The Contest is Closed!

Nov 18, 2008

As we wind down the last few weeks of the contest, we anticipate a flurry of activity. There are over 9,000 questions in the database now and there really is no conceivable way that a person entering the contest now can entertain the thought of winning. So to be fair to those who have been in this from the beginning we are closing the registration immediately. Now it is a sprint to the finish and may the best researcher win!

Context of Scipion Letter

Nov 04, 2008

The following is the complete text of the letter from the captain of Le Scipion. It was written one week after the ship went down as he sat on the beach certainly observing the wreckage. For discussion refer to the forum on this website.

Translator’s Note:    This document is written in Old French therefore some words were

 unrecognizable and difficult to translate.

De Gromouard

Account of the Affair of the Disappearance

Of the Vessel the Scipion under the command of

Mr. de Grimouard Captain de Vau.

On 17 October 1782 the vessel the Scipion, returning with the frigate Sibilla under the command of Mr. de Kgariou Locmaria, Captain of the vessel in convoy from the Cape to France, finding ourselves in the Porto Rico canal with East-West winds, at 8 o’clock in the morning the frigate which was facing us to the wind and a little ahead pointed the forward sails to us and a little while later sent us a numerical signal using two sails.

This signal was followed by five sails. The frigate put out all its sails in order to be recognized and we put out all the sails we could carry so that we could follow her.

We soon noticed that these ships were headed directly towards us and the Sibille signaled us to prepare for combat.

At ten o’clock the frigate after heading its board and remaining broken down some time with its starboard to the wind, sent signals of recognition to its ships to which they did not reply. So, the frigate which recognized them as enemies put out all its sails showing us that they were superior. We turned round as she did and gained control the same way.

She sent us a signal to flee following her route and movements. This signal was followed a short while after the one to flee under the wind which we did letting ourselves arrive like her and the last signal was followed by one telling us to proceed. We continued the same route concentrating on controlling our ship to our best advantage in relation to our position with the two vessels which were nearest to us and which we soon recognized for one of three bridges and the other a sixty four, the first in our waters and the second more to the wind.

In the afternoon, as these ships were becoming infinitely closer, we began to fire some cannon-balls at the ship that was in our waters and it replied by two legs which it sent to us but to little effect. This false manoeuvre on their part gave us time to advance a little, but this ship noticing this continued to chase us as it had done up to this, gaining on us so that between eight and nine o’clock in the evening it was already approximately on our rere.  It could have crushed us on the hip side which it undoubtedly would have done if we had not prevented it from getting that close. We got into that position suddenly managing to pass out the ship at the distance of a pistol and we attempted to do it the worst damage by a stretch of doubly loaded load.

This manoeuvre giving us an advantage placed us a t a distance and they began to fire some cannon-balls at us. This move was more of a success that we could have hoped for against a ship of that strength. Our side was on its triboard cheek and it was in that position that we fired this first stretch at them which must have been murderous and to which they responded with all its force.

It seemed as if this vessel was about to attack us and it would have happened thus because of its sheer mass and would have passed us out if we had not positioned ourselves sideways to avoid that dangerous position. Therefore, we found ourselves with the cannons crossed lengthways and the two vessels joined together.

We fought like so for a certain length of time after which the vessel moved away which made it possible for them to direct all their vessel which I think they had dared not do while the two vessels were as one. We waited until, responding to them with all our might, we managed to position ourselves sideways to the stern and fought in this position which placed us at a distance and made us avoid their fire since they had to position themselves as we had in order to follow us. I managed to get quite a bit away from the two so that I was able to repair parts of my vessel which had bullet holes as well as my sails.

However, the enemies began to follow me and forced me to direct my vessel in relation to their position. I was bound for the Dominican Republic approximately at the Enganno Cape from which I was at a distance of about 12 leagues.

The enemies were constantly at the same distance to my ship all night but without catching up on me or losing sight of me. By daylight I was at about four leagues from land, the Enganno Cape, and I continued to sail until I got as close as possible to the cost between the cape and a point in the Bay of Samana with the intention of wetting and berthing the ship in another bay which is called Port aux Anglais. The three bridge vessel was broken down in front of my vessel and we noticed that it was firing cannons on board from some of its ships without guessing the reason why.

Having arrived very close to the coast and the sounding in the other side of the bay and as I was coming round the point of the dyke, the first one which had caught up with me considerably since the moment I had gone back on the starboard, fired several cannons at me to no effect as they were too far away and no doubt it did not want to engage in combat any closer and become far away from the three bridge vessel which it joined a short while later.

So we arrived in the bay, very happy to be there at that moment and ready to berth there for seven arms that the soundings had given a moment earlier, the sails mounted and set to the wind, the top-gallant flared up on the mast. The vessel touched on a high deep and some efforts we were able to do, we were never able to get it away. I had made a considerable effort to carry a big anchor and turn around on to it, the small one I had already sent was not enough. But just when everything was ready and we were going to carry out this operation, we were forced to think of nothing else but evacuating the vessel which was entirely broken and filled with water.

I had the wounded and the crew brought to land with incredible effort and we found ourselves in a desert land nearly totally lost both by the sea water and by the rain which fell in the evening and during the whole night. Nearly all of our belongings were lost and the water overtook the top of the vessel, du Vau and ourselves were busy worrying about our health.

I lost twelve men who were killed in the combat and fourty three wounded. Among the wounded were six officers. Several of us are lightly wounded, Mr. de Couteveille was wounded in the thigh region by a rifle shot.

