23773: (pub) (Arthur) Morgan's frigate filmed on ocean bed (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

Morgan's frigate filmed on ocean bed, Oct 26 2004

Gareth Morgan, Western Mail


THE ship of a real-life Welsh pirate of the Caribbean has been filmed for the
first time after being discovered on the ocean floor.

Harri Morgan's lost frigate HMS Oxford sank off the coast of Haiti in 1669 as
the result of an explosion believed to have been ignited by a celebratory pig
roast.

The legendary Welsh buccaneer gained a fearsome reputation as a naval
strategist and ruthless pirate operating against Britain's enemies, Spain, France and
Holland.

The ship has not been seen for over 400 years but a team led by Rick Haupt
and Bruce Leeming from specialist company Ocean Discovery Networks (ODN) found
HMS Oxford off Isle a Vache.

The search was filmed for an S4C documentary, Chwilio am Long Harry Morgan
(Looking for Harri Morgan's Ship), presented by Lowri Morgan, who only last year
travelled to the depths of the ocean to explore the Titanic.

She said she had heard of her fearsome namesake but did not realise his
historical importance.

Lowri said, "In reality, he wasn't a pirate but a buccaneer who later gained
the respect of England's King Charles II due to his military and naval
prowess."

The 34-gun ship had in fact been sent to Morgan by the king to celebrate his
appointment as Admiral in Chief of the Confederacy of Buccaneers and Morgan
become Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, where he died in 1688.

But Lowri says it is easy to see why pirates were drawn to the Caribbean.

"I saw amazing things on my journey under the sea including cannon balls
covered in coral.

"There have been so many shipwrecks off the coast of Haiti that the locals
believe that the magic of the Voodoo gods attracts vessels to the island."

Paul Calverley, the producer, added, "The discovery of the ship is an event
of real historical significance, particularly to the Caribbean."