Gilberts: Hidden Thames River treasure soon may be revealed

Some people have known about this hidden treasure for years. It’s part of our local history.

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Strangely enough, we have known roughly where this treasure has been hidden for many years. In fact, I am proud to say I have a small part of this treasure, given to me by the first “explorer” of the site, whjch I’m looking at it as I write this column.

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What am I talking about? Two gunboats scuttled by British forces as they fled up the Thames River from American forces in the War of 1812. They reportedly were scuttled Oct. 4, 1813, about 3:30 pm, according to British military documents.

It was a prelude to the Battle of the Thames, where the famous Native Chief Tecumseh, lost his life and where the British were soundly beaten by a superior force of American infantry and cavalry. History tells us the boats were the Eliza and the Ellen, though there has been some confusion about their names in recent publications.

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The exact location of their scuttling was in the river on the present day Smith Farm, just above Chatham on the south side of the Thames, almost directly opposite the former stockyards and the present-day weekly market site on the river’s north side.

Why am I writing about this now? Well two reasons. On Thursday, we will be “commemorating” the anniversary of the Oct. 5, 1813, Battle of the Thames. But more important, a man has come forward determined to bring these lost War of 1812 relics to the surface and, if possible, put them on display.

His name is David Rose and these gunboats have been his long-time passion. He grew up along the Thames, swimming his first stroke and skating his first stride there. His lifelong passion with the Thames River took on an added dimension when he read our column about the War of 1812 and the raising and display of a larger boat, the General Myers (or The Chippewa), in Tecumseh Park in 1900 and that there were at least two other boats still hidden in the Thames.

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He vowed that, when he retired, he’d make it his mission to do what he could to pinpoint these boats and try to raise them. He contacted us in the spring and we were, of course, very interested and supportive.

Rose, with help from other interested parties, a variety of techniques and new advanced technology, managed to obtain a definite sonar image of at least one of the gunboats. The image is clear and shows the vessel close to shore and apparently relatively intact.

Rose speculates the gunboat has not moved substantially from the place where Mr. Smith found them several years ago, because they are still filled with heavy muskets, cannon balls, shot, etc.

Just before I wrote this column, Rose called with exciting news: famous maritime archeologist, author, TV host and respected historian James Delgado had contacted him and was very interested in his project.

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Mr. Delgado hosted the popular Sea Hunters TV program and explored shipwrecks including RMS Titanic, USS Independence, USS Arizona and USS Monitor.

And representatives of the TV series Drain The Oceans also had contacted Rose.

Rose was further encouraged when he took his project to the Civic Center and met with Mayor Darrin Caniff. The city offered to have fire department divers dive the site of the boats and to help him film a documentary-style feature about his quest.

David Rose has certainly paved the way for exciting things to happen in Chatham-Kent in coming months and we could not be more excited for him, and local history in general.

It’s amazing what can happen when an individual pursues his lifelong passion with determination, resolve and dedication. It really is a lesson for all of us.

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