Captain Kidd Ship Found, Scientists Say

[Mikey]

A good day of diving.......

(Dec. 13) - The wreckage of a pirate ship abandoned by Captain Kidd in the 17th century has been found by divers in shallow waters off the Dominican Republic, a research team claims.

The underwater archaeology team, from Indiana University, says they have found the remains of Quedagh Merchant, actively sought by treasure hunters for years.


Photo Gallery: Shipwreck Discoveries
Indiana University / LiveScience.com Archaeologists from Indiana University said they have found the 17th century remains of Captain William Kidd's ship in the waters off the Dominican Republic. Here, scientist Charles Beeker examines the wreckage.
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Charles Beeker of IU said his team has been licensed to study the wreckage and convert the site into an underwater preserve for the public.

It is remarkable that the wreck has remained undiscovered all these years given its location, just 70 feet off the coast of Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic in less than 10 feet of seawater.

"I've been on literally thousands of shipwrecks in my career," Beeker said. "This is one of the first sites I've been on where I haven't seen any looting. We've got a shipwreck in crystal clear, pristine water that's amazingly untouched. We want to keep it that way, so we made the announcement now to ensure the site's protection from looters."

The find is valuable because of what it could reveal about William Kidd and piracy in the Caribbean, said John Foster, California's state underwater archaeologist, who is participating in the research.

Historians differ on whether Kidd was actually a pirate or a privateer — someone who captured pirates. After his conviction of piracy and murder charges in a sensational London trial, he was left to hang over the River Thames for two years.

Historians write that Kidd captured the Quedagh Merchant, loaded with valuable satins and silks, gold, silver and other East Indian merchandise, but left the ship in the Caribbean as he sailed to New York on a less conspicuous sloop to clear his name of the criminal charges.

[Susie Q Roo]

I saw this, but was disappointed to see that history shows it was looted before it was sunk. I like treasure!

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

I saw this, but was disappointed to see that history shows it was looted before it was sunk. I like treasure!

Is said in the third paragraph that is had not been looted.....Yet there were no pictures of what they found.......

"I've been on literally thousands of shipwrecks in my career," Beeker said. "This is one of the first sites I've been on where I haven't seen any looting. We've got a shipwreck in crystal clear, pristine water that's amazingly untouched. We want to keep it that way, so we made the announcement now to ensure the site's protection from looters."

Maybe the Captain took all the gold and silver but left the rest of what was on the ship......

[Mindbender]

Shiver me timbers!

[Susie Q Roo]

Originally Posted by Mikey

Is said in the third paragraph that is had not been looted.....Yet there were no pictures of what they found.......

"I've been on literally thousands of shipwrecks in my career," Beeker said. "This is one of the first sites I've been on where I haven't seen any looting. We've got a shipwreck in crystal clear, pristine water that's amazingly untouched. We want to keep it that way, so we made the announcement now to ensure the site's protection from looters."

Maybe the Captain took all the gold and silver but left the rest of what was on the ship......

No, no... I didn't mean SINCE it was sunk. I read yesterday that the men that Kidd entrusted his ship with when he went north to try to settle up with his accusers stole everything off the ship and then set fire to it and sent it downriver, where it eventually ended up not far off the coast and sunk. I'll see if I can't find that article again.

[See Turtle]

Originally Posted by Mikey

Is said in the third paragraph that is had not been looted.....Yet there were no pictures of what they found.......

"I've been on literally thousands of shipwrecks in my career," Beeker said. "This is one of the first sites I've been on where I haven't seen any looting. We've got a shipwreck in crystal clear, pristine water that's amazingly untouched. We want to keep it that way, so we made the announcement now to ensure the site's protection from looters."

Maybe the Captain took all the gold and silver but left the rest of what was on the ship......

Mikey, that's exactly what happened. In fact, Kidd and his crew had nearly a month to strip her of anything they thought valuable after they scuttled her in the Dominican shallows.

