Topic starter
31/01/2014 3:04 am
Over the last week, I have been focusing on “rebuilding” , in detail, the original river course from 1850 where the Plumas now rests.
I have had some issue that the ship lies in a much older channel and it would have required a tremendous force of water to put her up and over a rather tall bank and deposit her in a lower area. Such a time of high water or a force of the river would seemingly put her further up in elevation than her location .
Current research to the location of the ship is that it was in an inlet of the river at the time of its loss ( maps from 1850 though 1930 used) .
The historical record shows she was “snagged” and was headed down stream at the time of her demise.
So the question is… could a Captain of a ship that was “snagged“, correctly and precisely turn almost 180 degrees and negotiate 500 or so yards up an inlet in an attempt to save itself ??
Also, if this model is correct, then it would mean that the Plumas was headed down stream at a more normal and moderate water flow.
Any thoughts?
Many Thanks for any insight.
Dave Freeman
01/02/2014 5:26 am
Dave, Lots of missing info, so all conjecture: The snag caught the bow, causing the boat to revolve around the snag, at which point the boat got free of the snag, and the captain headed the boat for shore to hopefully 'beach" it on the bottom and perhaps even choked a stump to keep the boat in place as it sank.
Of course, it also depends on how big the hole was too!
Anyone, feel free to snag my version!
David D.
Topic starter
01/02/2014 6:03 am
So if the ship was below the inlet , all the Captain would have to do is chug up the inlet?! No fancy maneuvering. This is much more plausible.
Davef
Topic starter
01/02/2014 6:06 am
We also feel that this inlet was the boat landing for the "Lady Washington" due its its immediate proximity to the Lassen cabin.
03/02/2014 6:05 am
Well, as I said, it's all conjecture!
Topic starter
03/02/2014 4:34 pm
The good news is that the property is own by the State of California. Once we have the basics laid out in this historical area it will have to be searched in detail. The archeologist in charge of this area is not very interested in historical locations, only pre historical ones. I will publish what I have found , including our conjecture, and the State will have to do a proper site development.
At this point in time we are just getting our bearings on just how much of a concentration of historical features are in this 200 - 300 yard area. There is the Plumas, Peter Lassen's 1843 cabin, 1844 grist mill, the canals are still visible and maybe now a riverboat landing.
I know what to look for on an 1850 riverboat landing as I have found the one downstream at the town of Monroeville near Chico.
This place would be a hoot , if it were not so difficult to get into.. We have been talking about an overnight trip into the location this spring.
Davef
03/02/2014 7:49 pm
It's sad how some folks in charge of historical areas sometimes narrow their scope of field as to what is important. I've seen this before--we almost lost the Mother Orange tree here in Oroville due to to that kind of attitude. Fortunately there was a management change just in time and now the mother orange is revered and cared for more properly.