Took a spin to Wreck Bay and found an Unusual Treasure

[JCWhite]

Thanks for giving us a peek at a wonderful hunt. JC

['E']

Love the conch, I found some on a snorkeling trip in Bahamas back in '85, still have them, congrats on your great finds!!!

[bdahunter]

Mr. Hayward in his book Bermuda Past and Present is responsible for the story of a rector of St. Ann's Church, who while neither a pirate nor a privateer, was the next thing to one - "a wrecker". When the trade of piracy lost its glory in the early 1700's, wrecking helped to take it's place. Bermudians would place lights on Wreck Hill to lure passing ships to their destruction, the distressed vessels were called 'lame ducks' and when one had made a dangerous landfall and drifted over the reefs she was quickly surrounded by whale boats and gigs, whose crews revelled in the prospect of 'salvage'.
Many an unfortunate skipper saved ship and cargo only to lose both in satisfying the claims of the wreckers. Bermuda quickly acquired an unsavoury reputation among mariners during this time.
To continue the story in Mr. Hayward's words:
The rector was preaching ferverntly one stormy Sunday morning when a man entered St. Ann's and whispered in the ears of several members of the congregation, who promptly reached for their hats. It did not take the rector long to descry signs of uneasiness and he paused to ask:
"John Smith, what are you saying to these people?"
"Parson, there's a lame duck on the south-west breakers!" John replied.
Sabbath piety, as the rector knew, must disappear under the circumstances and he remarked impassively:
"The congregation will remain seated until I take off my surplice, and then boys, we'll all start fair!"

Many fortunes have been made through, piracy, privateering and wrecking over the course of Bermuda's 500 year old history. The main leading families on this island going back to the early days of colonization, go by the telling moniker of 'The Forty Thieves'. With little by way of natural resources but a strategic location in the Gulf Stream along the Spanish Treasure Route it is little wonder that piracy has been so prevalent here in the past.
Today's Bermuda, as a shelter of foreign capital, offshore banking and international insurance giants the legacy continues but in a more dignified if less dashing fashion.

Cheers,

BDA

PS I've included pics of the shipwreck maps by the famous treasure diver Teddy Tucker, there are more than 450 wrecks around Bermuda and the number of ships taken as prizes over the centuries dwarfs that number.

[KellycoChick]

BDA, I've decided I'm going to sit in my office and live vicariously through you.

The shot of that cottage looks so much like a place I stayed at in Jamaica in November 06. I was there with a small wedding party of friends and family, but there were several nights when I just went off by myself to the cliffs and kind of found,... a sort of peace with myself by the sea. I completely fell in love with it, and that was BEFORE I had ever picked up my first metal detector!! I don't even know what kind of trouble I would get into if I had an Excalibur by my side in such a setting!! Actually, I do have some ideas,... *sighs*...

Having said that - I AM a Floridian and I DO know that sharks are scary!! 10 feet long is no joke!! Be careful out there!! I hope you take a knife or something with you...

Again, thanks for the post and the pictures! That conch is beautiful and good for you for recognizing a different kind of treasure. As always, an inspiration and quite a lovely distraction!

[anne]

Wow you really are in Paradise, lovely photo's thanks

[JohnWPA]

Very nice pics BDA....lots of history roll'n through there!!

John

[cntrydncr1]

Beautiful pics. Love shells almost as much as coins!

[Sanddigger]

great story and great pics!!

[Dixieldy]

Just LOVE the pics BDA... looks like a place I just dream about. Love the conch shell, what a beauty. Thanks so much for sharing as always.

[EPC Guy]

Beautiful area - and NICE finds, BDA...I'd love to hunt there sometime...sigh!