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| Science & Technology |
| Used Google Earth to find sunken Spainish Treasure Ships? |
| 2009-02-17 |
| Some people harness the awesome power of Google Earth to view distant lands they may never reach, take in a crime in progress, or maybe even find a 3 billion dollar shipwreck. At least that's the claim of Nathan Smith, a Los Angeles musician who appears to have spotted the remains of a Spanish barquentine while zooming in on a shoeprint shaped object in the Aransas Pass in Texas. This assumption was based on historical records which put a lost barquentine (three masted sailboat) near that location south of Refugio, Texas, in 1822. After consulting with a few experts, he traveled to the location which just happens to be the private ranch of the late Morgan Dunn O'Connor. The result of this drama will end up being decided in the courts with the family of Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Smith in a bitter dispute over salvage rights. If the courts determine that the land is located within a navigate-able waterway, the first person to find the wreck is entitled to the spoils, otherwise the bounty goes to the O'Connor family. As if this wasn't complicated enough, the state of Texas is also considering its options because it disputes the existence of a commercial waterway near the wrecks location. If this is proven true, the state might have found a surefire way to balance its books come budget time. U.S. District Judge David Hittner will rule on the salvage rights within two months time. |
| Posted by:3dc |