An artist's rendering of the S.S. Pacific, which was built in 1850.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Wikipedia
December 18, 2022 - 6:30 PM
British Columbians might be able to claim some gold if they can prove their ancestors died on the S.S. Pacific.
The vessel was sailing from Esquimalt to San Francisco on Nov. 4, 1875 but about 12 hours after its departure, the ship collided with another named ship, the Orpheus and the S.S. Pacific sunk and more than 200 passengers died, according to HistoryLink.org. There were just two survivors.
At the time, the S.S. Pacific was in operation to service the Stikine Gold Rush.
Nearly a century-and-a-half later, representatives for Rockfish Inc. – a company from Washington State – believe they know where to find the shipwreck and filed a lawsuit in the US to salvage it.
Rockfish has been searching for the vessel since 2016, according to the lawsuit, which claims gold was among the cargo on board.
“Rockfish conducted sonar surveys to search for the wreck of the S.S. Pacific, focusing its efforts on a location where commercial fishermen reported their trawl nets had become hung up on an underwater obstruction,” according to the document. “Commercial fishermen also reported recovering coal in their nets while fishing at this location.”
When the company visited the area to conduct sonar surveys, shapes consistent with the dimensions of the vessel as well as its paddle wheels were discovered.
Next, Rockfish deployed a remotely-operated vehicle underwater, and claims to have recovered artifacts from the ship.
READ MORE: Florida beach erosion uncovers wooden ship from 1800s
The remains of the ship are about 20 miles off the Pacific coast of Washington State and Rockfish believes nobody else has located them, according to the lawsuit.
“If, as Rockfish believes, the vessel is the S.S. Pacific, she remained unclaimed on the sea floor for over 147 years. The vessel is therefore unowned and/or abandoned.”
The company claims to have invested substantial resources into the discovery, and the ship can’t be salvaged without its services. “Rockfish is therefore entitled to a liberal salvage award.”
According to maritime law, Rockfish is entitled to full possession of the vessel, the company claims.
The company asked for exclusive control over salvaging efforts.
However, the Law of Finds applies, so descendants of victims who were carrying gold on the ship can make a claim, albeit Rockfish would be entitled to a portion of the value for making the recovery efforts.
The lawsuit was successful and the crew at Rockfish's request was granted on Nov. 21.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2022