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Archiver > TheShipsList > 2001-07 > 0994433062


From: (Harry Dodsworth)
Subject: [TSL] Hurricane of 1857 effects shipping
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 11:24:22 -0400 (EDT)


,

Marj Kohli <> wrote about the wreck of the paddle
steamer Central America in September 1857.

By chance I ran across the report of the sinking in the New York Times
while reading the microfilm for something else. A fascinating story.
I look forward to the description in 'The Fleets' section of TSL.

Besides the human story, the ship was carrying gold from California,
(one source says 21 tons!). Much of this was recovered in 1998 after
the wreck had been discovered. The value of the recovered gold was
said to be between $100 million and $1,000 million, partly whether it
was valued at bullion prices or as collectibles.

The captain, Lieutenant Herndon, USN was from the same family that
Herndon, Virginia is named after and was related to Lieutenant Maury,
the pioneer American oceanographer, whose name often comes up in
shipping notices.

--
Harry Dodsworth Ottawa Ontario Canada
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