Cannon may clarify identity of treasure-laden shipwreck
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