Centuries-Old Shipwreck Washes Ashore in Canada, Sparking Mystery and Baffling Locals

Declan Gallagher
·2 min read
2

A centuries-old shipwreck has washed up on the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, the CBC reported, baffling locals and officials alike.

Cape Ray resident Gordon Blackmore stumbled upon the remains one morning while hunting for seabirds. The small community of just 350 has an outsized reputation as it pertains to shipwrecks, so much so that it’s become known as “The Rock.” At least eight ships have met their end on Cape May due to the inclement weather, treacherous land, or fierce winds.

This wreck’s emergence hundreds of years later has sparked a mystery within the coastal community. Though its origins are currently unknown, the town is actively working to correct that. Speculation has run wild on the local Facebook forum. There, community members have come together to swap theories and lend a helping hand to the volunteers on the beach.

Experts have pegged the ship as being a product of the 1800s, judging from the wood and copper used in its construction. Local officials are asking onlookers not to approach or otherwise interfere with the ship.

Neil Burgess, president of the Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, posited that coastal erosion and the force of Hurricane Fiona, which devastated parts of the region in 2022, led to its reemergence. Large ocean swells that hit the area last week may have finally led the ship back to land.

“This is perfect,” Burgess said. “This is a great, great event.”

Investigators have been dispatched to the site and tasked with salvaging what they can from the wreckage. But many who live in Cape Ray are afraid the tides will pull the remains back out to sea. On Tuesday, several locals took it upon themselves to safely secure the wreck from the elements until the recovery team arrives.

“It is a part of our history that has just been awakened,” resident Elizabeth Gover wrote on Facebook. “Some descendants will still want to know the names and the places where their ancestors were lost in the icy waters off our shores. This is our history. Let’s find out.”