Bermuda Shipwrecks: Titanic Connection

By Wendy Tucker

For generations the sea has sustained us by its bounty, enchanted us by its beauty, punished us by its fury and fascinated us by its enduring mysteries. It has played a vital role in Bermuda’s history, and will play an even greater role in our future. 

The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) emphasises our maritime ­heritage through the investigation of shipwrecks. Especially interesting is the connection the ­infamous Titanic had with Bermuda through another shipwreck, the Caraquet. The Caraquet, an English passenger steamer bound from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Bermuda and the West Indies, sank north of Bermuda on June 25, 1923. It had the same deck windows and bench ends as the Titanic, and was built in the same shipyard. In addition, Bermuda is where Vincent Astor, son of John Jacob Astor IV (who died on the Titanic), built and owned Astor Hall on Ferry Reach.

Besides the Titanic connection, BUEI looks at how shipwrecks have afforded Bermudians the opportunity to better their lives with ­salvaged goods, a tradition dating back to the islands’ original settlers. Regardless of their station in life, most colonists were involved with wrecking — even the governor. In 1619, The Bermuda Company sent Gov. Nathaniel Butler on the barque Warwick to Bermuda, and it wrecked in Castle Harbour. One of Butler’s first acts as governor was to build two cedar boats and search for Spanish shipwrecks. In 1621, he salvaged the San Antonio, which had been ­sailing from Havana with a Spanish treasure fleet. Butler’s notes do not mention treasure recovery, but for 10 days he and his crew weighed several cannons and ­miscellaneous cargo. BUEI exhibits artefacts found on ­the Warwick and the San Antonio.

Salvaging remained important well into World War II. When the Spanish steamer Cristobal Colon sank on the northeast breakers in 1936, for example, much-needed metals from portholes, deck windows and engine room fittings were salvaged. Many artefacts from the past are still used today in Bermudian homes, from ­furniture to serving pieces, silverware and glassware. You can also see many of these items at BUEI, including treasure. (292-7219, buei.org)

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