Reward Offered in Theft of Bell from the City of Detroit

[mike_s]

Interesting. Apparantly other states are having the same problem of theft of cultural resources from shipwrecks.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10371_10402-149308--,00.html

Reward Offered in Theft of Bell from the City of Detroit
Contact: Sgt. Jann Gallagher 989-684-9141
Agency: Natural Resources



August 16, 2006
Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officials today announced a $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the removal of the ship's bell from the City of Detroit shipwreck located in Lake Huron.

On July 30, local divers informed Conservation Officer Scott Brown that they had returned from diving on the shipwreck City of Detroit and wanted to report the bell missing.

Built in 1866, the wooden steamship worked the Great Lakes for only seven years, hauling mostly flour and wheat from Wisconsin to Ontario. In December 1873, a late-season storm sent the City of Detroit to the bottom of Lake Huron near Saginaw Bay.

After resting on the bottom unknown for 125 years, the shipwreck was discovered in June 1999 by David Trotter and his crew aboard the Obsession II. Since then, the City of Detroit has been a popular recreational dive site. Clearly visible on one side of her bell is the name, "NOVELTY WORKS," and the other side states "NEW YORK 1844."

Taking of artifacts from the bottomlands of the state without permit is a violation of state law. Under the Aboriginal Records and Antiquities Part 761, punishment of up to $2,000 or imprisonment of one year can be ordered by the courts.

The bell has enormous historical value and shipwreck antiquity thefts are difficult criminal cases to develop and prosecute, and most begin with tips from the public. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the DNR's Report All Poaching hotline at (800) 292-7800 or Sgt. Jann E. Gallagher at the Law Enforcement Bay City District Office at (989) 684-9141.

 

[NadMat]

Thanks for the post Mike, and the link to it in the big O thread.

While I understand the desire to have a 'souvenier' of a dive, and even have a couple myself, I try to ensure that I am not degrading the dive for someone else. Pics are my first choice, followed closely by a product of the local economy that also doesn't contribute to the denegration of the dive sites or the enviroment. While I have a small piece of coral from Coz' post Wilma, it was only because it washed into my jets on my last beach dive and fell out in my dive bag when thru jets there, but I knew it came from Coz because bag was totally cleaned out just before trip. Also have no objections to anyone picking up loose pieces of wreck being spread around and buried after a major storm, although I try to avoid doing much of that myself, but will occasionally on first or otherwise personally significant dive at a site should I happen to find small sliver lying nearby a wreck I know is not protected. But I cannot really comprehend those who feel 'entitled' to pry apart a wreck declared historically significant or intentionally sunk to be enjoyed by all

I guess it is the 'me' generation thing. Or maybe they destroy so many brain cells with alchohol that they need reminders of places they have dove and pillaged. I will continue practice of taking only pictures (and the occasional small loose item, or tasty fish or lobster, all done legally and with thought to others enjoyment of sites) and leaving only bubbles (which aren't really left, since they all surface before I do) and continue to encourage others to do same.