Bøker av Donald G. Shomette

In this archaeological trilogy, Donald G. Shomette provides a tour of the treasures beneath the Chesapeake Bay. Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay, a companion volume to Tidewater Time Capsule, continues the author's quest to uncover the Bay's hidden history. New Jersey, a steamship that sank in the waters of the Chesapeake in 1870, is the subject of the first part of this absorbing narrative. The wreck became the scene of large-scale relic hunting, but also of cutting-edge technology. Events surrounding the exploration of the wreck were instrumental in the creation of the first state-sponsored underwater archaeology agency in Maryland. In part two Shomette describes the history and archaeological investigation of Kent Island, where the remains and relics of the earliest permanent European settlement in Maryland were excavated. Part three chronicles a fascinating yet little-known chapter in American history. During World War I, the U.S. government created an emergency program to build hundreds of wooden steamships to replace merchant vessels being destroyed in Germany's campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare. Most of these ships never saw the European Theater and now lie beneath Mallows Bay off the Potomac. The bay also holds the remnants of countless other vessels, making it the largest ship graveyard in the United States - and perhaps the world.

For many, the Chesapeake Bay has an aura of historical romance and high adventure. Like the great Atlantic Ocean of which it is an extension, the bay also has its dark and treacherous aspect. Marine archaeologist Donald Shomette shares his great interest in the tragedies and disasters that occurred in the bay and its tidewater region over a 370-year period. He lists more than 1,800 of these events between 1608 and 1978, but elaborates on a few of the more significant catastrophes and military losses. Some stand out for their effect upon the course of human events, while others are notable for their immense toll on life and property. Included are tales of incredible bravery, courage, and fortitude, and stories of cowardice, stupidity, and ineptitude. The text is liberally illustrated, and there is an extensive detailed chronology of all known disasters on the bay.