ram Jr.," historic relic.
73. Capt. Kidd buried $90,000 on Thimbles
Isles, some coins and gold ring found in
1949.
74. Blackbeard landed at New Haven, 1716,
said to have buried treasure hero.
75. Gold coins and bracelet found by boys
on Tuxis Island, 1903.
76. In 1888, G. Hawley found $21,500 in
old coins at Penfield Reef, buried by
pirates in 1795.
77. HMS HUSSAR, sank 1780 at Hell's
Gate, with $4,000,000 in gold and silver
coins. Some recovered by divers in 1965.
78. Steamer BLACK WARRIOR, off Rock-
away Beach, 1858, artifacts aboard.
79. Sidewheeler SAVANNAH, 1819, buried
under sand off Bellport, first steamer to
cross Atlantic.
80. Sidewheeler FRANKLIN, 1854, bric-a-
brac still aboard, but much recovered.
81. Liner OREGON, sank 1886, materials
worth $1,000,000 aboard, some recov
ered.
82. 17th century "Money Ship," buried in
sand, may be PRINS-MAURIS, coins
found.
83. "Unknown" schooner, wrecked at Shin-
necock, 1816, Spanish gold found in
sand.
84. PACIFIC, wrecked 1871, cargo of clay
pipes, many found on beach.
85. VINEYARD, sank 1836 off Southampton,
[AD] $54,000 in gold and silver.
86. HMS LEXINGTON, 1781, East River,
[AD] $1,800,000 in gold.
87. ELIZABETH, sank 1850, with rare Italian
stones and $16,000 in coin.
88. Steamer ACARIA, wrecked 1902, Jones
Inlet, some artifacts recovered by divers.
89. ANN HOPE, sank 1781, with $500,000
in valuables.
90. PRINCESS AUGUSTA, wrecked 1738,
immigrants from Holland and valuables.
91. USS SAN DIEGO, cruiser, 1902, found
by divers, 1960, copper valued at
[AD] $17,000.
92. CITY OF NORWICH, sank 1866 off
Huntington, with $50,000 in valuables.
93. Chest containing $200,000 fell into har-
bor at dockside from ship ROMAH in
1928.
94. Steamer GREAT WESTERN, wrecked
1876, artifacts and cash aboard.
95. Steamer RODA, wrecked 1908, copper
cargo valued at $100,000.
96. PORT HUNTER, wrecked 1918, $500,-
000 in merchandise, most recovered.
97. British privateer QUEEN, 1812, some
cargo and treasure salvaged, much ro-
mains.
98. Gold coins buried near Chatham Light
by pirates in 1800's, worth $50,000.
99. 18th century cannons found in shallows
in 1879.
100. Schooner CLARA BELLE, 1872, and
bark MONTE TABOR, 1896, at Peaked
Hill Bars. Valuables aboard both ships.
MAINE
Bath
Portland
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Portsmouth
The Isles
of Shoals
RIA sank
bron
999, $2,
[AD] $3,000,-
by E.
4 East
HIP, sank
Luther,
Judith,
1846.
VENTURE
board.
rebaried
cts found
dd's first
wered.
at New-
S SILVIA
of some
[AD] $1,000,-
cases,
Pirate ship
sank with
one of
the richest
treasures
reasure
March, 1979
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
CAPE COD
RHODE Providence
ISLAND
Newport
Nantucket
New London
Martha's
Vineyard
CONNECTICUT
New Haven
LONG ISLAND
Fire Island
Bar Harbor
23
23

[PAGE BREAK]

