There are such amazing cases in history. We already had an interesting story about a SHIP FOR AN HOUR, and now I will introduce you to another incredible case. In September 1856, a steamer named Arabia left the dock in Kansas in the United States and sailed up the Missouri River on a routine working voyage to deliver two hundred tons of materials for the construction of sixteen new cities under construction on the western border of the States.
This was the era of exploration, and tens of thousands of brave men and women founded new colonies in the Wild West. Some traveled overland on foot, some by rail, on horseback, and some chose to sail across the river in steamers.
And here's the story …
Steamship Arabia by an unknown artist.
The steamer Arabia was only three years old and had already made many successful trips up and down the treacherous river. The steamer was equipped with two large paddle wheels on the sides, which gave it the ability to easily maneuver around dangerous shoals and snags.
But navigating the Missouri River was difficult and dangerous. Sailing to the west, blinded by the sun shining in his face, the steamer did not notice a walnut tree trunk partially submerged in the water, which was right in the path of the steamer.
The trunk of the tree was ripped apart by the thick, oak hull of the steamer and the water quickly began to flood the holds. The ship sank within minutes. Fortunately, the river was so shallow and silted in this place that the people on the upper decks remained above the water, and then everyone safely descended ashore. Only one mule and all the cargo on board sank with the ship. At first, attempts were made to save some of the goods, but due to the clayiness of the water and the fast flow, this work was too difficult for the rescuers. The steamer and all its contents were left untouched at the bottom of the river.
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Decades passed, and the Missouri River changed its course, finding itself about a kilometer from the former site of the tragedy. The Arabia disappeared under tons of silt and mud, and in the twentieth century the place where the steamer sank became a field.
The exact place of the sinking of the steamship "Arabia" was lost, and the history of its existence has become a legend.
Arabia remained hidden from the world for more than a century, but was not forgotten. There were persistent rumors among the locals that the ship was filled with whiskey bottles and large quantities of gold, attracting the attention of treasure hunters. After many unsuccessful attempts, David Hawley in 1987, using a metal detector, weather maps and old newspaper clippings, discovered the shipwreck site.
Despite the fact that it was a rather large steamer (the length was about 52 meters, and the steamer was capable of carrying 222 tons of cargo), the "Arabia" was buried at a depth of 14 meters. It took huge excavators and a crane to retrieve the ship. As a result, rescuers dug a pit the size of a football field.
The accident was caused by a walnut log, which remained stuck in the ship's hull. On the deck were the bones of a long-dead mule. Hundreds of different items were also discovered, many of which were in excellent condition.
It took a year of intense excavation and pumping of water for the ship's hull to begin to emerge from the ground. Over the next few months, countless precious artifacts were unearthed including boxes, crates and barrels filled with everyday objects such as castor oil and nutmeg, clothes and shoes, needles and weapons, hammers and pocket knives, glasses and earrings, and more. dr.
Today, many of these exhibits can be seen in the museum, and they provide an opportunity to get an idea of the fashion, traditions and lifestyle of those times.
Museum in Kansas.
All of these items are now on display at the Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City, USA. In addition to hundreds of thousands of items, the museum also has a full-scale replica of the main deck of Arabia, 52 meters long, where you can see archival footage of the excavation process and information about the history of Arabia.
It also features the original boilers, engine and anchor of Arabia, and the skeleton of a lonely dead mule.
Museum exposition.
Mule skeleton.
Feed Arabia.
Wheel of Arabia.
Museum exposition.
Wooden crate filled with elegant antique Chinese porcelain from the 19th century.
Museum exposition.
Museum exposition.
Hardware items.