I can only speak in the highest regard for the way the crew behaved in this action, following the example of all my officers and their intelligence, help and activity in assisting me in a pursuit of nearly thirty four hours.

Written at the dyke point in the Bay of Samana 25 October 1782.

Grimouard

Conference Call for 9/27/08

Sep 25, 2008

As announced we will be having a conference call this Saturday at 12 noon EDT. The number to call is 1-800-704-9804. If you call more than 5 minutes before the allotted start time you will not be able to log in. When prompted, enter your PIN followed by the # sign. Pressing *4 after the call commences will increase/decrease the volume and *6 will mute/unmute your own line. The moderator can see all phone numbers of those calling and they are highlighted when someone is speaking or the noise level gets to the point where it is obtrusive. If there is too much interference (like from a cellphone while someone is driving with the window down or the CD player cranked) or if any individual is trying to dominate the conversation, the moderator will mute them.

Those of you who have already received a PIN previously will be able to use the same PIN this time. If you previously had a PIN and no longer know what it is, email media@alldeepblue.com and request it. If for some reason you are not on that list, or you are new and need a PIN please email media@alldeepblue and request one. New numbers will be issued to those who provide the following information:

1. Full name

2. Complete mailing address

3. Telephone number.

Those not supplying all of the information will not be issued a PIN. All requests hopefully will be filled, depending on the number received. If for some reason you cannot get a PIN in time or cannot be on for the call, the complete call will be put on the website within a few days.

Y'know we could make this all simpler, but this is all being done at no charge to the callers. If you would prefer to pay the toll yourself, let me know and we will set the next one up with a provider that won't charge us, but will charge you.

Tropical Storm Fay

Aug 22, 2008

We watched the progress of the storm from the moment it left the African coast. As it came across the Atlantic it seemed like it couldn't make its mind up as to what it wanted to do. One day it would look like it was crumbling apart, the next day it would start wrapping up and looking like a monster. Captain Billy decided on Thursday to head in to port. I have never had even the slightest inclination to question him and with my life and the lives of all on board in his hands his responsibility is huge. We arrived in Samana around sunset with no inclination that anything at all was going to happen. Friday morning we awoke to mostly cloudy skies and rain. The forecast called for a lot of rain with a chance of thunderstorms but winds out of the north at only 10 to 20 mph. We had the boat positioned with the bow to the north and felt ready to ride out the storm. Around 5 pm the sun actually broke through a couple of times and I thought we were done. Wrong. Straight east from us a huge black wall seemed to be slowly moving towards us. Within minutes the rain was coming down in sheets and the wind shifted to the east. The computer in the wheelhouse showed winds constantly from the east in the high 30's and low 40's with gusts up into the 50's. The winds slammed us broadside on the starboard side and the two ropes were as tight as guitar strings. Dave was concerned because if those went we would slam into other boats and end up on the beach. Chicho, Domingo and Roberto showed up wide eyed and Billy had Domingo and Roberto jump into a small boat and with Chicho translating and barking orders in Spanish we were able to add four more ropes and ensure the safety of the boat. The boat rocked and rolled and I constantly found myself bouncing off the walls as I walked down the hall. The amazing thing is that this storm was only 1/2 way to a Cat 1 hurricane and we were being pitched about. I can't imagine what a Cat 1 would be like, never mind a Cat 3, 4, or 5! Unbelievable! The storm began to subside around midnight and Saturday morning we arose to partly cloudy skies and light winds. The bay was muddy and filled with all kinds of junk - branches, leaves, coconuts, garbage - and as we drove around town we saw a lot of trees and power lines down. Some roads had been hit with mudslides and I had no cellular service until I went to Santo Domingo three days later. Three boats had sunk in our little harbor and I have no idea how many elsewhere. We talked over what had happened and on the computer it looked like the tropical depression had turned into a tropical storm right over the top of us and now had a name - Fay. It continued east over Haiti washing away a bus full of people and killing 2 in the Domincan Republic. Now it is parked over Florida and dropping tons of rain. Could we have done anything different to be more prepared? Absolutely not. We watched the storm closely and Billy pulled us into the safest possible spot with time to spare. I'd go to sea anywhere with that guy!

                       

From Lisa

Jul 31, 2008

Condolences were sent to both Billy and his sister on Monday as soon as we heard the news on our behalf here at DBM. In talking with Billy after he arrived to be there for his Moms 80th Birthday, I shared with him how she must have waited for his arrival to celebrate her birthday before slipping away.  He had sent flowers weeks before her birthday (I understand from his sis that she loved her boy and who wouldn't?). I heard it made her so happy.  I am a Mom of 2 sons myself (older now though) and they will always be my boys. It’s hard for guys to share their feelings but I must say in the conversations I’ve had with Billy he loved her and she adored him.

My 52 year old father-in-law died with 1 son by his bed-side and 1 son not. My experience is that God plans things the way they are supposed to happen. 

I have heard there are some who feel the company made him go back to the DR. Billy had a choice to stay or go back and he chose what he wanted to do. We would never place such demands on our people, especially when it comes to family matters.  None of us ever know how the clock will tick. The window of opportunity is only so big and it opens and closes very quickly. He knows she waited for him to come and I feel she awaited his arrival and was satisfied with their visit.

God works in mysterious ways.

Again, our thoughts, prayers and love to Billy and his family.

Take Care,

Lisa