hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
September 19 2006
att: Ed Krajewski
Memo
On September 17, 2006, at your request, I attended a meeting that was held at the McDonald's in Marathon, Florida Keys.
Present at that meeting were Ed Krajewski, Tom Yerian, Randy Alwine, Robert Gecy and myself. The purpose of this meeting was to evaluate the information as provided by Tom Yerian relative to a shipwreck site in 180 feet of water somewhere off the Marquesas Keys. Obviously for intended promotional purposes, this group "weakly" implies that this could be the fabulous treasure wreck: the French ship "Notre Dame de Deliverance" that supposedly sank in a hurricane in 1755. Qualified, serious archival researchers with whom I have discussed this matter say the ship never existed. There is absolutely no true archival documentation to date that proves otherwise. The persons attending this meeting did not in anyway try to support that it was factual. Thus we were talking about a shipwreck.
Mr. Yerian had in evidence copies of side scan sonar surveys and R>O>V produced photographs of the site but of very poor resolution and qualily. There was no comprehensive distance and measurement scaling to correlate the presented material. Mr. Yerian had his own interpretation of what certain objects were that were obviously there in the photographs but it took imagination to believe they were in fact the object he believed them to be. I personally was more perplexed by the poor quality of the side scan sonar record of the shipwrick (which was barely discernable) considering that the ballast pile is reported to be approximately 100 feet long, 35 feet wide and 5 feet high. (?)
Mr. Yerian stated that he had actually physically dove on the site and did a "drift" over the site and had recovered a pewter plate which proved to have "touch" marks on it. He said that Dick Holt of Key Largo had researched the plate and established a nanufacturer and dating period of the mid-18th Century. He also said that with the use of a metal detector, he located and recovered five silver Spanish coins. NO pictures or research report on the pewter plate or silver coins was presented as supportive evidence. When asked what the denominations and mint sources were with regard to the coins, it was stated that they were 8's, 6's, 4's but I corrected Mr. Yerian on the fact that there were no 6 reales minted.
During the beginning of our meeting (shortly before the arrival of Ed Krajewski and Robert Gecy) I explained what the facts and realities were with regard to ever getting a salvage permit from the FKNMS. Slim to none.
With regard to the legal disposition andd ramifications relating to this wreck site, the problems are of great magnitude. This wreck site is currently under an Admiralty Arrest that was filed by Greg Brooks of Sub Sea Research LLC. Although this company has not performed to date under the requirements of the court (and for that matter the FKNMS), it nevertheless still exists and will require legal action to try and have it recinded. This is going to require both time and money for legal fees.
Mr. Yerian's suggested approach to dealing with a contract or licencing situation is to attempt to strike a deal with the Kingdom of Spain, then acting as their official agent (recieving a percentage salvage award) in the salvage of this wreck site. We discussed several differnt procedures that might be used in order to get Spain to conform to this idea but I also advised that this approach is going to take a considerable amount of time and money. Particularly money with regard to legal fees for required representation and lobbying in Spain.
In conclusion to this meeeting, it was my recommendation that on the basis of all parties to be involved, sighning a non-disclosure, non circumvent agreement, the wreck site herein addressed must be physically dove on and examined. Photographs and video's should be taked of the ballast pile and all objects encountered, using a meter scale stick in each shooting. It is also my suggestion that marine archaeologist Jim Sinclair be contracted to accompany the dive team to make these observations and professionally validate what will be seen. Until such time when this site is actually validated, there is little purpose in going any further with complicated contracts, commitment of financial underwriting and extensive legal fees.
Sincerely,
Burt D. Webber, Jr.
Marine Consultant
