- May 20, 2004
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- All Treasure Hunting
PORTLAND, Ore. — When beachcombers found two small cannons that likely came from the 1846 wreck of the Navy schooner Shark on the north Oregon coast, the state assumed it had some priceless artifacts. And for now, it does.
But the Navy reminded Oregon that if the cannons were Navy property back then, they’re Navy property now — 162 years notwithstanding.
There is no immediate sign the Navy will come get its guns, which are fairly rare. The shipwreck itself closed out a little-known chapter of naval history.
The Shark, an 86-foot-long schooner, sank outbound from the Columbia River, one of the world’s riskier river crossings.
One of its cannons was found in 1898. It is the namesake for Cannon Beach and is in the town’s history museum.
Chris Havel, of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, acknowledged that the Navy owns the guns.
“Federal law says part of a warship, no matter how old, belongs to the federal government,” Havel said. “There is no conflict [of ownership].”
Nehalem Bay State Park interpretive ranger Shelley Parker said she is unaware of any attempt by the Navy to get the first one back. The other two are at the park undergoing early steps in preservation and restoration.
Complete article http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_navy_shipwreck_030308/
But the Navy reminded Oregon that if the cannons were Navy property back then, they’re Navy property now — 162 years notwithstanding.
There is no immediate sign the Navy will come get its guns, which are fairly rare. The shipwreck itself closed out a little-known chapter of naval history.
The Shark, an 86-foot-long schooner, sank outbound from the Columbia River, one of the world’s riskier river crossings.
One of its cannons was found in 1898. It is the namesake for Cannon Beach and is in the town’s history museum.
Chris Havel, of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, acknowledged that the Navy owns the guns.
“Federal law says part of a warship, no matter how old, belongs to the federal government,” Havel said. “There is no conflict [of ownership].”
Nehalem Bay State Park interpretive ranger Shelley Parker said she is unaware of any attempt by the Navy to get the first one back. The other two are at the park undergoing early steps in preservation and restoration.
Complete article http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/ap_navy_shipwreck_030308/
