Gold rush shipwreck with £4million 'treasure trove' discovered after 150 years
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/gold-rush-shipwreck-4million-treasure-28673825
The Cassiar Gold Rush swept northern British Columbia and the SS Pacific was loaded with some $180,000 (£140,000) of gold or an estimated $4.88million (£4m) in today's money.
A gold rush shipwreck has been discovered after 150 years with a $5million (£4million) treasure trove.
The loot has been been found at the bottom of the ocean, shipwreck hunters claim.
The SS Pacific vanished beneath the waves in 1875 while sailing from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, to San Francisco, in the US state of California.
At the time, the Cassiar Gold Rush was sweeping northern BC, and the Pacific was loaded with some $180,000 (£ 148,000) of gold – an estimated $4.88million (£4m) in today's money.
But she collided with the sailing ship, Orpheus, and sank with her entire cargo – and the loss of some 325 souls – south of Cape Flattery, Washington.
Now Matthew McCauley and Jeff Hummel, two experts from the Northwest Shipwreck Alliance, believe they've found the lost ship.
Philip Drew, the group's spokesperson, said: "The discovery was more of a slow realisation than an a-ha moment.
"The site required close and repeated examination with side scan sonar lines and remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) dives to gather enough data and evidence.
"Jeff Hummel and the team haven't had much time to take a step back and enjoy the moment yet. The holidays will provide an opportunity for us all to slow down and celebrate.
"We're also very much connected to the stories of all those who perished on the fateful day in 1875 which tempers our celebration of this discovery.
"And there's still years of hard work ahead to excavate the wreck, taking the appropriate care to recover and preserve artefacts."
One of the telltale signs is the discovery of two circular depressions in the seabed, a short distance from the rest of the wreck.
These are thought to be the steamer's paddle wheels.
Mr Drew said: "Historical accounts describe the Pacific partially breaking up at the surface, so we expected to find paddle wheels independent from the rest of the ship.
"Sure enough, we were able to image both paddle wheels with sonar and view the uncovered portion of them with the ROV in a nearby debris field."