Comments on: McDavid Mystery: Steamboat Pulled From The Escambia River

By: j c

j c — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:15:34 +0000

If the authorities can’t produce people that were alive from certain dates of sites where discoveries have been made, or produce a company still in business from the era, they need to keep their noses out it and quit tring to bully people out of their discoveries. They are the ones spending their time and money bringing these discoveries to the light of day.

By: 429SCJ

429SCJ — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:25:02 +0000

Amen! Bluff Boy

By: AStalvey

AStalvey — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:55:17 +0000

A saw mill used to be here in the Walnut Hill, Molino area back in the 1800’s. It had ties to the Whitmire family aka Whitmire cemetery. They used to slide the timber down from these areas and flaot them all the way down to the bay. There were 3 fairies aswell and also they floated cotton and other supplies down these waters. Im sure if you dig up some old walnut hill and molino history u will find some information. The Whitmires had sold alot of the land to a bunch of different families who are well known in the Walnut Hill and Molino areas still today… Good Luck!

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:27:43 +0000

I did it before the law was passed but I’m pretty sure I disturbed an historical site in my earlier youth while playing in the branch back of the house. I found a sign saying BLUFF SPRINGS TELEGRAPH OFFICE. I used it in a dam I was making downstream of the swimming hole. It’s still back there somewhere, disturbed by me and by the years of occassional flooding.

History starts yesterday. Some parts interest us, some don’t. An abandoned boat becomes of historical interest mainly because no other examples seem to have survived. This one wouldn’t have survived without action. There may be hundreds of others nobody has noticed yet, might not.

My grandfather gathered arrowheads along the banks of the Suwannee River while fishing and gator hunting. People made arrows by the thousand and lost them by the thousand over the centuries. He found the ones unearthed by erosion and before they were washed into the river.

David for history’s mysteries
wishing I had saved the sign

By: bluff boy

bluff boy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:49:21 +0000

Every body a professional now ill be dang

By: mercyme

mercyme — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:44:43 +0000

Thanks so much to Mr. Malone and the Greenwell Family for giving us a look at a piece of our maritime history. This is an amazing discovery. I look forward to learning more about the boat as research is done. Mr. R.L. “Leslie” Smith from Stockton, AL, is an excellent State and National resource for local river craft and Southern history. You might want to contact him as well as Bob Bradley at the Alabama Archives in Montgomery.

By: Tim Greenwell

Tim Greenwell — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:10:55 +0000

We have been in contact with a maritime archeaologist and she is going to try to get a team together to come record and possibly find a way to conserve it. The vessel is still in the water so that it will not be damaged or destroyed. It was pulled up far enough to take the pictures then returned to the water. We did not intend to break any laws that were mentioned by FYI Guy in the statutes. However had the vessel not been moved it would have been destroyed when the river rose back to its normal stage again. All the mud and sand that had covered it for years had been naturally washed off by the river current. There was nothing to prevent it from washing away.

By: joe

joe — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:01:41 +0000

laws and red tape aside,
this is still a very cool story. I look forward to learning more about it and the history behind the boat. it makes me wonder about the by gone years and all the stuff that was floated up and down the river as it was the easiest way to transport goods in those days.
still a very cool story!

By: just because

just because — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:53:18 +0000

I don’t see what the big deal is. If the family were picking up trash off the river, would that be a problem? This family was curious and never meant any harm by getting this piece of history off of the river. Actually, if you read the comments, it says it is still on the river and if it had stayed where is was no one would have got to see it. I am quite sure that no one was trying to break any law or destroy any property. That is rediculous. There are laws broken everyday, laws that really need to be taken care of. Not a family that had no bad intentions.

By: FYI Guy

FYI Guy — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:34:22 +0000

On 28 April 1988, President Reagan signed into law the Abandoned Shipwreck Act (43 U.S.C. 2101). The purpose of ASA is to give title to certain abandoned shipwrecks that are located in state waters to the respective states, and to clarify that the states have management authority over those abandoned shipwrecks. This law gives title to shipwrecks in Florida waters to the people of the State of Florida. The Bureau of Archeological Research manages Florida’s shipwrecks for the people, ensuring no shipwreck be wantonly destroyed through human action, providing for shipwrecks to be scientifically studied to gain knowledge of Florida’s maritime past, and encouraging public access and enjoyment while making sure future Floridians have the same opportunity.

State Laws
Florida Historical Resources Act
Florida’s antiquities law (Chapter 267, Florida Statutes), and administrative rules (Chapters 1A-31 and 1A-32) govern the use of publicly-owned archaeological and historical resources located on state property, both on land and in the water. Administered by the Florida Division of Historical resources, the law establishes programs and policies to encourage preservation of historic resources for the public benefit. State-owned underwater resources are those that are located on the bottom of navigable rivers, streams, lakes, bays, and offshore (in the Gulf of Mexico out to 10 miles, and in the Atlantic out to 3 miles).

Major goals of Florida’s historic preservation program are to identify, register, protect, and preserve significant historical resources which belong to the public. Divers are encouraged to participate in the identification, recording, and reporting of underwater sites in order to preserve them. However, disturbing or digging of publicly-owned sites is illegal unless permission is obtained in advance from the Division of Historical Resources. Intentional excavation of underwater sites without written authorization is considered a third-degree felony. Its best to record and report what you find, and seek help to proceed with further investigation.