Corolla Shipwreck May Be the 1698 HMS Swift
A rescue effort is underway in Corolla to uncover and preserve the remains of what might just be the oldest known shipwreck on the Outer Banks. Archeologists speculate that the ship could be the British HMS Swift, which ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay in 1698. The crew abandoned the ship and it floated south to the Outer Banks. Outer Bankers found the ship and cut a hole in the bottom so it wouldn't float away. That hole, which is visible on the shipwreck's planks, is what's leading researchers to believe they may have found the Swift. Local beachcombers have been lucky to find coins from the 1600s that are suspected to have come from the shipwreck.
The shipwreck likely stayed in the same place for more than three centuries, only to be uncovered by this winters' storms. But having been uncovered after hundreds of years, the ship was in danger of breaking apart and being lost forever to the sea. As it was, planks and a large piece of the keel had already been taken back by the ocean. On Tuesday, volunteers, Corolla Fire and Rescue and the Wildlife Resources Commission all worked to uncover the mostly buried ship and drag it away from the surf. Eventually, the ship will be moving to a spot near the lighthouse in Corolla where it will be studied and documented.
Posted by Cathy at 4/7/2010 
Categories: Beachcombing, news, History
Tags: Outer Banks news Ocean Treasures Oceanfront
Categories: Beachcombing, news, History
Tags: Outer Banks news Ocean Treasures Oceanfront
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