Cannon may clarify identity of treasure-laden shipwreck

JAKARTA (JP): Divers have retrieved a cannon from an old shipwreck off West Kalimantan to further strengthen the salvage company's claim that the ship was an American owned vessel that sank in the 18th century.

"With this finding, we know that the shipwreck is the last remains of the Lady Ontario," H.Y. Budi Prakoso, director of the PT TORR, an underwater treasure firm, said yesterday.

Lady Ontario was one of the first vessels to ply the route between the United States and China when trade between the two countries started in the late 18th century. According to American records, the ship was lost at sea after it hit a coral in January 1799 while it was sailing from Canton to New York.

The salvage operators said the ship is believed to contain nearly 350,000 ceramic items, hand-made during the Kan Lung of Cing dynasty, and totaling 26 tons.

PT TORR first discovered the shipwreck in 1991 in the Karimata Strait. It has since sent samples of broken ceramics to Christie's in New York to have them assessed.

But there were still doubts about the identity of the ship.

The cannon, retrieved from Lady Ontario on April 15, was brought over yesterday and arrived by boat at the Muara Baru port, North Jakarta (photo above). It was covered by coral and ceramic shards when it was unloaded.

PT TORR is working in a joint venture to salvage the contents of the ship. TORR finances the operation, PT Segara Usaha Prima holds the license for the salvage operation, the Queensland based-Compass Exploration Ltd provides the technology and expertise.

The vessel, said to be armed with 20 cannons, and was owned by a New York family. It left Canton on Dec. 17, 1798 and hit a coral reef, 17 miles from Serutu Island off West Kalimantan on Jan. 4, 1799.

Before the ship sunk, the crew managed to save some documents which were later stored at the New York Museum. These papers were the basis for TORR in conducting their research. (jsk)

JP/jsk