"Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea" by Gary Kinder

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea by Gary Kinder
Call Number: 910.91631 Kinder
In September 1857, the S.S. Central America, a side-wheel steamer carrying passengers returning from the gold fields of California, went down during a hurricane off the Carolina coast. More than 400 men--and 21 tons of gold--were lost. In the 1980s, a maverick engineer named Tommy Thompson set out to find the wreck and salvage its treasure from the ocean floor. With knuckle-biting suspense, Gary Kinder reconstructs the terror of the Central America 's last days, when passengers bailed freezing water from the hold, then chopped the ship's timbers to use as impromptu liferafts. He goes on to chronicle Thompson's epic quest for the lost vessel, an endeavor that drew on the latest strides in oceanography, information theory, and underwater robotics, and that pitted Thompson against hair-raising weather, bloodthirsty sharks, and unscrupulous rivals.

Discovery and Significance:
- How does the book describe the discovery of the SS Central America, and what is its historical significance? Discuss the impact of the shipwreck on 19th-century America.
The Gold Rush and Economy:
- Explore how the Gold Rush and the transportation of gold from California are intertwined with the story of the SS Central America. How did the sinking of the ship impact the economy and individuals involved in the Gold Rush?
Tommy Thompson's Quest:
- Discuss Tommy Thompson's determination to find and recover the SS Central America. What motivated him, and how did he overcome challenges in the quest for the shipwreck?
Technological Challenges:
- The book delves into the technological challenges of deep-sea exploration and recovery. How did advancements in technology play a crucial role in the successful recovery of the ship and its treasures?
Economic and Legal Battles:
- Examine the economic and legal battles surrounding the recovery of the SS Central America's treasure. How did disputes over ownership and salvage rights unfold, and what were the outcomes?
Human Stories and Personalities:
- Explore the personal stories of individuals involved in the discovery and recovery efforts. How did their backgrounds, motivations, and experiences shape the unfolding narrative?
Impact on Historical Understanding:
- Consider how the discovery of the SS Central America contributed to our understanding of 19th-century history, maritime archaeology, and the Gold Rush era.
Ethical Considerations:
- Discuss the ethical considerations related to the recovery of shipwrecks and valuable artifacts. How should historical artifacts be treated, and what responsibilities do salvagers have to preserve and share these pieces of history?
Financial and Emotional Investments:
- Tommy Thompson invested a significant amount of time, money, and effort into the recovery mission. Discuss the financial and emotional investments made by individuals involved in the project.
Legacy of the SS Central America:
- Reflect on the lasting legacy of the SS Central America and its treasures. How has the discovery and recovery of the ship impacted historical research, maritime exploration, and the preservation of underwater cultural heritage?

The SS Central America, a steamship carrying gold from the California Gold Rush, sank in 1857 off the coast of the Carolinas. The shipwreck and its subsequent discovery and recovery are significant events in maritime history. Here is a timeline related to the SS Central America:

1857:

September 3-12: The SS Central America, a sidewheel steamship, encounters a hurricane off the coast of the Carolinas. The ship, laden with gold from California, sinks in the Atlantic Ocean.

1857-1980s:

The location of the SS Central America remains unknown for over a century, contributing to its designation as the "Ship of Gold."

1980s:

1988: Tommy Thompson, an oceanographer and marine engineer, leads an expedition that discovers the wreckage of the SS Central America about 8,000 feet below the surface of the Atlantic.

1990s:

1991-1992: Thompson's team begins recovery operations to salvage gold bars and coins from the shipwreck.

2000s:

2000-2014: Legal battles ensue over the ownership and distribution of the recovered treasure. Various parties, including Thompson, investors, and insurers, are involved in complex litigation.

2014:

July: Tommy Thompson is apprehended by U.S. Marshals after being a fugitive for several years. Legal issues related to the treasure recovery continue.

2015:

January: Tommy Thompson pleads guilty to charges related to the illegal sale of gold coins recovered from the SS Central America.
August: Thompson is sentenced to prison, and the legal battles over the treasure and its distribution persist.

2020s:

Legal and financial disputes surrounding the SS Central America treasure continue, impacting various stakeholders involved in the recovery.

The timeline of the SS Central America encompasses its tragic sinking in 1857, the long period of mystery surrounding its location, the discovery in the 1980s, and the subsequent legal and salvage efforts. The story involves a combination of historical events, maritime exploration, and legal challenges.

