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FAST FACTS
By: JORDAN B. DARLING
CHARLESTON, S.C.— On March 19, 1965, underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence discovered the wreckage of the SS Georgiana, the “mystery ship of the Confederacy.” Exactly 102 years to the day, the ship was scuttled by the captain after trying to break through the naval blockade in Charleston, South Carolina. “The treasure I sought was not only gold, but history,” said Spence in his book “Treasures of the Confederate Coast: the “real” Rhett Butler’ & other revelations.” “The Georgiana was
the most powerful Confederate cruiser ever built, and she was my discovery.” The steamer was built in Great Britain and was sunk in 14 feet of water off the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, during its maiden voyage while carrying today’s equivalent of 2$ million in cargo. On March 19, 1863, the steamer attempted to run past the Federal Blockading Squadron and into Charleston. Instead, she was spotted by the America, an armed yacht that alerted the rest of the fleet. The ship wa s caught i n a c h a s e w i t h t h e US S Wissahickon, which fired a shot
On Board With Johnson
by J.R. Johnson
that went through the hull, damaging the propeller and rudder. Captain A. B. Davidson fl a s h e d a w h i t e l i g h t signaling surrender, fired on the boarding crew (which was considered a gross violation of wartime rules), and then beached the ship in 14 feet of water, scuttled it, and escaped onto land with his crew. Lieutenant Commander Joh n L . Dav i s, who was commanding the Wissahickon, then set the ship on fire to prevent troops from coming back Artifacts from Georgiana Mary Bowers wreck site for the rest of the cargo. S p e nc e s p e nt y e a r s gathering notes and data related to the Georgiana to tri- the beach that would be one mile making the place where the lines angulate the wreck’s position. from shore on an old chart. Then intersected the approximate loHe plotted the ship’s position by he swung an arc three and one- cation of the ship. running an imaginary line along half miles from Breach Inlet, Spence worked with a trawler captain, Walter Shaffer, to run a grappling device along the bottom of the ocean to see if they snagged anything. Finally, after two-and-a-half hours the pair hooked something, and Spence RE: Coastal Commission RE: Surfrider Foundation suited up and dove in where he found the Georgiana. Awards Significant Beach Cleanup at PCH “I w a s on t he w r e c k I Whale Tail Grant Round and Warner (MARCH 4-18) (MARCH 4-18) w a n t e d ,” s a i d S p e n c e i n “As the current chapter chair, his book. “Elated w ith the “Thank You” for the write up. “Fantastic news. Protecting satisfaction of a successful I can get you all our future our coast and educating all quest, I gave a conqueror’s yell, cleanup dates if you are interon climate change are key to even though I was underwater ested. Everyone is welcome and and there was no one to hear our oceans’ futures, especially parking is free at Bolsa if you in California. Let’s make more me but the fish and crabs. I had mention you are with Surfrider. drivers aware of this license discovered the resting place of See you down there.” plate program!” the Georgiana, “mystery ship of the Confederacy.” — KC Fockler — Dave Lumley The ship is still in the shallow waters of Charleston and can be seen on clear days.
Letters/Online Comments
E. Lee Spence Wikimedia Commons
SS Georgiana Discovered by Diver Exactly 102 Years After Loss
