While the discoveries continue made on the SS Central America ship, which sank with 21 tons of gold coins and other treasures in the USA in 1857, photographs of some of the 425 people who died on the ship were published for the first time. While the photographs in question shed new light on history, it was seen that the photographs were very well preserved hundreds of meters under the ocean.
The SS Central America, also known as the “ship of gold,” sank off the coast of South Carolina in 1857, along with some newly found wealth in California, USA. Returning to the east coast of the USA, 425 people were buried deep in the Atlantic Ocean after the ship sank after a hurricane.
Those on board sank, along with an estimated 21 tons of gold coins and bullion that made them rich. However, some passengers were also carrying something of more personal value.
Published for the first time
Recovered from the shipwreck during the 2014 expedition were daguerreotypes (a one-shot image held on a metal plate), the first successful commercial form of photography, and ambrotypes, a type of glass plate photography. The photos have now been published for the first time.
Golds still cannot be shared
On the other hand, the wreck of the SS Central America was found for the first time in 1988. Then, work was started to recover valuable metals and items from the wreckage. Bob Evans, a former chief scientist, and historian of the SS Central America Project said the photos were recovered more than a decade ago, but there was “a fierce legal battle” over the gold found with the ship on the ocean floor. This resulted in a delay in publishing the photographs, which were still intact even after lying on the seabed for more than a century.
They hold on to the photos
Evans has been exploring SS Central America since 1983 and describes it as “an interesting piece of lost American history.” Evans said, “It was an incredible moment to see that the things that matter to the passengers are their money and their photos. They were holding on to them as they took their last breaths.”
On the other hand, in the 1850s photography became extremely popular in the United States, and people who went to California in search of gold would send photos to their loved ones at home. Evans says, “Maybe in some ways, it was a whole new fashion. Instead of hiring an oil painter, people paid a dollar or two to take pictures. Thus, they had the opportunity to display their economic status and good clothing. “There were dozens of photography studios in San Francisco back then.”
On the other hand, Evans said that one of the reasons why the photos were so well preserved was that, due to the photography methods at the time, they were sealed in a vault from a watery environment. These were crafted from a variety of quality materials, including leather-covered wood.
Despite the harsh salty and high-pressure environment at the bottom of the ocean, another factor that preserved the photos was the coolness of the Atlantic waters. On the other hand, a category 2 hurricane is believed to have sunk the unfortunate ship. About 150 people were rescued, but 425 people, including the captain, sank with the ship.