Gary Kinder is an American author, lawyer, and writing instructor known for his works in non-fiction, particularly in the true crime genre. Here is a brief overview of Gary Kinder's biography:

Background:

Gary Kinder was born in 1946.
He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in business and earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Career:

Gary Kinder initially worked as a trial lawyer.
He founded the Creative Nonfiction Foundation and developed the first-ever graduate program in creative nonfiction writing.
In addition to his writing, Kinder is recognized for his expertise in teaching and promoting the craft of nonfiction writing.

Notable Works:

One of Gary Kinder's notable works is "Victim: The Other Side of Murder," published in 1983. The book explores a true crime case and delves into the impact of a murder on the victim's family.
He is also known for "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea," published in 1998. The book recounts the discovery and salvage of the SS Central America, a ship that sank in 1857 carrying gold from the California Gold Rush.

Teaching:

Gary Kinder is a co-founder of the Red Sneaker Writing Center, which offers writing workshops and programs.
He has taught writing courses at various institutions, focusing on narrative nonfiction and creative nonfiction.

Writing Style:

Kinder's writing style is characterized by his ability to engage readers in compelling true stories, often exploring legal and historical themes.

Gary Kinder's contribution to the field of creative nonfiction extends beyond his writing; he has played a significant role in educating and mentoring aspiring writers. His works often combine meticulous research with narrative storytelling, providing readers with insights into complex true stories.

Titanic Survivor by Violet Jessop; John Maxtone-Graham (Annotations by)
Call Number: 910.45 Jessop
After a childhood in Argentina and formative years in England, Violet Jessop spent her entire career at sea. She was a stewardess for first-class passengers on the Titanic and she wrote an absolutely unique eyewitness account on the most written-about disaster of our time. Four years later, Violet was a nurse aboard the hospital ship Britannic when it struck a mine and sank to the bottom of the Aegean. But Titanic Survivor is much more. Violet Jessop's life story gives us a unique vantage point, whether in pantry, on deck or in a lifeboat. Jessop had a knack for spinning fascinating tales of fellow stewards, wartime alarums, impossible passengers, philandering shipmates, exotic ports and tragic deaths.A unique autobiography for those who want to know how it really felt, a story that could be told only by a Titanic Survivor.
Albatross by Deborah Scaling Kiley; Meg Noonan
Call Number: 910.45 Kiley
One late summer's day, the yacht Trashman set sail from Annapolis to Florida. On board were five young people: John, the captain; Meg, Mark, Brad, and Debbie Scaling. When the boat sailed into a gale, the eighty-knot winds shredded the sails. Forty-foot seas crashed through the cabin windows, and Trashman sank, leaving the crew adrift in a rubber dinghy. Albatross tells the story of how Debbie and Brad survived and how the tragedy changed Debbie Scaling's life forever.
A Furnace Afloat by Joe Jackson
Call Number: 910.452 Jackson
Over the years, a handful of famous shipwrecks have become symbols of something greater, their accounts a floating opera of sudden disaster, wasted life, and privations endured by survivors. One of these was the 1866 saga of the clipper ship Hornet, the crew of which barely survived for six weeks on ten days' worth of rations and shoe leather, drifting 4,300 miles in a single lifeboat as they all slowly weakened and became delirious or mad.
Miracles on the Water by Tom Nagorski
Call Number: 940.545 Nagorski
An unforgettable story of children in wartime, of heroism at sea, and--above all--of courage and the power of the human spirit. On September 17, 1940, at a little after ten at night, a German submarine torpedoed the passenger liner S.S. City of Benares in the North Atlantic. There were 406 people on board, but the ship's prized passengers were 90 children whose parents had elected to send their boys and girls away from Great Britain to escape the ravages of World War II. They were considered lucky, headed for quiet, peaceful, and relatively bountiful Canada. The Benares sank in half an hour, in a gale that sent several of her lifeboats pitching into the frigid sea. They were more than five hundred miles from land, three hundred miles from the nearest rescue vessel. Miracles on the Water tells the astonishing story of the survivors--not one of whom had any reasonable hope of rescue as the ship went down. The initial "miracle" involves one British destroyer's race to the scene, against time and against the elements; the second is the story of Lifeboat 12, missed by the destroyer and left out on the water, 46 people jammed in a craft built and stocked for 30. Those people lasted eight days on little food and tiny rations of drinking water. The survivors have grappled ever since with questions about the ordeal: Should the Benares have been better protected? How and why did they persevere? What role did faith and providence play in the outcome?

Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles: "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea" by Gary Kinder

"Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea" by Gary Kinder

QUICK LINKS

CONNECT WITH US

Westwood Public Library

Main Library

Islington Branch