(dr) Island Beach State Park
In March 1890, Lawrence N. McKenzie was nearly completing a 2,500-kilometer journey. He got stuck in the fog.
One storm in New Jersey, USA, brought something different to the surface, more specifically to a beach.
In the sands of Island Beach Park, fragments of wood appeared that even look like trash, or just loose logs, just after a quick observation.
It wasn’t: what washed up on that beach in New Jersey is wreckage, parts of a 136-year-old shipwreck – that you now dive.
Those responsible for Island Beach Park recently confirmed that this discovery is a direct consequence of the intense phenomenon of seasonal wear and tear of the coastal strip due to the action of the sea and wind.
Coastal erosion is natural and frequent during winter in that area. There are high-energy waves and seasonal storms that tend to narrow beaches and make them steeper. During this cycle, this was a rare glimpse into the region’s maritime past.
The wreckage was identified: it was from the crew led by Lawrence N. McKenzieapproximately 30 meters long.
The vessel was built in 1883, in the city of Essex, and registered in the port of Provincetown.
Em March 1890Lawrence N. McKenzie was close to completing a trip of approximately 2,500 kilometers. On board they followed oranges from Puerto Rico to New York – when he found his final destination near the New Jersey shore.
Historical records, highlights the , suggest that the vessel was trapped in a fog dense in the vicinity of Barnegat. The boat did not survive; but the eight crew members survived, they were all rescued.
It was partially submerged, with about two meters of water already inside. It was abandoned and swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean, off the east coast of the USA.
At the time, the ship was worth around 7.500 euros and was carrying a load of approximately 1,700 euros. Everything with fruit.
The authorities have already warned: touching or removing any part of the wreck is prohibited.
