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Google Earth – And The Three Billion Dollar Shipwreck

Posted 02/15/09 at 03:45:01 PM  by Justin Kerr

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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 massed 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 navigateable 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.

COMMENTS:8
TAGS: Google, lawsuit, Maps, court, google earth
COMMENTS
avatarI am thinking right here

Submitted by Bill the clown on Tue, 02/17/2009 - 1:02pm

http://maps.google.com/maps?f= =28.30491,-97.275352&sspn=0.040883,0.082312&g=Refugio,+TX&ie=UTF8&t=h&view=map&ei=mx-bSZrnOI_ANbva0IIN&attrid=&ll=27.854179,-97.060025&spn=0.010264,0.020578&z=16

Stories say an x marks the spot - and I see the x.

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avatarLots of room for dispute here

Submitted by Zazubovich on Mon, 02/16/2009 - 3:39pm

Archaeological resources tend to be part of the surface estate of the land.  Owner of surface estate may not own subsurface rights; mineral rights, water rights, oil and gas rights are all different.  Further, if it is still in the water it could be in the state or federal estate; municipal if the waters are not navigable and enclosed.  If it is plop right there on the land it could belong to the landowner-several marine sites are like this as river channels move and estuaries fill in with silt.  If it is in federal waters, the finder may be the keeper, although historic preservation laws, national claims, and insurance rights may take precedence.  It may still belong to the navy of its country of origin.

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avatarWow...lame

Submitted by neo1piv14 on Mon, 02/16/2009 - 9:00am

The guy who owns the property should just say he knew it was there all along, and that he kept it there for decoration. Then if the google earth guy trys to say it's his, it just becomes another property theft matter. If someone came into my apartment and took something because they said they found it first, it'd never fly. The only thing that seems to make this case different is that (A) you can see it from a satellite picture, which big whoop, you can see my house too and (B) it's worth a lot of money. If it's on someone's land, they own it. No different than if they found uranium, oil, Jimmy Hoffa.

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avatarI'd say that whomever owns

Submitted by cc3d on Sun, 02/15/2009 - 6:43pm

I'd say that whomever owns the property now, gets the 'treasure'

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avatarCould be

Submitted by GreenTurtle on Mon, 02/16/2009 - 5:17am

 It is a good point. I suppose the person owns the property AND everything on it (or in it Known and unknown) 

 If someone found oil on my property I wouldn't let them just come and start drilling. I would say thank-you for finding it, but wouldn't let them start drilling. And if I didn't have the means to tap the oil, I would work out some sort of deal with someone who could. I might be nice to the person who found it too though with a "finder's fee".

 Anyone going after it needs permission from the property owner anyway.

 I am glad the Judge has to work this one out and not me. LOL!!!!!!

 

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avatarFinder's Keeper's

Submitted by GreenTurtle on Sun, 02/15/2009 - 6:38pm

 I say finder's keeper's. But if the guy who found it can't get to it, well then whoever gets to it first seems fair.

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avatarCan someone point out the

Submitted by mike2060 on Mon, 02/16/2009 - 7:07am

Can someone point out the object of interest in the image?  I can't see anything, why would they post a picture without pointing out the shipwreck?????

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avatarCan someone point out the

Submitted by mike2060 on Mon, 02/16/2009 - 7:07am

Can someone point out the object of interest in the image?  I can't see anything, why would they post a picture without pointing out the shipwreck?????

 

EDIt: sorry somehow posted ths twice.

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