Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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1852 Tea Pot Recovered From Steamer Wreck On Display.
Find and photo by Sebastian Steve
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I just received the following in an email from Sebastian Steve.
IMMIGRANT KETTLE/TEA POT 1852 Recovered by Sebastian Steve.
I saw your 'TEAPOT' photo, so I thought I might share my recovery (from about 30 years ago) of a teapot or kettle and the story that it carries on...hopefully forever...however long that is.
I was salvaging a passenger steamer up in Lake Erie, lost in 1852. I went down on my morning dive to 160 feet, and worked along the port gunnel. Sure enough jammed in the passageway on the main deck was an "immigrant crate" as I had named them. This one the top was missing, evidently blown off from the air pressure trapped inside. They really were not like an immigrant trunk with a big lid that opens. Instead these were often just heavily built hardwood boxes nailed shut for the period of the voyage.
Theft was rampant back in these days, and the only way to keep your goods safe, was to guard them day and night. Literally sleep with your head resting against your crate. Nailing your "Crate" shut certainly deterred theft! The wealthy in first class would consign their luggage and valuables to the ship's purser, who kept all their belongings locked up tight in the purser's cabin for safe keeping.
And as I began to feel around inside this immigrant crate, I could feel many objects to my delight still remained. Certainly all the contents could have been blown out from the air pressure. This of course was all by feel, as the second my hand touched the first artifact, the powder silt was up, up, and away! Totally bringing the visibility of the dive down to near zero at this location.
But I was used to working in low visibility, or even just by feel, so I continued to investigate the contents of this crate. A beautiful oval cheese box came out. Totally hand made and carved with decorations in the wood. These were often given as wedding gifts to a new young couple. The crate had preserved the thin wood perfectly, and all the inscriptions and patterns could be seen. A beautiful piece indeed.
Then I felt something harder near the bottom of the crate. Harder, yet round with a protrusion. I pulled this artifact up and out into the clearer water. And I saw for the first time, that I had a beautiful tea pot or kettle as they are often known by. Not a bit of damage, no dents, amazing how it survived a collision and foundering into 160 feet of water with no damage! But wait... the lid was missing. I think I groaned so hard, I almost spit out my regulator. My chances of finding that lid was next to zero. It must have blown out the top of the crate when the lid blew off. What a royal shame... Still a pretty piece, and I could see some kind of inscription on the handle.
And so I surfaced after my 11 minutes of decompression. My total dive was about 50 minutes, but only 20 minutes of that was actually on the wreck. In the afternoon dive, (after sitting out for 4 hours for residual nitrogen to escape my blood stream) my next dive would have the same profile for decompression, but only 15 minutes of time on the wreck. So yes...a total working day of only 35 minutes....and a full hour boat ride each way to the wreck. There was no time for sightseeing, not with the business I was in of making my living from the deep.
It was a beautiful day...and after a nice rest in the warm sun, a sandwich and soft drink, it was time to suit up again. Down I slid on the descent line, deeper and deeper, and right over I swam to my mystery chest I had just located that very morning. And I against all odds, felt around in the bottom of the crate for the lid. I knew exactly what it would feel like, and its size. My minds eye would identify this lid quite easily "If" it were only still there in the crate. Blown out...in reality it could be anywhere. Depending on when the air pressure had her way with the crate. The lid could be five feet from the crate, or 50 feet away under three feet of silt. It had to be found in the crate or kiss it goodbye...forever.
I feel like I almost "willed" this lid into my hand. Because at about ten minutes into the dive I had her in my hand !!! I knew it right away, but I still backed up and thrust my arm up and above the silt cloud into clear enough water to see what I had. And OH-Boy...was I a happy diver. Far too fine a piece of history to not be complete. And now she was complete in all her glory.
What makes this kettle so special? If you study the inscription on the handle... it is "MHD" 1852. And there is also a maker's mark from when the kettle was made. This is only speculation...but I would state my reputation on this...Some gifted man for beautiful scroll work, purchased this kettle in N.Y.City after crossing the ocean from the Fatherland. To commemorate his arrival in the United States, he scribed into the handle his initials, and the date. Making this a very important --immigrant artifact--- of 1852. I believe he had the calm and time to do the carving as he went peacefully down the Erie Canal from the Hudson River to Buffalo, N.Y. on a horse drawn canal boat.
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Inscribed Tea Pot Handle.
Photo by Sebastian Steve (clipped by TG)
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And so after 30 years it was time....time for a new home that could guarantee its continuity and safety. I carefully selected a couple who run a maritime museum out of their home in Michigan. It's first rate in all respects. And just as important, this Ken has a deep and loving respect for the history of The Great Lakes. I wish him well with this gorgeous piece of immigrant history. A piece this fine might bring in the neighborhood of $5,000.
All the Best,
Sebastian Steve
Very meaningful and beautiful find! Thanks for sharing Steve.
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John L. sent me the following email and photos.
Hello again.
I was wondering if you and/or your readers could tell me anything about this find.
I know very little about fossils, but this sure seems to be one resembling a tooth.
Found it in a line of shells at a local, municipal, tourist beach.
Thank you again for keeping up your terrific blog!
I don't think this is a tooth, but if you can provide more specific information on the item, please email me.
Find and photos by John L.
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Now this is starting to look like it could get interesting.
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