HMS Endeavour: US, Australia locked in feud over remains of Captain Cook's ship
Captain James Cook's ship HMS Endeavour has been found off the coast of Rhode Island, after more than 200 years. Its last sighting was in 1778 during the Revolutionary War. The ships' wreckage was identified in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, and has been reported to be lying in US waters for almost 250 years. The ship is apparently around 500 meters off the coast and sits 14 meters below the surface.
The Endeavour sailed from Plymouth, England to Tahiti and then New Zealand before reaching Australia in 1770. "Based on archival and archaeological evidence, I'm convinced it's the Endeavour. This is an important moment. It is arguably one of the most important vessels in our maritime history," said Kevin Sumption, director of the Australian National Maritime Museum. US researchers are miffed with this announcement and call it a "breach of contract" between the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project and the Australian National Maritime Museum.
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They claim that the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project has always been the lead organization for the study in Newport harbor. Labeling the research "premature," they say it's "too early" to reach a conclusion.
"The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) report that the Endeavour has been identified is premature. The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) is now and always has been the lead organization for the study in Newport harbor. The ANMM announcement today is a breach of the contract between RIMAP and the ANMM for the conduct of this research and how its results are to be shared with the public. What we see on the shipwreck site under study is consistent with what might be expected of the Endeavour, but there has been no indisputable data found to prove the site is that iconic vessel, and there are many unanswered questions that could overturn such an identification. When the study is done, RIMAP will post the legitimate report on its website at: www.rimap.org. Meanwhile, RIMAP recognizes the connection between Australian citizens of British descent and the Endeavour, but RIMAP's conclusions will be driven by proper scientific process and not Australian emotions or politics," said Kathy Abbass, executive director of the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology in a statement released on February 2.
On reaching Australia, the ship landed at Botany Bay and the crew recorded local flora and fauna — including the first European sighting of a kangaroo. "The Endeavour then returned to England, where it was sold off by the Royal Navy to a private buyer. It was then used during the American War of Independence to ship British troops across the Atlantic to fight. During the war, the British also used it as a prison ship but the boat was intentionally sunk in 1778 — along with 12 other vessels — to prevent an invasion," reports The Sun.
James Cook was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer and captain in the British Royal Navy. He was killed in 1779 during his third exploratory voyage in the Pacific while trying to detain the King of Hawaii. As per reports, Cook was struck on the head and then stabbed to death as he fell on his face.