There was a great story on this in this morning's Indianapolis Star. The cool thing is that, if the IU team can get the site protected, there are plans to turn it into an underwater museum of sorts.

I love this stuff. I've been a pirate junkie for years.

[See Turtle]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

No, no... I didn't mean SINCE it was sunk. I read yesterday that the men that Kidd entrusted his ship with when he went north to try to settle up with his accusers stole everything off the ship and then set fire to it and sent it downriver, where it eventually ended up not far off the coast and sunk. I'll see if I can't find that article again.

Even more accurate than my version. Thanks, Susie.

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

No, no... I didn't mean SINCE it was sunk. I read yesterday that the men that Kidd entrusted his ship with when he went north to try to settle up with his accusers stole everything off the ship and then set fire to it and sent it downriver, where it eventually ended up not far off the coast and sunk. I'll see if I can't find that article again.

I gotcha SQR.....Would like to read the article If you can find it though......

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by See Turtle

Mikey, that's exactly what happened. In fact, Kidd and his crew had nearly a month to strip her of anything they thought valuable after they scuttled her in the Dominican shallows.

There was a great story on this in this morning's Indianapolis Star. The cool thing is that, if the IU team can get the site protected, there are plans to turn it into an underwater museum of sorts.

I love this stuff. I've been a pirate junkie for years.

Ten feet of water......Can you imagine just out snorkeling and come across something like that......I mean seventy feet from shore......

[Susie Q Roo]

Here ya go... click on the quote for the whole article.

Historians write that Kidd captured the Quedagh Merchant, loaded with valuable satins and silks, gold, silver and other East Indian merchandise, but left the ship in the Caribbean as he sailed to New York on a less conspicuous sloop to clear his name of the criminal charges.

IU Anthropologist Geoffrey Conrad said the men Kidd entrusted with his ship reportedly looted it and then set it ablaze and adrift down the Rio Dulce. Conrad said the location of the wreckage and the formation and size of the cannons, which had been used as ballast, are consistent with historical records of the ship. They also found pieces of several anchors under the cannons.

[ANDY]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

No, no... I didn't mean SINCE it was sunk. I read yesterday that the men that Kidd entrusted his ship with when he went north to try to settle up with his accusers stole everything off the ship and then set fire to it and sent it downriver, where it eventually ended up not far off the coast and sunk. I'll see if I can't find that article again.

You just can't trust anyone eh!!

[LndShrk]

I find it interestingthat the team doing the recovery work is from Indiana University - INDIANA. Wouldn't you usually think that a school like FSU, UCLA or Texas would be the lead on something like this?
You gotta love those Hoosiers, they'll doing anything to get out of the long, cold winter nights... Just as long as they can see the basketball team play!
BTW - I AM from Indiana, so therefore a Hoosier. BUT, NOT one of those Hoosiers. GO Ball State!!!

[See Turtle]

Originally Posted by LndShrk

I find it interestingthat the team doing the recovery work is from Indiana University - INDIANA. Wouldn't you usually think that a school like FSU, UCLA or Texas would be the lead on something like this?
You gotta love those Hoosiers, they'll doing anything to get out of the long, cold winter nights... Just as long as they can see the basketball team play!
BTW - I AM from Indiana, so therefore a Hoosier. BUT, NOT one of those Hoosiers. GO Ball State!!!

Westfield, huh? I live just down the road from you off Smokey Row.

BTW, Mel Fisher (the guy who found the Nuestra Atocha) was from Indy and Tommy Thompson, the guy who brought up the S.S. Central America ("Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea"), was based in Columbus, OH.

[MWC]

This is the kind of thing that would motivate me to get scuba-certifed. Normally, snorkeling is just fine with me, but ...
wow!

[See Turtle]

Originally Posted by MWC

This is the kind of thing that would motivate me to get scuba-certifed. Normally, snorkeling is just fine with me, but ...
wow!

That's the cool thing about most of these wrecks. A snorkel is often all you need. This one's in ten feet of water. The Nuestra Atocha in less than 30.