“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
Well, since I finally shared the 1656 Vergulde Draeck shipwreck coin last week so we I may just as well finish this short 4 coin series by introducing the third coin of the Australian Shipwrecks Series.
In review, first was the 1629 Batavia, the struggle for survival and control like a movie script from a horror classic, not from ferocious sea creatures or cannibals but from a madman given power over life and death. Second, is the 1656 Vergulde Draeck, The Officer promised the remaining 68 survivors that he'd bring back help, "Just stay put!" They didn't. And not only the 68 survivors but also eleven members of the rescue crew too. Alien abductions? Perhaps. They're open to the possibilities so please have some proof.
Then, there was the 1712 Zuytdrop.
The Next Triangular Silver Coin
On August 11th, 1711 the Zuytdorp departed Wielingen Zeeland, the Netherlands to Batavia in Indonesia. Along with a cargo of general trade goods there were at least 568,000 coins, and that was a minimum, silver coin worth 248,000 Guilders.
Right off the start, slow languishing Atlantic winds made conditions poor on the ship such that 112 members of the crew and passengers died before finally reaching the Cape of Good Hope. 22 individuals were hospitalized and remained. Having enlisted more crew men and fresh supplies the Zuytdorp continued east to Batavia on April 22, 1712 accompanied by another ship, The Kockenge, but they were separated by stormy weather and that was the last time the Zuytdorp was seen.
This is not the Zuytdorp. It’s my silver Caravel broach posing as an East Indiaman.
☠️Name; The Zuytdorp
- Built at; Vissingen Shipwrights 1701
- Class; Dutch East Indiaman
- Owner; VOC
- Port Registered; Amsterdam
- Captain; Marinus Wijsvliet
- Crew; 286
- Guns; 32 Cannon, 6 Swivel guns.
- Tonnage; 1,152 Tons
- Length; 178 ft.
- Beam; 37 ft.
- Draft; 15.75 ft.
A model of the Zuytdorp can be seen at the Western Australia Maritime Museum.
☠️ 💀
The intended Brouwer route west was the Roaring 40s winds situated at 40 to 50 degrees south latitude heading across the Indian Ocean. The next leg would be to steer a northern heading upon sighting the Shores of New Holland (west Coast of Australia) then on to Batavia.
The ship never made it.
A search expedition was never mounted since it was not known if the ship was wrecked or captured by pirates. Even if the location would have been known, the cost in mounting an expedition combined with the reefs making navigation hazardous and the risk of more lives was a wild gamble. The earlier searches for the Batavia and the Vergulde Dreack were deemed failed attempts. No Zuytdorp survivors ever reached Batavia to tell the tale.
An expedition video gave me a good ideal of the hostile geography around the wreck site. The ship remains were found under the churning waters at the foot of the steep cliffs. Under cut rock formations, constant wave action and currents would have made swimming difficult only for the survivor to reach the relative safety of the jagged rocks. Boats would be smashed upon those rocks if in inexperienced hands.
If the disaster had happened at night the causalities would be terrible. It is no wonder that the Western Australian Maritime Museum has to date recovered a mere fraction of the remains. It is estimated that 80% of the silver coins remain at the bottom. There is only a window of several days in a year that it would be safe enough to send seasoned diving teams into the waters of this remote location.
Should any of the Zuytdorp’s survivors make to shore, they still had to contend with the lack of supplies, tools, and weapons before dealing the expansive arid brush lands. And were there survivors? The evidence of their camp sites proved that there were, as to how many was unknown. However stories persist of these foreign people having intermarry with the local aboriginal communities. But that’s another story.
For now, it’s as if the sea wishes to keep hiding her secrets and treasures.☠️
Planning a trip to West Australia?
To meet up with our Australian Hivers of course. 😉
I'll bring my Metal detector, flashlight, and my swimming suit.
My Leo Power Up
Added Shipwreck Silver to my Stack for that big stormy day!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!
Related Posts
2019 Australia $1 The 1629 Batavia Shipwreck.
2020 Australia $1 The 1656 Vergulde Dreack Shipwreck.
2020 Australia $1 The 1712 Zuytdorp Shipwreck.
Sources and Readings
Mass; The Zuytdorp.
Wiki; The Zuytdorp
Coins of the Zuytdorp.
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe
Silver Raven, made by ‘Silver to Burn’ Burnie
References
