HMS Ontario
From LtColP at OPFOR comes news of the oldest wreck ever discovered on the Great Lakes, HMS Ontario:
"To have a Revolutionary War vessel that's practically intact is unbelievable. It's an archaeological miracle," said Canadian author Arthur Britton Smith, who chronicled the history of the HMS Ontario in a 1997 book, "The Legend of the Lake."
The finders of the wreck said they regard it as a war grave and have no plans to raise it or remove any of its artifacts. They said the ship is still considered the property of the British Admiralty.
Property of the British Admiralty, to be sure, but also a part of Canadian history.
posted by Babbling Brooks at 12:51 p.m.
2 Comments:
"Property of the British Admiralty, to be sure, but also a part of Canadian history."
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but aren't abandoned, sunken wrecks in international waters no longer property of whichever civilian owners or national government previously owned them, but that of whomever can salvage them?
(Isn't that how in the last couple of decades a small number of private partnership salvage groups have made fortunes recovering sunken treasure-bearing shipwrecks in international waters?)
Under international treaties for shipwrecks. This particular shipwreck is the property of the British Admiralty. Yes it is also part of Canada's history. But legally it belongs to the British Military.
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