24
A Revolutionary War cannon, made by Paul Revere and found by divers off
the coast of Maine.
New England continued
Smuttynose and Appledore islands.
In 1820, an islander named Sam
Haley found three silver bars in the
shallows at Smuttynose. Recently,
scuba divers found old Spanish coins
at Gosport Harbor, linking Smutty-
nose and Star Island.
Mrs. James Allen found a gold
coin, minted in Spain and dated
1600, on a ledge at the southwest
side of Star Island. This coin is
thought to be from another Spanish
ship that sank in 1685.
Paul Revere is limelighted again
as we enter Massachusetts waters,
for his foundry made the copper
..spikes that hold together the U.S.S.
Constitution (Old Ironsides) and the
U.S.S. New Hampshire. The keel
of the latter battleship was laid in
1818, the year Revere died.
Because of lack of funds, it took
44 years to finish the New Hamp-
shire longer than was ever taken
to build any other ship. At the age
of 107, she was decommissioned in
1925. While being towed to Maine,
she caught fire and wrecked off
Graves Island near Gloucester,
Massachusetts.
Scuba divers found the wreck
in 20 feet of water in 1955, and
started picking through her bones
to recover Revere's spikes. The more
enterprising divers used the spikes
to make candle holders and lamp
bases. These now sell at selected
antique and furniture stores for
[AD] $150 or more per set.
A few years ago, diver Dick
Pevedra found an 1803 British shill-
ing, worth $100, in the wreckage.
Since then divers have flocked to
Graves Island, hoping to find more
coins.
Diver Art Channell found an
ancient Spanish medallion in shal-
low water at Bass Point near
Nahant, just north of Boston, in
1963. It is thought to have come
from the schooner Minnie, which
sank in 1874 with a cargo of 17
rare Spanish guns. Coins from the
wreck have washed ashore at nearby
Winthrop. In 1880, more gold coins
were found scattered in the sand
between Short Beach and Grover's
Cliff, near Winthrop. In 1906,
workmen building a seawall at Deer
Island found over 1,300 silver coins
under a few inches of water.
Interesting, valuable items have
also been fished from the ocean off
Massachusetts' South Shore. A
Marshfield lobsterman brought up a
large metal claw attached to one of
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[PAGE BREAK]

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In 1952, less than two miles from
where the claw was recovered, an-
other fisherman recovered a bronze
war shield, deeply encrusted with
marine life. Some historians believe
the claw and shield are from a
sunken Viking ship. If so, it could
be the find of the century for some
lucky scuba diver. The conservative
opinion is that a 17th century British
warship is nestled in the sand off
Brant Rock.
O
ne of the more recent additions
to the sunken treasure fleet is
the 690-foot Italian liner Andrea
Doria, sunk after a collision in 1956.
With her at the bottom is Chrysler
Corporation's $100,000 idea car,
valuable paintings, $100,000 or
more in jewels, and an unknown
amount of cash. Relatively few
divers have visited the wreck, 40
miles south of Nantucket Island.
Deep, murky water, rough cur-
rents and aggressive sharks have
caused the British liner Republic to
lie idle, untouched by human hands,
since she sank on January 22, 1909.
She went down while under tow
about 26 miles southeast of Nan-
tucket Shoals. She carried $2,000,-
000 in golden eagle coins, worth
many times their face value today.
One of New England's richest
wrecks is a pirate ship yet to be
found in the shallows off Wellfleet,
Massachusetts. Known as the Whi-
daw, or Whidah, she was command-
ed by infamous Sam Bellamy. After
Bellamy and his crew spent a suc-
cessful winter in 1717 plundering
Spanish ships in the Caribbean, they
headed north with approximately
[AD] $4,000,000 worth of gold, silver,
jewels and ivory tusks-worth many
times that amount today. Off Cape
Cod they captured the Scottish wine
ship Mary Ann.
While sailing both ships off the
"Tableland" at Wellfleet, the
drunken crew was further blinded
by a thick fog. The Mary Ann
grounded off Stage Harbor, near
Orleans, then called Packet Sound.
Her crew was captured by towns-
folk. They were later hanged in
Boston. The treasure-laden Whidah
splintered in the breakers on a sand-
bar some 300 yards offshore. Only
two of her crew survived, an Indian
and a "young Welsh lad."
In the early 1900's, a few items
from the wreck washed ashore. Two
Chatham residents found 16 large
silver coins, a pair of flintlock
pistols, and two dagger handles. The
, bulk of the treasure remains un-
March, 1979
recovered.
Off Montauk Point on Long
Island, New York, is another pirate
ship, the Adventurer. Owned by
pirate Bull Bradish, she was follow-
ed by a British man-of-war and
cornered off Montauk in 1699.
Bradish scuttled the ship and down
with her went an estimated $1,500,-
000 in gold and silver. Bradish and
his crew swam ashore, but were
soon captured. Bradish was returned
to England where he was later
hanged.
In addition to these treasures,
there are hundreds of other old
ships sitting on the bottom off the
New England coast. All you've got
to do is find them
Cahill
Robert E.
Above, Dick Pavarada of Beverly, Massachusetts, displays a British gold piece
found on the wreck of the battleship U.S.S. New Hampshire off Manchester,
Maine. Below, an $8 gold piece, worth many times its face value, found on
the U.S.S. New Hampshire, sister ship of Old Ironsides.