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Western Empire: the Deep Water Wreck of a Mid-Nineteenth

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Western Empire: the Deep Water Wreck of a Mid-Nineteenth WESTERN EMPIRE: THE DEEP WATER WRECK OF A MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY WOODEN SAILING SHIP A Thesis by JOSHUA AARON LEVIN Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2006 Major Subject: Anthropology WESTERN EMPIRE: THE DEEP WATER WRECK OF A MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY WOODEN SAILING SHIP A Thesis by JOSHUA AARON LEVIN Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved by: Chair of Committee, Kevin J. Crisman Committee Members, C. Wayne Smith W. Bryant Jack B. Irion Head of Department, David L. Carlson May 2006 Major Subject: Anthropology iii ABSTRACT Western Empire: The Deep Water Wreck of a Mid-Ninetenth Century Wooden Sailing Ship. (May 2006) Joshua Aaron Levin, B.A., Brandeis University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Kevin J. Crisman This study of Western Empire is split into two distinct parts: (1) historical research of the life of the vessel, relying on primary documents; and (2) analysis of the deep water survey data. The first part concentrates on the historical documents that constitute the history of Western Empire. The second part begins with a review of the tools and procedures used in performing the deep water survey. An analysis of the information that can be taken from such a study will follow, and it concludes with suggestions for remotely operated vehicle operators when performing an on-the-fly survey of shipwrecks in deep water. The official ship logs, crew agreements, and contemporary newspaper articles are used to recreate the life of Western Empire and shed light on a period in which wooden sailing ships were being displaced by iron ships and steam power. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As much as I would like to accept the credit for every aspect of this thesis, there have been many people who have helped me both academically and personally. Without their support, completion of this work would likely have been exponentially more difficult. Whether it was their cattle-like prodding to get me to finish, or the donation of their time and intelligence, this thesis could not have been finished without them. Most importantly, I could not have survived this program, or my stay in Texas without my wife June. She has stood by me through the studying, researching, and writing that took up so much of my time these past few years. Her presence has been like a muse, and without her I could not have done this. Of course, I could not have completed this program without the financial, personal, and editing support from my parents. Thank you so much for everything that you have given me. To my sister and final editor Rachel: Thank you for your support, and for your time in editing the final product. Professionally, there are many people who have contributed to my research. First and foremost, I would like to thank Dr. Kevin Crisman. You have guided the direction of my thesis from the beginning, and your support in both researching and pushing me to finish it quickly has been wonderful. I would also like to thank Dr. Jack Irion and Dr. Chris Horrel of the Minerals Management Service for allowing me to research Western Empire and providing me v with information on the wreck from their database. Without Brett Phaneuf, I would not have even known about this shipwreck, and I thank him for offering it to me and for all of the information and help he gave throughout my research. Pete Hitchcock has also been of immense help, both with interpreting the video and in coming up with suggestions on deep water survey techniques. Rob Church of C&C Technologies also helped immensely with developing the suggestions for the on- the-fly survey guidelines. Thank you both. Finally, I would like to thank the entire staff of the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M. You have all helped guide and teach me through the past few years, and I thank you for all of your support. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................ iv TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES....................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................. x CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1 The Beginning of Western Empire................................................. 3 Life of Western Empire.................................................................. 5 II EARLY HISTORY OF WESTERN EMPIRE................................................. 9 Great Britain's Primacy in Directing Trade.................................. 11 Growth of the Timber Trade........................................................ 13 Business and Trade...................................................................... 16 The Loss of Trade........................................................................ 18 III WORKING LIFE OF WESTERN EMPIRE.................................................. 24 Britain-India Trade....................................................................... 24 1862-1863........................................................................ 24 1863-1866......................................................................... 27 1866.................................................................................. 38 Britain-Australia........................................................................... 44 1867-1868......................................................................... 44 1870-1871......................................................................... 72 1871.................................................................................. 78 Britain-Americas.......................................................................... 80 1872 - Voyage 1............................................................... 80 1872 - Voyage 2............................................................... 82 vii CHAPTER Page 1873-1874......................................................................... 83 1874.................................................................................. 90 1875 - The Demise of Western Empire............................ 97 IV SURVEY..................................................................................................... 104 The Video Survey....................................................................... 107 Construction Features..................................................... 108 V ON-THE-FLY DEEP WATER SURVEY STRATEGIES......................... 111 VI CONCLUSION........................................................................................... 115 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................. 118 APPENDIX A................................................................................................................ 126 APPENDIX B................................................................................................................ 148 VITA.............................................................................................................................. 154 viii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1 Southern Empire Advertisement........................................................................ 126 2 Maltese Cross..................................................................................................... 127 3 Map - 1862-1863 Voyage.................................................................................. 128 4 Map - 1863-1866 Voyage.................................................................................. 129 5 Map - 1866-1867 Voyage.................................................................................. 130 6 Western Empire Advertisement......................................................................... 131 7 Map - 1867-1868 Voyage.................................................................................. 132 8 Map - 1869-1870 Voyage.................................................................................. 133 9 Map - 1870-1871 Voyage.................................................................................. 134 10 Map - 1871 Voyage........................................................................................... 135 11 Map - 1872 Voyage (1)...................................................................................... 136 12 Map - 1872 Voyage (2)...................................................................................... 137 13 Map - 1873 Voyage (1)...................................................................................... 138 14 Map - 1873 Voyage (2)...................................................................................... 139 15 Map - 1874 Voyage (1)...................................................................................... 140 16 Map - 1874 Voyage (2)...................................................................................... 141 17 Map - 1875 Voyage..........................................................................................
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